A77996:170
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
THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT. › Sermon 4: SERMON, IV. at Stepney. Aug. 17. 1645.
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.
First, Such a one learns to know that he is nothing; he comes to this, to be able to say, Well, I see I am nothing in my self, now that man or woman which indeed knows that he or she is nothing, and hath learned it throughly, will be able to bear any thing: The way to be able to bear any thing, is to know our selves to be nothing in our selves. Saith God to us, Wilt thou set thine heart upon that which is nothing? Prov. 23.5. speaking of riches; why blessed God, dost not thou do so? thou hast set thy heart upon us, and yet we are nothing. God would not have us set our hearts upon riches because they are nothing, and yet God is pleased to set his heart upon us, and yet we are nothing, that is Gods Grace, free grace, and therefore it is no great matter what I suffer, for I am as nothing.
Secondly, I deserve nothing. I am nothing, and I deserve nothing, suppose I have not this and that that others have, I am sure I deserve nothing except it be Hell; you will answer any of your servants, so that is not content, I marvel what you deserve? or your children, Do you deserve it, that you are so eager upon it? you think to stop their mouths thus; so we may easily stop our own mouths, we deserve nothing, and therefore why should we be impatient if we have not what we desire, ⟨p. 70⟩if we had deserved any thing, we might have some trouble of spirit, as a man that hath deserved well of the State, or of his friends, and he finds not answerable encouragement, it troubles him mightily, but if he be conscious to himself that he hath deserved nothing, he is content with a repulse.
Thirdly, I can do nothing. Without me you can do nothing, saith Christ Joh. 15.5