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…

Answ. Yes certainly a great burden, and there needs a great strength to bear it, as men had need of strong brains that can bear strong wine, so they had need of strong spirits that are able to bear prosperous conditions, and not to do themselves hurt; there's a fourfold burden in a prosperous estate. Many men and women look at the shine and glittering of prosperity, but they little think of the burden, but there's a fourfold burden.

Answ. Yes certainly a great burden, and there needs a great strength to bear it, as men had need of strong brains that can bear strong wine, so they had need of stronge spirits that are able to bear prosperous conditions, and not to do themselves hurt; there's a fourfould burden in a prosperous estate. Many men and women look at the shine and glittering of prosperity, but they little think of the burden, but there's a fourfould burden.

1. There's A burden of trouble; a rose hath it's prickles, and so the Scripture saith that he that will be rich pierceth himself through with many sorrows, 1 Tim. 6. 10. If a mans heart be set upon it that he must be rich, and he will be rich, such a man will pierce himself through with many sorrows; he looks upon the delight and glory of riches that appears outwardly, but he considers not what piercing sorrows he may meet withal ⟨p. 89⟩in them: The consideration of the trouble in a prosperous condition I have divers times thought of, and I cannot tell by what similitude to express it better then by travelling in some champaign country, where round about is very fair and sandy ground, and you see there a town a great way of in a bottom, and you think Oh how bravely is that town seated, but when you come and ride into the town, you shall ride through a dirty lane and through a company of fearful dirty holes, and you could not see the dirty lane and holes when you were two or three mile off; so sometimes we look upon the prosperity of men and think such a man lives bravely and comfortably, but if we did but know what troubles he meets withal in his family, in his estate, in his dealings with men, we would not think his condition so happy. One may have a very fine new shoe, but no body knows where it pinches him but he that hath it on; so you think such and such men are happy, but they may have many troubles that you little think of.