Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n
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A23688
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The art of contentment by the author of The whole duty of man, &c.
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Allestree, Richard, 1619-1681.
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1675
(1675)
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Wing A1087; ESTC R227993
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88,824
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224
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things unvenem all those calamities which are to others the gall of Asps and in a farther sense verify that Evangelical prophecy of beating swords into plough-shares and spears into pruning hooks Esay 2. 4. the most hostile weapons the most adverse events shall be by him converted into instruments of fertility shall only advance his spiritual growth 12. AND now who can chuse but confess this a much more eligible state then to be alwaies harrassed with solicitudes and cares perpetually either fearing future defeats or bewailing the past And then what can we call it less then madness or enchantment for men to act so contrary to their own dictates yea to their very sense and experience too see and acknowledge the inexplicable felicity of a resigned will and yet perversely to hold out theirs tho they can get nothing by it but the sullen pleasure of opposing God and tormenting themselves Let us therefore if not for our duty or ease yet at least for our reputation the asserting our selves men of sobriety and common sense do that which upon all these interests we are obliged let us but give up our wills and with them we shall certainly divest our selves of all our fruitless anxieties and cast our burdens upon him who invites us to do so He who bears all our sins will bear all our sorrows our griefs too if we will but be content to deposite them he will relieve us from all those oppressing weights which make our souls cleave to the dust Psal. 119. 25. and will in exchange give us only his light his pleasant burden Mat. 11. 33. In a word there will be no care left for us but that of keeping our selves in a capacity of his let us but secure our love to him and we are ascertain'd that all things shall work together for our good Rom. 8. 28. To conclude Resignation and Contentment are vertues not only of a near cognation and resemblance but they are linked as the Cause and the Effect Let us but make sure of Resignation and Content will flow into us without our farther industry as on the contrary whilst our wills are at defiance with Gods we shall alwaies find things at as great defiance with ours All our subtiletes or industries will never mould them to our satisfactions till we have moulded our selves into that pliant temper that we can cordially say It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3. 18. The Close 1. THIS short institution of the Art of Contentment cannot more naturally or more desirably draw to a conclusion then in the resort we have given it in the bosome of divine Providence The Roman conquerors as the last pitch of all their triumphs went to the Capitol and laid their Garlands in the lap of Iupiter but the Christian has an easier way to Triumph to put his crown of thornes for that is the trophy of his victories within the arms of his gracious God there lodg his fears his wants his sorrows and himself too as in the best repository 2. THE Gospel command of not caring for the morrow Mat. 6. 34 and being careful for nothing Phil. 4. 6. nakedly propos'd might seem the abandoning of us to all the calamities of life but when we are directed to cast all our care upon a gracious and all-powerful Parent and are assur'd that he cares for us 1 Pet. 5. 7. that tho a woman may forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion of the son of her womb yet will he not forget his children Isa. 49. 15. this will abundantly supersede all cavil and objection Whilst worldly men trust in an arm of flesh lay up tresure on earth a prey for rust and moth Mat. 6. 19. and a torment to themselves Jam. 5. 3. the Christian has Omnipotence for his support and a tresure in heaven where no thief approches nor moth corrupts Mat. 6. 20. Whil'st bold inquirers call in question Gods secret will oblige him to their sub or supralapsarian schemes their absolute or conditional decrees their grace foreseen or predetermin'd the pious man with aweful acquiescence submits to that which is revel'd resolves for ever to obey but never to dispute as knowing that the belov'd Disciple lean'd on his Masters bosome but t is the thiefs and traitors part to go about to rifle it 3. T IS surely a modest demand in the behalf of God Almighty that we should allow him as much privilege in his World as every Pesant clames in his Cottage to be Master there and dispose of his household as he thinks best to say to this man Go and he goeth and to another Come and he cometh and to his servant Do this and he doth it Mat. 8. 9. And if we would afford him this liberty there would be an immediate end put to all clamor and complaint 4. WE make it our daily praier that the will of God may be don in earth as it is in heaven with a ready swift and uninterrupted constancy As t is Giant-like rebellion to set up our will against his so is it mad perverseness to set it up against our own be displeas'd that our requests are granted and repine that his and therewith our will is don It were indeed not only good manners but good policy to observe the direction of the Heathen and follow God not prejudg his determinations by ours but in a modest suspension of our thoughts hearken what the Lord God will say concerning us for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints that they turn not again Psa. 85. 8. 5. OR however upon surprise we may indulge to a passionate affection and dote upon our illegitimate off-spring our dearling guilts or follies as David did upon that Child who was the price of Murder and adultery yet when the brat is taken from us when the Child is dead it will become us to do as he did rise from our sullen posture on the earth and worship in the house of the Lord 2 Sam. 12. 20. It will behove us as he saies in another place to lay our hand upon our mouth because it was his doing Psal. 30. 10. and with holy Iob Chap. 40. 4. when charg'd with his murmurings Behold I am vile what shall I answer Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no farther 6. Socrates rightly said of Contentment opposing it to the riches of fortune and opinion that t is the wealth of nature for it gives every thing that we have learnt to want and really need but Resignation is the riches of Grace bestowing all things that a Christian not only needs but can desire even Almighty God himself He indeed as the Scholemen teach is the objective happiness of the Creature He who is the fountain of being must be also of blessedness and tho this be only communicable to us when we have put off that flesh which cannot enter into the kingdom of God and laid aside that corruption which cannot inherit incorruption 1 Cor. 15. yet even in this life we may make approches to that blessed state by acts of Resignation and denial of our selves It was the generous saying of Socrates being about to die unto his friend O Crito since it is the will of God so let it be Anytus and Melitus may kill me but cannot hurt me But such a resignation as t is infinitly a greater duty to a Christian so it is also a more firm security In that case t is not the Martyr but Iesus of Nazareth who is thus persecuted and he who attaques him will find it hard to kick against the pricks Act. 9. 5. 7. THERE could not be a greater instance of the profligate sensuality of the Israelites then that they murmured for want of leeks and onions Num. 11. 5. when they ate Angels food and had bread rain'd down from heaven T is impossible for the soul that is sensible of God Almighties favor to repine at any earthly pressure The Lord is my shepherd saith David therefore can I lack nothing Psa. 23. 1. And thou hast put gladness into my heart more then when their corn and wine aud oil encreased Psa. 4. 7. and in passionate rapture he cries out Psa. 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever And likewise Psal. 46. 1. God is our hope and strength a very present help in trouble Therefore will we not fear tho the earth be moved and tho the hills be carried into the midst of the sea Tho the waters thereof rage and swell and tho the mountains shake at the tempest of the same If God be in the midst of us we shall not be removed he will help us and that right early Let us therefore possess our selves of this support and as the Prophet advises Isa. 8. 12. neither fear nor be afraid in any exigence how great soever but be still and quiet and sanctify the Lord of hosts himself and let him be our fear and let him be our dread FINIS THE CONTENTS SECTION 1. Of the necessary Connexion between Happiness and Contentment p. 1. 2. Of Gods Absolute Soveraignty p. 17. 3. Of Gods Unlimited Bounty p. 28. 4. Of the Surplusage of our Enjoiments above our Sufferings p. 56. 5. Of our Demerit towards God p. 86. 6. Of Gods general Providence p. 107. 7. Of Gods particular Providence p. 121. 8. Of the Advantage of Afflictions p. 130. 9. Of our Misfortunes compar'd with other mens p. 156. 10. Of particular aids for the gaining Contentment p. 178. 11. Of Resignation p. 196. The Close p. 209. * Decay of Christian Piety