A65276:91
The Art of Divine Contentment
Autarkeia, or, The art of divine contentment by Thomas Watson.
London: printed by T.M. for Ralph Smith, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Having opened the nature of Contentment, I come next to lay down some reasons, or arguments to Contentment, which may preponderate with us.
HAving opened the nature of Contentment, I come next to lay down some reasons, or arguments to Contentment, which may preponderate with us.
The first is,1 Gods precept. It is charged upon us as a duty; Be content with such things as you have*; the same God who hath bid us believe, hath bid us be content; if we obey not, we run our selves into a spiritual praemunire. Gods Word is a sufficient warrant; it hath authority in it, and must be a supersedeas, or sacred Spell to discontent; Ipse dixit was enough among Pythagor as his Scholars. Be it enacted is ⟨p. 42⟩the Royal stile. Gods Word must be the star that guides, and his Will the weight that moves our obedience; his fiat is a Law, and hath majesty enough in it to captivate us into obedience; our hearts must not be more unquiet then the raging Sea, which at his Word is stilled*.
The first is,1 Gods precept. It is charged upon us as a duty; Be content with such things as you have*; the same God who hath bid us beleeve, hath bid us be content; if we obey not, we runne our selves into a spirituall praemunire. Gods Word is a sufficient warrant; it hath authority in it, and must be a supersedeas, or sacred Spell to discontent; Ipse dixit was enough among Pythagor as his Scholars. Be it enacted is ⟨p. 42⟩