A77996:171
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.
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. Why should I stand much upon it, to be troubled and be discontented if I have not this or that, when the truth is, I can do nothing? If you should come to one that is angry because he hath not such diet as he desires, and is discontented with it, you will answer him, I marvel what you do, what use are you of? Shall one that will sit still and be of no use, yet for all that he must have all his supply that possible he can desire? Do but consider of what use you are in the world; if you consider what little need God hath of you, and what little use you are of, you will not be much discontented: If you have learned this lesson of self-denial, though God doth cut me short of such and such comforts, yet since that I do but little, why should I have much? This very thought will bring down a mans spirit as much as any thing.
Fourthly, So vile I am, that I can receive no good neither of my self; I am not only an empty vessel, but a corrupt and unclean vessel that would spoil any thing that comes into it: So are all our hearts, every one of our hearts is not only empty of good, but are like a musty vessel, that if any good liquor be poured into it, it spoils it.