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

The fifth thing is this, A Christian comes to this Content meant by making up the wants of his condition, by the performance of the work of his condition. This is the way of Contentment. There is such a condition that I am in, many wants, I want this and the other comfort, well, how shall I come to be satisfied and content? A carnal heart thinks this, I must have my wants made up, or else it is impossible that I should be content: No, but saith a gracious heart, What is the duty of the condition God hath put me into? Indeed my condition is changed, I was not long ⟨p. 36⟩since in a prosperous condition, but God hath changed my condition: the Lord hath called me no more Naomi, but Marah: Now what am I to do? What can I think now? Are those duties that God requires of me in the condition that he hath now put me into? And let me put forth my strength in the performance of the duties of my present condition. Others they spend their thoughts in those things that shall disturb & disquiet them; and so they grow more and more discontented; yea, but let me spend my thoughts in thinking what my duty is, what is the duty of my present condition which I am in: Oh! saith a man whose condition is changed, and he hath lost his estate, Had I but my estate that I had heretofore, how would I use it to Gods glory! But God hath made me to see that I did not honour him with my estate as I ought to have done, Oh! had I it again, I would do better than ever I did: but this may be but a temptation, therefore you should rather think, What doth God require of me in the condition I am now brought into? And thou shouldest labour to bring thy heart to quiet and Contentment, by setting thy soul on work about the duties of thy present condition; And the truth is, I know nothing more available for the quieting of a Christian Soul, and getting Contentment, than this, The setting thy heart on work about the duties of thy very present condition that now thou art in, and take heed of thy thoughts about other conditions as a mere Temptation. I cannot compare the folly of men and women that think to get Contentment with their musing about other conditions, better than to the way of Children; perhaps they are gotten upon an Hill, and they look a good way off and see another Hill, and they think if they were on the top of that, then they were able to touch the clouds with their Fingers;

The fifth thing is this, A Christian comes to this Content ment by making up the wants of his condition, by the performance of the work of his condition. This is the way of Contentment. There is such a condition that I am in, many wants, I want this and the other comfort, well, how shall I come to be satisfied and content? A carnal heart thinks this, I must have my wants made up, or else it is impossible that I should be content: No, but saith a gracious heart, What is the duty of the condition God hath put me into? Indeed my condition is changed, I was not long