The rare jewel of Christian contentment Wherein is showedThe rare jewel of Christian contentment Wherein is shewed

and have no large desires, that man and woman they are rich, when they can bring their desires to be but low: So this is the Art of Contentment. Not to seek to add to our conditions, but to subtract from our desires. Another hath this, The way to be rich, saith he, it is not by increasing of wealth, but by diminishing of our desires; for certainly that man or woman is a rich man or woman that hath their desires satisfied, now a contented man hath his desires satisfied; God satisfies his desires, that is, all considered, he is satisfied in his condition for the present to be the best condition, and so he comes to this Contentment by way of Subtraction, and not Addition.

and have no large desites, that man and woman they are rich, when they can bring their desires to be but low: So this is the Art of Contentment. Not to seek to add to our conditions, but to substract from our desires. Another hath this, The way to be rich, saith he, it is not by encreasing of wealth, but by diminishing of our desires; for certainly that man or woman is a rich man or woman that hath their desires satisfied, now a contented man hath his desires satisfied; God satisfies his desires, that is, all considered, he is satisfied in his condition for the present to be the best condition, and so he comes to this Contentment by way of Substraction, and not Addition.

The Third thing in the Art of Contentment is this, A Christian comes to Contentment, not so much by getting off his burden that is upon him, as by the adding another burden to him: this is a way that flesh and blood hath little skill in. You will say, how is ⟨p. 32⟩this? In this manner, art thou afflicted, and is there a great load and burden upon thee by reason of thy affliction? thou thinkest there is no way in the world to get Contentment, but O that this burden were but off, O it is a heavy load, and few know what a burden I have! What doest thou think there is no way for the Contentment of thy spirit, but this getting off thy burden? O thou art deceived, the way of Contentment is to add another burden, that is, labour to load and burden thy heart with thy sin, and the heavier the burden of thy sin is to thy heart, the lighter will the burden of thy affliction be to thy soul, and so shalt thou come to be content: If thy burden were lightened that would content thee, thou thinkest there is no way to lighten it but to get it off, but thou art deceived, for if thou canst get thy heart to be more burdened with thy sin; thou wilt be less burdened with thy afflictions: You will say this is a strange way, for a man or woman to get ease to their condition when they are burdened, to lay a greater burden upon them? You think there is no other way when you are afflicted, but to be jolly and merry, and get into company, Oh no, you are deceived, your burden will come again, alas this is a poor way to get his spirit quieted, poor man! the burden will be upon him again; but if thou wouldest have thy burden light, if thou canst get alone and examine thy heart for thy sin, and charge thy soul with thy sin; if thy burden be in thy estate, for the abuse of it, or if it be a burden upon thy body, for the abuse of thy health, and strength, and the abuse of any mercies that now the Lord hath taken away from thee, thou hast not honoured God with those mercies that thou hast had, but thou hast walked wantonly and carelessly; and so fall a bemoaning thy sin before the Lord, and thou shalt quickly find the burden of thy affliction to be lighter than it was before; do but try this piece of skill and art, to get your souls contented with any low condition that God puts you into;