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…

You will say wherein is this graciousness of contentment distinguished from all these? More of this will be spoken to when we show the mystery of it, and the lessons that are learned, but now we may speak a little by way of distinction here, as now, from the natural stillness of mens spirits, many men and women have such a natural stillness of spirit▪ and constitution of body, that you shall find them seldom disquieted. But now mark these kind of people that are so, they likewise are very dull, of a dull spirit in any good thing, they have no quickness, nor liveliness of spirit in that which is good, but now mark where contentment of heart is gracious, the heart is very quick and lively in the service of God, yea the more any gracious heart can bring its self to be in a contented disposition •h the more fit is it for any service of God, and is very active and lively in Gods service, not dull in the service of God: And as a Contented heart is very active and stirring in the work of God, so he is very active and stirring in sanctifying Gods name in the affliction that doth befall him: The difference will appear very clear thus, One that is of a still disposition, he is not disquieted indeed as others, neither hath he any activeness of spirit in sanctifying the name of God in the affliction▪ but now one that is content in a gracious way as he is not disquieted, but keeps his heart quiet in respect to vexing and trouble, so on the other s•de he is not dull nor heavy but is very active to sanctify Gods name in the affliction that is upon him, for it is not enough merely not to murmur not to be discontented and troubled, but you must be active in the sanctifying Gods name in the affliction. And indeed this will distinguish it from the other, from a sturdy resolution, I ⟨p. 15⟩will not be troubled: but though you have a sturdy resolution that you will not be troubled, is there a conscionableness in you to sanctify Gods name in your affliction, and doth it come from thence? That is the main thing that brings the quiet of heart, and helps against discontentedness in a gracious heart. I say the desire and care that thy soul hath to sanctify Gods name in an affliction it is that that quiets the soul, which doth not in the other. Neither when it is merely from reason: