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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 6: SERMON, VI. at Stepney. Aug. 31. 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.
I remember I have read of one Marius Curio that when he had bribes sent him to tempt him to be unfaithful to his Country, he was sitting at home at dinner with a dish of turnips; and they came and promised him rewards, saith he; that man that can be content with this fare that I have, will not be tempted with your rewards, I thank God I am content with this fare, and as for rewards let them be offered to those that cannot be content to dine with a dish of turnips: So the truth is we see it apparently, that the reason why many do betray their trust, as in the Parliament service and Kingdom, is, because they cannot be contented to be in a low condition. Let a man be contented to be in a low condition, and to go meanly clothed if God sees it fit, such a man is shot-free (as I may so say) from thousands of temptations of the Devil, that do prevail against others to the damning of their souls: Oh in such times as those are when men are in danger of the loss of their estates I say those men that have not got this grace, are in a most lamentable condition, they are in more ⟨p. 110⟩danger for their souls than they are for their outward estates, you think it is a sad thing to be in danger of your outward estates that you may lose all in a night, but if you have not this contented spirit within you, you are in more danger of the temptations of the Devil, to be plundered that way of any good, and to be led into sin; Oh when men think thus, they must live as brave as they were wont to do, these men make themselves a prey to the Devil; but such as can say, let God do with me what he pleases, I am content to submit to his hand in it, the Devil will scarce meddle with such men. It's a notable speech of a Philosopher that lived upon mean fare, and as he was eating herbs and roots, saith one to him, If you would but please Dionysius you need not eat herbs and roots: but he answered him thus, If you would but be content with such mean fare, you need not flatter Dionysius. So temptations will no more prevail upon a contented man, than a dart that is thrown against a brazen wall. That's the fifth particular.
I remember I have read of one Marius Curio that when he had bribes sent him to tempt him to be unfaithful to his Country, he was sitting at home at dinner with a dish of turnips; and they came and promised him rewards, saith he; that man that can be content with this fare that I have, will not be tempted with your rewards, I thank God I am content with this fare, and as for rewards let them be offered to those that cannot be content to dine with a dish of turnips: So the truth is we see it apparently, that the reason why many do betray their trust, as in the Parliament service and Kingdom, is, because they cannot be contented to be in a low condition. Let a man be contented to be in a low condition, and to go meanly cloathed if God sees it fit, such a man is shot-free (as I may so say) from thousands of temptations of the Devil, that do prevail against others to the damning of their souls: Oh in such times as those are when men are in danger of the loss of their estates I say those men that have not got this grace, are in a most lamentable condition, they are in more