The rare jewel of Christian contentment. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to…The rare jevvel of Christian contentment. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to…

There are divers things further for the opening of the mystery of Contentment.

The First Thing therefore is this, To show that there is a great mystery in it. One that is contented in a Christian way it may be said of him that he is the most contented man in the world, and yet the most unsatisfied man in the world, these two together must needs be mysterious, I say a contented man as he is the most contented so he is the most unsatisfied of any man in the world. You never learned the mystery of contentment except ⟨p. 27⟩it may be said of you that as you are the most contented man so you are the most unsatisfied man in the world.

The First Thing therefore is this, To shew that there is a great mistery in it. One that is contented in a Christian way it may be said of him that he is the most contented man in the world, and yet the most unsatisfied man in the world, these two together must needs be mysterious, I say a contented man as he is the most contented so he is the most unsatisfied of any man in the world. You never learned the mystery of contentment except ⟨p. 27⟩it may be said of you that as you are the most contented man so you are the most unsatisfied man in the world.

You will say how is that? A man that hath learned the art of contentment is the most contented with any low condition that he hath in the world, and yet he cannot be satisfied with the enjoyment of all the world, and yet he is contented if he hath but a crust, but bread and water, that is if God disposes of him for the things of the world to have but bread and water for his present condition, he can be satisfied with Gods dispose in that, yet if God should give unto him Kingdoms and Empires, all the world to rule, if he should give it him for his portion he would not be satisfied with that, here's the mystery of it, though his heart be so enlarged as the enjoyment of all the world and ten thousand worlds cannot satisfy him for his portion; yet he hath a heart quieted under Gods dispose, if he gives him but bread and water, to join these two together, this must needs be a great art and mystery. Though he be contented with God in a little, yet those things that would content other men will not content him. The men of the world they seek after estates, and think if they had thus much, and thus much, they would be content, they aim at no great matters but if I had (perhaps some man thinks) but two or three hundred a year, then I should be well enough; If I had but a hundred a year, or a thousand a year (saith another) then I should be satisfied: but saith a gracious heart, If he had ten hundred thousand times so much a year, it would not satisfy him, if he had the quintessence of all the excellencies of all the creatures in the world, it could not satisfy him, and yet this man can sing, and be merry, and joyful when he hath but a crust of bread and a little water in the world: Surely Religion is a great mystery. Great is the mystery of godliness not only in the Doctrinal part of it, but in the practical part of it also Godliness teacheth us this mystery, Not to be satisfied with all the world for our portion and yet to be content with the meanest condition in which we are. As Luther, when he had great gifts sent him from Dukes and Princes, he refused it and saith he, I did vehemently protest God should not put me off so: tis not that which will content me: A little in the world will content a Christian for his passage: