a little as not to thirst not to starue Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cibus potus sunt diuitiae Christianorum Hieron Bp. and grace ought to content it selfe with lesse In this case meate and drinke are the riches of Christians yea bread and water with the Gospell are good cheere More ought not to discontent if God giue more Lesse if God giue not so much Any thing is more then any man can chalenge The smalest good is aboue mans greatest desert all is of mercy nothing of merite Whatsoeuer God measures out vnto vs that ought to giue contentment to vs. And a godly man may wel content himselfe in all estates and if in any hee finde himselfe not well it is not because he might not therein be well but because hee doth not in such holy manner demeane himselfe Why a godly man is sometime not content as godlinesse would direct for so out of question hee should bee well True indeed it is that contentment which attendeth godlinesse in this life is not such a settled composednesse of minde and quiet tranquillity of all the affections as neuer meeteth with any turbulency of passion or is neuer interrupted nor assayled of discontment For as godlinesse in this life is not perfected so is the minde of a godly man not fully contented But through inward distemper and outward occurrence is sometimes shaken with vnsetlednesse and discontent The sea is not so calme in Summer but is sometimes troubled with some boysterous winde no not the stable mountaine so firme but may bee moued with some fearefull earth-quake So is it with the minde of a godly man it is sometimes moued sometimes tossed with windes and terrours Yet so well is it ordinarily composed through habituall resolution of dependance on God and equability of affection in all estates that it 's neither oftē disturbed nor long disquieted but after some lesser or shorter distemper it doth quietly compose and settle it selfe againe and through the power of godlinesse doth recouer it selfe and enioy againe this sweete Contentment Happy happy yea thrice happy is that soule that is so quietly setled and so well composed that it is not much shaken and tossed with discontent and so happy may euery one of our soules become shall we seriously consider How to come to godly contentment how wee may become so happy Which if any desire indeed to know let him lend his eare yea his heart a little and cast his eye of faith vpon the doctrine of godlinesse and hee shall therein behold such strong foundations of true contentment layde as that the gates of hell may well assaile but shall not preuaile against it 4. Grounds of godly contentment The foundation of godly contentment hath these foure degrees 1. Gods powerfull prouidence 2. Gods prudent loue 3. Gods gracious promise 4. The present portion which God bestoweth vpon a godly man The first ground of godly contentment is Gods powerfull prouidence 1. Gods powerfull prouidence whereby hee wisely ordereth and sweetly disposeth all actions and euents conditions and estates The Lord killeth and maketh aliue 1. Sam. 2.6 he bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 7. The Lord maketh poore and maketh rich 8. he bringeth low and exalteth he rayseth vp the poore out of the dust and listeth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them amongst Princes and to make them inherite the throne of glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lords and hee hath set the world vpon them The Lord Psal 147. v. 4. vers 8. the Lord guides and numbers the starres in heauen hangs the clouds in the firmament Mat. 6.26.28 feeds the fowles of the ayre clothes the flowers of the field takes care for the oxen in the stall multiplies the fishes in the sea numbers the sands by the shoare preserues the haire on the head and the drowing of a swine Mat. 8.31 32. Mat. 10.29 30. the falling of a sparrow the perishing of an haire doth not escape the powerfull prouidence of our most gracious God Act. 17.28 Yea and our God in whom we mooue liue are is able for bread to giue manna from heauen Exod. 16.14 15. Exod. 16.13 Exod. 17.6 ver 78. Exod. 13 21. Deut 29.5 for flesh to send quailes from the sea for drinke to giue water out of the flinty rocke for shelter a cloude For direction a pillar of fire for want of new apparel can preserue the old Ios 3.15 16 Exod. 14.21 22. for a passage can diuide Iorden and make a drie lane with watry walles through the deepe channel of the red sea Out of bondage can giue deliuerance out of sicknesse health out of death life out of sinne good and out of miserie can draw felicity Numb 11.23 Esa 50.2 His hand is not shortened that hee cannot now helpe hee is now God al-sufficient as well as euer he was And what cannot our God doe for vs God is able saith our holy Apostle to make all grace to abound toward you 2. Cor. 9. ◠that yee alwaies hauing all sufficiency in all things may abound to euery good worke Euery word hath it waight Our God al-sufficient hath al-sufficiency for vs all alwaies in all things to cause all grace to abound to vs and to cause vs to abound to euery good worke Oh the powerfull prouidence of our gracious God Oh the vnmoueable foundation of godly contentment What feare of want or woe can discontent vs seeing our God hath al-sufficient for vs our God hath sufficient wisdome for our instruction sufficient power for our preseruation sufficient grace for our infirmities sufficient plenty to supply our penurie sufficient mercy for all our miseries sufficient comfort for all our maladies sufficient honour to wipe away our infamy sufficient life to ouercome our death and sufficient glory to perfect our felicity Thus is our God able to make all grace to abound toward vs that wee alwaies hauing al-sufficiencie in all things may abound to euery good worke On this foundation may a godly man beginne to build his house of godly contentment thus Vse The meditation of Gods povverfull prouidence Doth any euill or crosse befall mee It comes not from the haplesse stroke of blinde Fortune but from the al-ruling hand of an al-seeing God Did the spitefull tongue of my enenemy defame me Or his powerfull hand oppresse and iniure mee Or did any other creature bring any euill vpon me Whatsoeuer was the meanes or how ill soeuer affected to mee Gods ouer-ruling prouidence hath some hand therein Not indeed himselfe vniustly striking or instilling malice into the striker or exciting him to sinne or excusing him in sinne yet guiding the blow and directing it to me as an actor in not an idle spectator of the action yet no author or approuer but iudge and reuenger of the euill of the action Ier. 25 12.14 Threatning punishing the instrument
of the euill and correcting euill in mee by the good euent of this euill accident intended for euill by euill man against mee but turned to good by Gods goodnesse vnto mee Well whatsoeuer it is Gods will appointed it Gods prouidence ordereth it his power ouer-ruleth it his hand limiteth it and when he sees fit hee can as easily remooue it as permit it and turne this great euil to my greater good and therefore I will be content The second ground of godly contentment is Gods prudent loue 2. Gods prudent loue Gods powerfull prouidence able to worke our wel-fare is seconded with his prudent loue which makes him willing Such is Gods loue vnto a godly man that he cannot but wish well to him and doe well for him Your heauenly Father saith our blessed Sauiour Mat. 26.32 our elder brother knoweth that you haue neede of these things God is your Father if you be godly yea your heauenly Father and beares vnto you the affection of a Father and cannot but loue you as being your Father and that prudently as your heauenly Father Mat. 7.11 And if you beeing euill know how to giue good things vnto your children how much more shall your Father which is in heauen giue good things to you that aske him God your Father is heauenly wise and knowes better then you what is best for you The God of heauen is your good and louing Father and will not for his loue suffer you to want what might doe you good And therefore not to rest content with that which your Father giues you were either to make your selues wiser then hee as if you knew better then hee what is best for you or more louing to your selues then your heauenly Father is to you in wishing more good to befall you then your heauenly Father is in loue willing to bestow vpon you If you doubt of God your Fathers prudence it is because you are not wise if of his loue to you it is because you loue not him For God is not ineprudent in any of all his actions nor wanting in loue to any of all his creatures nor in any degree of loue to those that loue him well And if God so cloathe the grasse of the field Mat. 6.30 shall hee not much more cloathe you Oh yee of little fayth to your Father if you beleeue not this word and promise of your Father Oh yee of little loue to your Father if you bee not so well perswaded of your Father that hee loues you well Vse The meditation of Gods prudent loue And this is the second foundation of godly contentment whereupon a godly man not doubting of the prudent loue of God his heauenly Father vnto him must needes in prudence content himselfe with that portion which God his Father hath carued out vnto him 3. Gods gracious promise The third foundation of Godly contentment wherein Gods prudent loue most brightly shineth is Gods gracious promise passed to a godly mā And what is this gracious promise Hee hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Ios 1.5 Hebr. 13.5 therefore let your conuersation bee without vngodly couetousnesse and bee content with such things as yee haue Question But what if I haue not but want shall I then be content Answ Feare not want but feare the Lord Psal 34.9 for there is no want to them that feare him Obie Yes some that feare the Lord doe sometime want as Elijah Lazarus Paul 1. King 17. Luk. 16. 2 Cor. 1.8 Hebr. 10. Psal 34.10 Psal 84.11 and many godly Christians Sol. The young Lions doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Euery thing good in it selfe is not good for thee If good for thee it shall not bee wanting vnto thee Surely the Lord will not faile his people Psal 94.14 Phil. 4.19 Thy God will supply all thy necessities Thou shalt sometimes want indeede as those godly ones did because it is good for thee sometimes to want But thou shalt want nothing that is good for thee to haue vnlesse thou be wanting to thy selfe And therefore thou shalt not sometimes want afflictions because it is not good for thee Psal 119.71 Lam. 3.27 sometimes to want them but good to haue them And when they are vpon thee thou shalt not want due comfort in them for God hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Ios 1.5 Hebr. 13.5 Esa 43.2 I will bee with thee in the fire and in the water The Lord will not forsake for euer but though hee cause griefe Lament 3.31 32. yet will hee haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies 2. Cor. 12.9 His grace is sufficient for thee Hee will lay no more vpon thee then he will make thee able to beare 1. Cor. 10.13 Vse The meditation of Gods gracious promise On this foundation may a godly man thus frame his sanctuary of godly comtentment God will lay no more vpon mee then hee will make mee able to beare c. Either my crosse shall bee moderated or my ability to beare increased Either my burden shall be made lighter or my faith stronger as God doth presse me downe with one hand so will he raise mee vp with the other God can drawe mee to himselfe with the cordes of loue vnder the roddes of men And if my crosses shall proue great Gods loue therein shall proue as great In greatest crosses God vseth to wrappe vp the greatest mercies and turnes the deadly poyson of afflictions into wholesome and soueraigne medicines That which in my apprehension may seeme the greatest euill Gods gracious dispensation shall turne to greatest good All things shall worke together for the good of the Godly that loue God Rom. 8.28 greatest euils to greatest good The heauiest crosse shall finde the happiest issue 1. Cor. 10.13 Death it selfe shall proue a rich reuenue Phil. 1.21 bringing the happy returne of an eternall life Oh how sweete a song of triumph may a godly man sing in the greatest threats or assaults of his most dreadfull foes A godly mans song of triumph Whence my enemies intend mee greatest daunger thence shall I purchase greatest honour My enemies may behead me but cannot hurt me Slay mee but cannot conquer mee Rom. 8. v. 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we more then conquer My enemies may take away my life but not my hope My head but not my crowne Whether I bee wounded or slaine I shall not loose the victory if I die in the battaile I shall triumph after the fight and if I fight till death 2. Tim. 4.8 I shall receiue a crowne of life Act. 14.22 I may goe and if God see fit I must goe yea I shall goe by the crosse to a crowne and through cruel martyredome vnto a glorious Kingdome 4. A godly mans present portion What yet is wanting
earthly things 1. It teacheth to moderate the desire of earthly things to accustome himselfe to liue of a little and to bee content and as for superfluities not to affect it in heaping together these earthly things as vnworthy for themselues to bee desired or loued the inordinate desire whereof either depriueth of possession of them or dispossesseth of contentment in them So that hee that desireth them more then hee should doth either loose them sooner then he would or not finde that contentment in them which hee expecteth while he makes a God of them and God an Idol and more then this godlinesse teacheth moderation in care for them which followes vpon and draweth after it desire of them by calling to minde those heauenly exhortations In nothing bee careful Phil. 4.6 cast all your care on God 1. Pet. 5.7 for hee careth for all and cast thy burden vpon the Lord he shall nourish thee Psal 55.22 Delight thy selfe in the Lord Psal 37.4 5. and hee shall giue thee thine hearts desire c. And applying to the heart such experiments of Gods gracious supply of great necessities of his Church in the wildernesse Exod. 16. and 17. 1. King 17. Psal 147.9 Luk. 12.24 Elijah in the dearth and drought c. That God that feedes the very Rauens can cause the Rauens to feed the godly 2. Godlinesse prouides for satisfaction of the desires by directing them to things aboue 2. Derect on of the desire to heauenly things Col. 3.2 3. Phil 3.7 8. laied vp in Christ Iesus the godly mans gaine and sufficiently able to giue contentment He is aboundantly rich Affatim Diues est qui cum Christo pauperest Hieron Ep ad Hâ—liodord e vita solitaria that is poore with Christ a replenished treasury of grace and glory beyond whom a godly mans desire can neuer extend or enlarge it selfe but must needs contentendly rest in him as in the vttermost period of all desired and al-sufficient good Now Vse to draw to an end of this branch of my discourse which intreateth of Contentment the attendant of godlinesse If this bee true indeed as it is most true that godlinesse is attended of true contentment Why so many men liue discontent what then is the cause of so many mens mislike of their owne estates of such priuate murmurs such publike clamors and common complaints which fill the eares both of God and men especially of those who haue sufficient to doe iustice to others and to pay their debts to refresh themselues and to maintaine their families to fit them for Gods seruice in their lawfull callings Discontentment groweth through want of godlinesse and how Surely the want of contentment argueth the want of godlinesse and men therefore complaine of their owne estate as vnpleasing and comfortlesse because they haue not obtained the true-contenting gaine of piety and godlinesse 1. Some through vngodlinesse haue plunged themselues into comfortlesse and heart-breaking miseries and for want of godlinesse can finde no meanes of remedie and reliefe 2. Others haue great wealth but little contentment because they haue much goods but little goodnesse great returne of earthly riches but little increase of heauenly graces great store of pelfe but little piety For certaine it is that according to the measure of godlinesse is the measure of godly contentment Little godlinesse little contentment no godlinesse no true contentment great godlinesse great contentment Many complaine as well when they haue as when they want because they want it while they haue it as wanting godlinesse which teacheth 1. How to esteeme it 2. How to enioy it 3. How to bestow it Yea the more they haue the lesse they are satisfied because the further they are from godlinesse the further from contentment They greedily gape for more gaine without because they want due measure of godlinesse within For were they wel-stored of godlinesse inwardly they would not feele such want of riches outwardly Why some men liue contented In the heart of euery godly man which is Deo plenum filled with the grace of God there is little roome left for these fraile and earthly things but it is contented with a smaller portion of them The godly man can find content in pouerty the vngodly finds discontent in pleÌ„ty The godly man finds content in disgrace The vngodly discontent in honour The godly content in paine the vngodly discontent in pleasure And to omit the vngodly man who neuer enioyes any true any sound any durable contentment the godly man findes plenty in pouertie honour in disgrace pleasure in paine health in sicknesse solace in sadnesse life in death and hope of future felicitie in sense of present miserie Godlinesse made Saint Paul and Silas in prison in the inner prison in the stockes Act. 16.24 25 to sing for ioy while the vngodly Iewes were at liberty either sleeping or sorrowing or senselesse of their present sinne and future miserie And the vnconuerted Iaylor was ready for feare of their escape to make away himselfe Obiections answered 2 Cor. 6.9.10 And suppose a godly man bee in sorrow yet is he sorrowfull as alway reioycing as chastened yet not killed as dying yet behold he liueth as hauing nothing yet possesseth all things 2 Cor. 4.8 Bee hee troubled on euery side yet is he not distressed perplexed yet not in despaire persesecuted yet not forsaken cast downe yet not destroyed dying for Iesus yet receiuing life from Iesus And though hee fall yet the Lord shall raise him vp Though he sit in darkenesse Mic. 7.7 yet the Lord shall bee a light vnto him Weeping may endure for a night Psal 30.5 but ioy commeth in the morning And the more his former affliction increased the more his after-ioy aboundeth Godlinesse can mitigate and asswage the grieuousnesse of present afflictions and make patient of change from better to worse in the fluent vncertainty of this outward estate and the power of godlinesse is a soueraigne cordiall to cheere vp the spirits and to make able to counteruaile all assailing dangers and sinister or crosse euents So that it is the priuiledge of a truely godly and sound hearted Christian to reioyce in tribulation Rom. 5.3 Rom. 8.31.32 c. 1 Cor. 15.55.56.57 and to triumph ouer death and spirituall enemies so that he alone hath sufficient cause to liue comfortably and to applaud himselfe in his happie condition when all the world doth threaten or is threatned miserie Godly contentment giueth good direction in the life of man Worthy were it to consider for the commendation of godlinesse but too long to relate for want of time how safely and comfortably This godly contentment will cause men to walk in the golden mean between those two fowle extremes of carelesse neglect of that which they ought to take and greedy grasping after that which they ought not to desire 1. A godly man dare neither liue out of a
of godlinesse Surely we can say no lesse of godlinesse but that it deserues the name and title of true gaine 2. Godlinesse is great gaine and how As godlinesse is true and as I might haue said Great gaine as it is in it selfe a diuine habite of grace in it selfe considered so is it great gaine indeede as it intiteleth and interesteth into further aduantage in that it hath the promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1. Tim. 4 8. Of life naturall and life spirituall 1. The spirituall returne of godlinesse The first and chiefest part and parcell of that rich returne which godlinesse by Gods promise is interessed in is that heauenly reuenue of rich holinesse and happinesse which belong to a life spirituall both this of grace and that other of glory And here wee must know that this promise is made and made good in Christ from whom as our Head wee deriue our Godlinesse and in whom we finde all our treasures of goodnesse Christ our treasury emptied as it were himselfe to replenish vs became poore to make vs rich Poore in outward estate to make vs rich in our inward condition poore in our nature that we might be rich in his grace poore temporally to make vs rich eternally In Christ we gaine sufficient treasures of righteousnesse to discharge our debt of disobedience 1. Cor. 1.30 2. Cor. 5.21 Hebr. 9.14 10.14 The al-sufficient sacrifice of his death to ransome vs from the death of sinne Esa 53.5 6. 1. Pet. 2.24 Col. 2 3. 2. Cor. 5.18 19. The treasures of wisdome and holinesse to remoue our folly and deformities Wee gaine reconciliation with God Eph. 3.12 Hebr. 10.20.22 in sted of emnity accesse to God in stead of alienation from God Rom. 5.1 Rom. 15.13 Peace of conscience in stead of terrors Ioy in the holy Ghost in sted of sorrow in our soule Rom. 14.17 1. Ioh. 1.4 comfortable hope in sted of dreadfull despaire In Christ wee gaine priuiledge of Son-ship and spirituall adoption Rom. 5.2 Ehpes 1.5 Apoc. 1.6 title to a crowne and fellowship in a Kingdome Blessed communion with God our Father 1. Ioh. 1.3 the sonne himselfe our redeemer and the holy spirit our blessed guide and strong supporter sweet comforter perfect sanctifier In Christ we gaine the prayers of the Saints yet liuing with vs the loue of the Saints glorified before