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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 10 › Direction 5: The Fifth DIRECTION.
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.
The Fifth DIRECTION.
A fist Rule is this, Exercise much faith, that is the way for contentedness. After thou hast done with all considerations that reason may suggest to thee, if thou findest that these do not do it, Oh then call for the grace of faith, a man may go very far with the use of Reason alone to help him to Contentment, but when Reason is at a non-plus, then set Faith at work. It was a speech of that reverend Divine Master Perkins that God made so instrumental in his time, the Life of Faith (saith he) it is a true life indeed, the only life. Exercise Faith not only in that promise that all shall work together for good to them that fear God, but likewise exercise faith in God himself, as well as in his word in the Attributes of God. It was a speech of Socrates a Heathen, (saith he) since God is so careful for you, what need you be careful for any thing your selves; It was a strange speech of a Heathen.
Oh Christian! if thou hast any faith, in the time of extremity, think thus, This is the time that God calls for the exercise of faith, what canst thou do with thy faith if thou canst not quiet thy heart in discontent: It was the speech of one Theodosius that had been a King, and afterwards was brought to such a low condition to get his living by being a School-master, one comes and asks him, What have you got by your Philosophy from Plato and others; What have I got (saith he) I have got this, That though my condition be changed from so high a condition to so low, yet I have got this, I can be content. So what doest thou get by being a Believer, a Christian? what canst thou do by thy faith? I can do this, I can in all estates cast my care upon God, cast my burden upon God, I can commit my ⟨p. 199⟩way to God in peace, faith can do this. Therefore when reason can go no higher, let faith get upon the shoulders of reason, and say, I see land though reason cannot see it, I see good that will come out of all this evil.