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

Seventhly, There is this excellency in Contentment, that it fetches in the comfort of those things we have not really in possession; and perhaps many that have not outward things have more comfort than those have that do enjoy them themselves: As now a man by distilling herbs, though he hath not the herbs themselves, yet having the water that is distilled out of them, he may enjoy the benefit of the herbs: So though a man hath not the real possession of such an outward estate, an outward comfort, yet he by the grace of Contentment may fetch it in to himself. By the Art of Navigation we can fetch in the riches of the East and West-Indies to ourselves; so by the Art of Contentment we may fetch in the comfort of any condition to our selves, that is, we may have that comfort by Contentment, that we should have if we had the thing it self. There is a notable story you have for this in Plutarch, in the life of Pyrrhus; one Sineus comes to him, and would very fain have had him desist from the wars, and not war with the Romans; saith he to him, May it please your Majesty, it is reported that the Romans are very good men of War, and if it please the gods we do overcome them, ⟨p. 112⟩what benefit shall we have of that victory? Pyrrhus answered him, we shall straight then conquer all the rest of Italy with ease, saith Sineus, indeed it is likely which your Grace speaketh, but when we have won Italy will then our wars end? If the gods were pleased Pyrrhus, that the victory were achieved, the way were then broad open for us to attain great conquests, for who would not afterwards go into Afric, and so to Carthage? But (saith Sineus) when we have all in our hands, what shall we do in the end? then Pyrrhus laughing, told him again, we will then be quiet, and take our ease, and make feasts every day, and be as merry one with another as we can possible; saith Sineus, what letteth us now to be as quiet, and merry together, sith we enjoy that presently without further travel and trouble which we should go seek for abroad, with such shedding of blood, and so manifest danger, cannot you fit down and be merry now? so a man may think, if I had such a thing, then I would have another, and if I had that, then you would have more, and what if you got all you desire; then you would be content, why? you may be content now without them:

Seventhly, There is this excellency in Contentment, that it fetches in the comfort of those things we have not really in possession; and perhaps many that have not outward things have more comfort than those have that do enjoy them themselves: As now a man by distilling herbs, though he hath not the herbs themselves, yet having the water that is distill'd out of them, he may enjoy the benefit of the herbs: So though a man hath not the real possession of such an outward estate, an outward comfort, yet he by the grace of Contentment may fetch it in to himself. By the Art of Navigation we can fetch in the riches of the East and West-Indies to ourselves; so by the Art of Contentment we may fetch in the comfort of any condition to our selves, that is, we may have that comfort by Contentment, that we should have if we had the thing it self. There is a notable story you have for this in Plutarch, in the life of Pyrrhus; one Sineus comes to him, and would very fain have had him desist from the wars, and not war with the Romans; saith he to him, May it please your Majesty, it is reported that the Romans are very good men of War, and if it please the gods we do overcome them,