vs Hebr. 1.14 the Ministery of Angels working for vs grace in earth and glory in heauen In Christ our gaine is such as that we shall haue all losses recompensed all wants supplied al curses remoued al crosses sanctified all graces increased all hopes confirmed all promises accomplished all blessednesse procured Satan conquered death destroyed Ose 13.14 1. Cor. 15.54.55 the graue sweetened corruption abolished sanctification perfected heauen opened for our happy entrance Lift vp your heads Oh yee heauenly gates Psal 24.7 and bee yee lifted vp yee euerlasting doores that the King of glory may bring vs in Now when Heauen shall be our gaine what can be our losse Vnlesse we loose our teares wiped from our eyes Vnlesse wee loose our sorrowes expelled from our hearts Vnlesse we loose our daungers remoued from our persons Vnlesse we loose our infirmities our deformities our transitory estate our temporall condition which we account for precious to change them for permanent and eternall happinesse And what is or rather is not the gaine of godlinesse when it hath brought man to happinesse That indeed which no mortall eye hath euer seene Esa 64 4. 1. Cor. 2.9 no eare heard no tongue vttered no heart conceiued What hand can measure the boundes of infinitie What minde can number the yeeres of eternitie What hand what minde can measure can number the vnmeasurable measure and innumerable number of the wealth and treasures of piety and godlinesse Oh that I had the tongues of the glorious Angels in some sort for your sakes to vtter Oh rather that you had the hearts of the glorified Saints in some little small measure to conceiue of some part and parcell of this spirituall gaine of godlinesse But this glorious Sunne doth so dazle my weake eyes this bottomlesse depth doth so ouerwhelme my shallow heart and the surpassing greatnesse of these rich treasures doth so euery way ouercharge mee that I must needes stand silent amazed and astonished at the serious consideration of the exceeding aboundant excellencie of these reuenues of godlinesse 2. The temporall returne of godlinesse As those who finde their tender eye-sight dazeled by gazing directly vpon the body of the Sunne doe learne to behold it in some oblique reflexion as we obserue the ecclipse in a basen of water euen so let vs perceiuing the eye of our mind now dimmed and dazeled with the exceeding brightnesse of the gaine of godlinesse in the chiefest glory therof looke vpon it more indirectly in the secondary reflexions of earthly blessings which as you may remember were entayled on godlinesse by the gracious promise of God 1. Tim. 4.8 Godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is Whatsoeuer true gaine can bee found in this life it is annexed to godlinesse as an auctarie or appendant and is as an ouerplus or ouer-measure cast vnto him Mat. 6.33 who shall first haue sought the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Hebr. 1.2 conueighed by Christ the heire of all vnto him that is truly godly or truly beleuing A godly man hath two treasuries without him of gainefull reuenues Heauen aboue a replenished treasurie of blessings spirituall Mat. 19.21 and Earth below a wel-furnished store-house of benefits temporall As those aboue are bestowed onely vpon a godly man so these below are by most iust title to descend to him who is fellow heire with Christ Rom. 8.17 the heire of al things Strangers may haue some portion of them but the right of inheritance belongs to the sons of God Riches and honour delights and pleasures life and length of daies Prou 3.16.17 8.18 Deut. 28. Ps 1 12.2.3 seed and posteritie are entailed to such as are truly beleeuing and feare the Lord. And howsoeuer the vngodly man may lay some claime vnto them and that by some kinde of right from God as a preseruer of nature How a godles man may lay claime to temporall blessings a sustainer of his creature a maintainer of callings a rewarder of industry as a god of mercy alluring by benefits and a god of iustice to make men refusing his mercy excuselesse And howsoeuer no man can despoil him of them without great sinne yet can he not enioy them with any great comfort as wanting the best title through the want of Christ Now then if any man bee possessed with an ouerweening conceit of the exceeding woorth of worldly gaine be it knowen vnto him that whatsoeuer it is rightly to waigh it and properly to speake of it it