A Body of Practical Divinity

Ans. The best Remedy is Contentation. If we are content with our own, we shall not covet that which is another's. St. Paul could say, I have coveted no Man's Gold or Silver. Whence was this? It was from Contentment. Phil. 4.11. I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. Content saith, as Jacob, Gen. 33.11. I have enough: I have a Promise of Heaven, and have sufficient to bear my Charges thither, I have enough. And he who hath enough will not covet that which is another's. Be content: And the best way to be contented is, (1.) Believe that Condition best which God carves out to you by his Providence. If God had seen it fit for us to have more, we should have had it; but his Wisdom sees this best for us. Perhaps we could not manage a great Estate, it is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling, and a full Estate without sinning. Great Estates may he Snares; a Boat may be overturned by having too great a Sail. The believing that Estate best God carves us, makes us content; and being contented, we will not covet that which is another's. (2.) The way to be content with such things as we have, and not to covet another's, is to consider the less Estate we have, the less Account we shall have to give at the last Day. Every Person is a Steward, and must be accountable to God. They who have great Estates, have the greater Reckoning. God will say, What good have you done with your Estates? Have you honoured me with your Substance? Where are the poor you have fed and clothed? If you cannot give a good Account, it will be sad. This may make us contented with a less Portion: To consider, the less Estate, the less Account we have to give: The less Riches, the less Reckoning. This is the way to have Contentment, and no better Antidote against coveting that which is another's, than being content with that which is our own.

Ans. The best Remedy is Contentation. If we are content with our own, we shall not covet that which is anothers. St. Paul could say, I have coveted no Man's Gold or Silver. Whence was this? It was from Contentment. Phil. 4.11. I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. Content saith, as Iacob, Gen. 33.11. I have enough: I have a Promise of Heaven, and have sufficient to bear my Charges thither, I have enough. And he who hath enough will not covet that which is anothers. Be content: And the best way to be contented is, (1.) Believe that Condition best which God carves out to you by his Providence. If God had seen it fit for us to have more, we should have had it; but his Wisdom sees this best for us. Perhaps we could not manage a great Estate, it is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling, and a full Estate without sinning. Great Estates may he Snares; a Boat may be overturned by having too great a Sail. The believing that Estate best God carves us, makes us content; and being contented, we will not covet that which is anothers. (2.) The way to be content with such things as we have, and not to covet anothers, is to consider the less Estate we have, the less Account we shall have to give at the last Day. Every Person is a Steward, and must be accountable to God. They who have great Estates, have the greater Reckoning. God will say, What good have you done with your Estates? Have you honoured me with your Substance? Where are the poor you have fed and cloathed? If you cannot give a good Account, it will be sad. This may make us contented with a less Portion: To consider, the less Estate, the less Account we have to give: The less Riches, the less Reckoning. This is the way to have Contentment, and no better Antidote against coveting that which is anothers, than being content with that which is our own.