A77996:14
The rare jewel of Christian contentment Wherein is showedThe rare jewel of Christian contentment Wherein is shewed
The rare jewel of Christian contentment Wherein is showed; 1. What contentment is. 2. The holy art or mystery of it. 3. Several lessons that Christ teacheth, to work the heart to contentment. 4. The excellencies of it. 5. The evils of murmuring. 6. The aggravations of the sin of murmuring. By Jeremiah Burroughs. The first of the eleven volumes that are published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.The rare jewel of Christian contentment Wherein is shewed; 1. What contentment is. 2. The holy art or mystery of it. 3. Several lessons that Christ teacheth, to work the heart to contentment. 4. The excellencies of it. 5. The evils of murmuring. 6. The aggravations of the sin of murmuring. By Jeremiah Burroughs. The first of the eleven volumes that are published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Sympson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed for Ben. Billingsley, 1666
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To the Reader.
This worthy Man, especially in his latter times, was surrounded (through Gods blessing on him) with a very great confluence of what might give forth Contentment to a vast Spirit of his Rank and Calling. He was enriched with a large measure of Abilities and Opportunities in serving his Lord, to glorify whom, and do much good to others, is the divine part of a man gracious (which he was) the highest and most solid Satisfaction, and in many respects exceeds what personal Communion with God, singly considered, brings in) Besides, he lived and died in a fullness of honour and esteem with the best of men, of Saints; Yea, the worst of enemies: Likewise of Estate, and outward Comforts within his Sphere and Rank, all which might and did afford Contentment to what was outward in him. In the midst of these, his study was to find out a more sublime way, and hidden art of Self-sufficiency, than was in the power of all things to contribute or teach; Such a skill as did not only poise and compose his spirit in the present enjoyment of all, but might fortify and furnish him with provision for the future against the loss of all, in times wherein no man knoweth what evil will be in the earth. This mark his first Lines show he shot at. This Art some Philosophers of old pretended themselves Masters of, and to instruct others in, through the assistance of Natural and Moral Elements, elevated to the utmost height their Principles could carry them, but in vain. Their Chemistry in this kind being able to produce no more but a sullen obstinacy and obdurateness of mind. The Natural Spirit of a Man, feeling it self greater than all Creatures, gathering up, and consolidating it self into it self, is able (as Solomon says) to sustain its own and all other infirmities. But that Autarchy this Author here presents, is a Mystery, which none of these Princes of the world know, or the wisdom of Man teacheth, but the Holy Ghost teacheth; and which few, but those that are perfect do attain; Teaching the soul to deny it self into weakness, emptiness, in and to it self, and all things else; and thus dissolved to unite its self to Him who only hath blessedness and All-sufficiency, with whom associated and made intimate, it melts it self ⟨image 4⟩