1. Contentment is a divine thing; §1it becomes ours not by acquisition, 1but infusion: it is a slip taken off from the tree of life, and planted by ⟨p. 37⟩the Spirit of God in the soul; it is a fruit that grows not in the garden of Philosophy, but is of an heavenly birth: It is therefore very observable, that Contentment is joined with Godliness, and goes in equipage; But Godliness with Contentment is great gain*. Contentment being a consequent of Godliness, or concomitant, or both: I call it divine, to contradistinguish it to that Contentment which a moral man may arrive at; Heathens have seemed to have this Contentment, but it was only [Greek or Hebrew], the shadow and picture of it, the Beryl, not the true Diamond: theirs was but civill, this is sacred: theirs was only from principles of Reason, this of Religion: theirs was only lighted at Nature's torch, this at the Lamp of Scripture. Reason may a little teach Contentment; as thus, Whatever my condition be, this is that I am born to*; and if I meet with crosses, it is ⟨p. 38⟩but [Greek or Hebrew], a Catholic misery; all have their share, why therefore should I be troubled*? Reason may suggest this; and indeed, this may be rather constraint, then content, but to live securely and cheerfully upon God in the abatement of creature-supplies, Religion only can bring this into the souls exchequer.
1. Contentment is a divine thing; §1it becomes ours not by acquisition, 1but infusion: it is a slip taken off from the tree of life, and planted by ⟨p. 37⟩the Spirit of God in the soul; it is a fruit that growes not in the garden of Philosophy, but is of an heavenly birth: It is therefore very observable, that Contentment is joyned with Godlinesse, and goes in equipage; But Godlinesse with Contentment is great gain*. Contentment being a consequent of Godlinesse, or concomitant, or both: I call it divine, to contradistinguish it to that Contentment which a morall man may arrive at; Heathens have seemed to have this Contentment, but it was onely 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the shadow and picture of it, the Beryll, not the true Diamond: theirs was but civill, this is sacred: theirs was only from principles of Reason, this of Religion: theirs was onely lighted at Nature's torch, this at the Lamp of Scripture. Reason may a little teach Contentment; as thus, Whatever my condition be, this is that I am born to*; and if I meet with crosses, it is ⟨p. 38⟩but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a Catholick miserie; all have their share, why therefore should I be troubled*? Reason may suggest this; and indeed, this may be rather constraint, then content, but to live securely and chearfully upon God in the abatement of creature-supplyes, Religion onely can bring this into the souls exchequer.
- 1Aphorism. [Greek or Hebrew] non acquisitione, sed infusione.Aphorism. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 non acquisitione, sed infusione.
- *1 Tim 6 6
- *Job 14. 1
- *Ferre quam sortem omnes patiuntur, nemo recusat.
