3. The third duty is,1 If things to come are a Believers, be content though you have the less of things present: Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content*. Oh what a rich estate hath a Believer! he is to be ⟨p. 286⟩valued according to that which is in reversion. Things to come are his. If you were to take an estimate of a man's Estate, would you value it by that which he hath in his House, or by his Land? Perhaps he hath little in his house, little money, or plate; but he is a landed man, There lies his Estate. While we are in this House of Clay, we have but little. Many a Christian can hardly keep life and soul together; but, he is a landed man, things to come are his; then be content with the less of things present: If we have but a small fore-crop, we shall have a great after-crop; it is sufficient if we have but enough to bear our charges till we come to Heaven. An Heir that hath a great Estate beyond Sea, though he hath but a little money for his voyage thither, he will be content. If a Christian hath but enough ⟨p. 287⟩to pay for his passage, till he comes at Heaven, it is sufficient; as Seneca said to his friend Polybius*, Never complain of thy hard fortune, as long as Caesar is thy friend. So I say to a Believer, Never complain as long as Christ is thy friend; he is preparing the Heavenly Mansions for thee. If thou complainest of any thing, let it be of thy complaining. Should not Hagar have been content, though the water were spent in her Bottle, when there was a Well so near? God hath made a Deed of gift, he hath given Christ to a Believer, and in him all things, things present and to come, Grace and Glory*; is not here enough to make him content? But, saith the Christian, I want present comforts. Consider, the Angels in Heaven are rich, yet they have no money; thou hast things to come, Angels riches, such as cannot stand with ⟨p. 288⟩reprobation; be content then with the less of things present. The Philosophers, who never understood one syllable of this Charter, did contemn riches, and preferred a contemplative life; what poor contemplations were those? certainly a man that lives by faith, may have more sweet content in his soul by the meditation of things to come, then a worldly man by the enjoying things present.
3. The third duty is,1 If things to come are a Beleevers, be content though you have the lesse of things present: Having food and rayment, let us be therewith content*. Oh what a rich estate hath a Beleever! he is to be ⟨p. 286⟩valued according to that which is in reversion. Things to come are his. If you were to take an estimate of a man's Estate, would you value it by that which hee hath in his House, or by his Land? Perhaps he hath little in his house, little money, or plate; but he is a landed man, There lies his Estate. While we are in this House of Clay, we have but little. Many a Christian can hardly keepe life and soule together; but, hee is a landed man, things to come are his; then be content with the lesse of things present: If wee have but a small fore-crop, we shall have a great after-crop; it is sufficient if we have but enough to beare our charges till we come to Heaven. An Heire that hath a great Estate beyond Sea, though hee hath but a little money for his voyage thither, he will bee content. If a Christian hath but enough ⟨p. 287⟩to pay for his passage, till he comes at Heaven, it is sufficient; as Seneca said to his friend Polibius*, Never complaine of thy hard fortune, as long as Caesar is thy friend. So I say to a Beleever, Never complaine as long as Christ is thy friend; hee is preparing the Heavenly Mansions for thee. If thou complainest of any thing, let it be of thy complaining. Should not Hagar have been content, though the water were spent in her Bottle, when there was a Well so neare? God hath made a Deed of gift, he hath given Christ to a Believer, and in him all things, things present and to come, Grace and Glory*; is not here enough to make him content? But, saith the Christian, I want present comforts. Consider, the Angels in Heaven are rich, yet they have no money; thou hast things to come, Angels riches, such as cannot stand with ⟨p. 288⟩reprobation; bee content then with the lesse of things present. The Philosophers, who never understood one syllable of this Charter, did contemne riches, and preferr'd a contemplative life; what poore contemplations were those? certainly a man that lives by faith, may have more sweet content in his soule by the meditation of things to come, then a worldly man by the enjoying things present.
- 13. Branch.
- *1 Tim. 6.8.
- *Fas tibi non est de fortuna conqueri, salvo Caesar. Sen.Fas tibi non est de fortuna conqueri, salvo Caesare. Sen.
- *Psal. 84.11.
