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…

Secondly, then thy great care will be rather for the removing of thy sin then thy affliction, art thou more solicitous about the taking away thy sin, then the taking away of thine affliction.

Thirdly, if it be thy sin that troubles thee, if God should take away thy affliction, yet except thy sin be taken away, and thy heart be better, this would not content thee, thou couldest not be satisfied, but we see it ordinarily, that if God removes their affliction there's no nore trouble for their sin: Oh many do belie themselves in this, in saying that they are so troubled for their sin, and especially those that are so troubled that they are in danger to miscarry, and to make away themselves, there's not one in ten thousand that are in such a condition as this is, but it is affliction rather than sin that puts them to it: indeed you lay all upon this, as if it were the ⟨p. 167⟩work of the word, or the spirit of bondage: I remember I heard not long since of a Divine that being judicious, and used to such kind of things, there came a man to him mightily troubled for his sin, and he could uot tell what to do, he was ready to despair, the Divine looks upon him, saith he are you not in debt? He confessed that he was; and at length the Minister began to find it out, that that was his trouble rather then his sin, and so was a means to help him that way, that his creditors should not come upon him, and then the man was pretty quiet, and would not make a way himself any longer; for it is a usual thing, that if any thing befalls a man that doth cross him, Oh then it's their sin that doth trouble them. Sometimes it is thus with servants, if their Governors cross them, then they are vexed and fret, and come to deal with them, Oh then they will say they are sorrowful for their sin, but we must take heed of dallying with God that is the Seer and Searcher of the secrets of all hearts, many of you go sullen and dumpish up and down your families, and then you say it is your sin that lies upon you, when God knows it is otherwise, it is because you cannot have your wills as you would have.

Thirdly, if it be thy sin that troubles thee, if God should take away thy affliction, yet except thy sin be taken away, and thy heart be better, this would not content thee, thou couldest not be satisfied, but we see it ordinarily, that if God removes their affliction there's no nore trouble for their sin: Oh many doe belie themselves in this, in saying that they are so troubled for their sin, and especially those that are so troubled that they are in danger to miscarry, and to make away themselves, there's not one in ten thousand that are in such a condition as this is, but it is affliction rather theu sinne that puts them to it: indeed you lay all upon this, as if it were the