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…

The seventh Direction.

A seventh rule is Do not promise to your selves too much beforehand, do not make account of too great things: It is good for us to take hold very low and not think to pitch too high, do not sore too high in your thoughts beforehand, to think oh if I had this and this, and imagine great matters to your selves, but be as good Jacob, you know he was a man that lived a very contented life in a mean condition, (saith he) Lord if I may but have clothes to put on, and meat to eat; he looked no higher, he was content with that, so if we would not pitch our thoughts high and think that we might have what others have, so much, and so much, when we meet with disappointments we would not be so much troubled: and so Paul, If we have but meat and drink and clothing, let us be therewith content; he did not sore too high a loft, those that look at high things in the world they meet with disappointments and so they come to be discontent; be as high as you will in Spiritual meditations, God gives liberty there to any one of you to be as high as you will, above Angels, but for your outward estate God would not have you aim at high things, Seekest thou great things (saith the Lord to Baruch) seek them not, you shall have your life for a prey. In these times especially, it were a very great evil for any to aim at great things, Seek them not, be willing to take hold low, & to creep low, & if God doth raise thee thou shalt have cause to bless him, but if thou shouldest not be raised there would not be much trouble, one that creeps low cannot fall far, but it is those that are on high whose fall doth bruise them most, that is a good rule, promise not your selves great matters, neither aim at any great things in the world

A seventh rule is Doe not promise to your selves too much beforehand, do not make account of too great things: It is good for us to take hold very low and not think to pitch too high, do not sore too high in your thoughts beforehand, to think oh if I had this and this, and imagine great matters to your selves, but be as good Jacob, you know he was a man that lived a very contented life in a mean condition, (saith he) Lord if I may but have cloaths to put on, and meat to eate; he lookt no higher, he was content with that, so if we would not pitch our thoughts high and think that we might have what others have, so much, and so much, when we meet with disappointments we would not be so much troubled: and so Paul, If we have but meat and drink and cloathing, let us be therewith content; he did not sore too high a loft, those that look at high things in the world they meet with disappointments and so they come to be discontent; be as high as you will in Spirituall meditations, God gives liberty there to any one of you to be as high as you will, above Angels, but for your outward estate God would not have you aime at high things, Seekest thou great things (saith the Lord to Baruch) seek them not, you shall have your life for a prey. In these times especialy, it were a very great evil for any to aime at great things, Seek them not, be willing to take hold low, & to creep low, & if God doth raise thee thou shalt have cause to blesse him, but if thou shouldest not be raised there would not be much trouble, one that creeps low cannot fall far, but it is those that are on high whose fall doth bruise them most, that is a good rule, promise not your selves great matters, neither aime at any great things in the world