the truth suffer by us The Deâ—ii among the Romans vowed themselves to death that their legions and souldiers might be crowned with the honour of the victory O what should we be content to suffer to make the truth victorious Regulus having sworne that he would returne to Carthage though he knew there was a furnace heating for him there yet not daring to infringe his oath he did adventure to goe we then who are Christians having made a vow to Christ in Baptism and so oft renewed it in the blessed Sacrament should with much contentation rather choose to suffer then violate our sacred oath Thus the blessed Martyrs with what courage and chearfulnesse did they yeeld up their souls to God and when the fire was set to their bodies yet their spirits were not at all fired with passion or discontent Though others hurt the body let them not the minde through discontent shew by your heroick courage that you are above those troubles which you cannot be without SECT VIII The eight Apology answered The next Apology is The prosperity of the wicked Answ. I confesse 't is so often that the evill enjoy all the good and the good endure all the evil David though a good man stumbled at this and had like to have fallen wel be contented for remember 1. These are not the only things nor the best things they are mercies without the pale these are but acorns with which God feedes swine you who are believers have more choice fruit the Olive the Pomegranate the fruit which grows on the true Vine Jesus Christ others have the fat of the earth you have the dew of heaven they have a South-land you have those springs of living water which are clarified with Christs blood and indulcorated with his love 2. To see the wicked flourish is matter rather of pity then envie 'T is all the heaven they must have Wo to you rich men for you have received your consolation Hence it was that David made it his solemne prayer Deliver me from the wicked from men of the world which have their portion in this life and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure Psal. 17. 14. The words me thinks are Davids Letany from men of the world which have their portion in this life Good Lord deliver me When the wicked have eaten of their dainty dishes there comes in a sad reckoning which wil spoile all The world is first musicall and then tragical if you would have a man fry and blaze in hel let him have enough of the fat of the earth O remember for every sand of mercy that runs out to the wicked God puts a drop of wrath into his Vial. Therefore as that souldier said to his fellow Do you envy me my grapes they cost me dear I must die for them So I say Do you envie the wicked alas their prosperity is like Hamans banquet before execution If a man were to be hanged would one envie to see him walk to the gallowes through pleasant fields and fine galleries or to see him go up the ladder in cloth of gold The wicked may flourish in their bravery a while but when they flourish as the grasse it is that they shal be destroyed for ever This proud grasse shall be mowen down Whatever a sinner enjoyes he hath a curse with it and shal we envie What if poisoned bread be given to dogs The long furrowes in the backs of the godly have a seed of blessing in them when the table of the wicked becomes a snare and their honour their halter SECT IX The ninth Apology Answered 9. The next Apology that discontent makes for it self is the evils of the times The times are full of Heresie and Impiety and this is that which troubles me This Apology consists of two branches to which I shall answer in specie and first 1. The times are full of Heresie This is indeed sad when the Divel cannot by violence destroy the Church he endeavours to poison it when he cannot with Samsons Fox-tailes set the corne on fire then he sowes tares as he labours to destroy the peace of the Church by Division so the truth of it by Errour we may cry out with Seneca Verè vivimus in temporum faecibus We live in times wherein there is a sluce open to all novel opinions and every mans opinion is his Bible Well this may make us mourne but let us not murmur through discontent Consider 1. Errour makes a discoverie of men 1. Bad men Errour discovers such as are tainted and corrupt When the Leprosie brake forth in the forehead then was the Leper discovered Errour is a spiritual Bastard the Divell is the father and pride the mother you never knew an erroneous man but he was a proud man now it is good that such men should be laid open to the intent first that Gods righteous judgements upon them may be adored Secondly that others who are free be not infected If a man hath the Plague it is well it breaks forth for my part I would avoid an Heretick as I would avoid the Divel for he is sent on his errand I appeale to you if there were a Taverne in this City where under a pretence of selling wine many hogsheads of poison were to be sold were it not well that others should know of it that they might not buy it is good that those who have poisoned opinions should be known that the people of God may not come near either the sent or tast of that poison 2. Errour is a Touchstone to discover good men it tries the gold There must be Heresies that they which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 approved may be made manifest Thus our love to Christ and zeale for truth doth appear God shewes who are the living fish viz. such as swim against the stream who are the sound