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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 1: SERMON, I. at Stepney. July 27. 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.
And as a Contented heart is very active and stirring in the work of God, so he is very active and stirring in sanctifying Gods Name in the affliction that doth befall him: The difference will appear very clear thus, One that is of a still disposition, he is not disquieted indeed as others, neither hath he any activeness of spirit in sanctifying the Name of God in the affliction: but now one that is content in a gracious way, as he is not disquieted, but keeps his heart quiet in respect to vexing and trouble, so on the other side, he is not dull nor heavy, but is very active to sanctify Gods Name in the affliction that is upon him, for it is not enough merely not to murmur, not to be discontented and troubled, but you must be active in the sanctifying Gods Name in the affliction. And indeed this will distinguish it from the other, from a sturdy resolution, I will not ⟨p. 15⟩be troubled: but though you have a sturdy resolution, that you will not be troubled, is there a conscionableness in you to sanctify Gods Name in your affliction, and doth it come from thence? That is the main thing that brings the quiet of heart, and helps against discontentedness in a gracious heart. I say the desire and care that thy soul hath to sanctify Gods Name in an affliction, it is that that quiets the soul, which doth not in the other. Neither when it is merely from reason: As Socrates, it is said of him (though he were but an Heathen) that whatever befell him, he would never so much as change his countenance, and he got this power over his spirit merely by strength of reason and morality: but now this gracious Contentment comes from principles beyond the strength of reason.
And as a Contented heart is very active and stirring in the work of God, so he is very active and stirring in sanctifying Gods Name in the affliction that doth befal him: The difference will appear very clear thus, One that is of a still disposition, he is not disquieted indeed as others, neither hath he any activeness of spirit in sanctifying the Name of God in the affliction: but now one that is content in a gracious way, as he is not disquieted, but keeps his heart quiet in respect to vexing and trouble, so on the other side, he is not dull nor heavy, but is very active to sanctify Gods Name in the affliction that is upon him, for it is not enough meerly not to murmur, not to bee discontented and troubled, but you must be active in the sanctifying Gods Name in the affliction. And indeed this will distinguish it from the other, from a sturdy resolution, I will not