sheep viz. such as feed in the greene pastures of the Ordinances who are the Doves viz. such as live in the best aire where the Spirit breaths God sets a Garland of honour upon these These are they which came out of great tribulation So these are they that have opposed the Errours of the times these are they that have preserved the virginity of their conscience who have kept their judgment sound and their heart soft God will have a Trophy of honour set upon some of his Saints they shal be renowned for their sincerity being like the Cypresse quae viriditatem in hyeme non amittit which keeps its greennesse and freshnesse in the winter-season 2. Be not sinfully discontented for God can make the errours of the Church advantageous to truth Thus the truths of God have come to be more beaten out and confirmed as it is in Law one man laying a false title to a piece of land the true title hath by this means beene the more searched into and ratified some had never so
satisfaction in each other when there was no other being therefore such who possess and improve God through Christ cannot possibly be dissatisfied The Almighty is the God of all grace of all comfort and of salvations in which respects neither deficiencies or disappointments lossess or crosses can cause disquieting discontents in that bosom where faith is commander in chief The Prophet Habakkuk rejoyced in the God of his salvation when the pestilence went before him and burning coles came forth of his feet and when he supposed all creature-succors both for delight necessity to be quite removed This this is the life which Christians should endevor and may attaine by the vigorous regular actings of precious faith This is the gain of Contentment which comes in by godlinesse when providences are black and likely to be bloudy now The just shall live by his faith That speech of learned Mr. Gataker is weighty and well worth the marking A contented minde argues a religious heart and a discontented minde argues an irreligious heart And that worthy Divine Mr. Greenham was bold to say They never felt Gods love or tasted forgivenes of sins who are discontented This likewise was an holy breathing of reverend Dr. Hall in his Meditations I have somewhat of the best things I will wit thankfulnesse enjoy them and will want the rest with contentment By attaining and maintaining this frame of heart we might have much of heaven on this side heaven Holy contentment maketh them truly rich whom the oppressing world maketh very poor Hereby our sweetest morsels shall be well seasoned and our bitterest potions well sweetned Had we learned to enjoy contentment in Iehovah who is immutable and all-sufficient this heavenly frame of spirit should never perish or change in the mid'st of the most amazing alterations in Church and State with which his Majesty is pleased to exercise us whereas because we live alone upon sublunaries therefore we are apt with Nabal to die upon the nest through dejectednesse upon the approach of imagined dangers When God seeth cause to cut us short of many creature-accommodations faith will moderate our desires after them assuring the soul that nothing is withdrawn or withheld which might be really advantageous and doubtlesse it is a great piece of happinesse upon earth not to long after that which the Lord is pleased to deny Indeed men act rather like Heathens then Christians when they fret upon some particular inferiour disappointments notwithstanding Gods liberality laid forth upon them in many other respects As Alexander the Monarch of the world was discontented because Ivie would not grow in his gardens at Babylon Diogenes the Cynick was herein more wise who finding a Mouse in his sachel said he saw that himself was not so poor but some were glad of his leavings Oh how might we if we had hearts to improve higher providences rock our peevish spirits quiet by much stronger arguments let us men lay before our eyes the practises of pious men recorded in Scripture for our imitation as Iacob Agur Paul c. and let us charge home upon our consciences divine exhortations backed with strong reasons and encouraged with sweet promises It was the grave counsel of holy Greenham Having food and raimont take the rest as an overplus Are we not lesse then the least of Gods mercies Is not God our bountifull benefactor why then do we not rest contented with his liberall allowance Oh let us chide our wrangling spirits and encourage confidence with contentment in God as blessed David did My pen hath outrun my purpose when I undertook this preface but I will no longer good Reader detaine thee in the porch wherein I have designed to quicken and to prepare thee to the more fruitful improvement of this seasonable usefull Treatise wherein the Author hath exercised to good purpose both the Christian graces and ministerial gifts with which God hath enriched him Herein the Doctrine of Christian contentment is clearly illustrated and profitably applyed the speciall cases wherein through change of providences discontents are most commonly occasioned are particularized and preservatives applyed to secure the soul. Although some other worthy Divines have been helpful by their discourses upon this subject yet there is much of peculiar use in this Treatise The Apostle tells us that some manifestation of the Spirit is given unto every man to profit withal Thy soul-profit is propounded as the Authorâ— end in publishing this piece and that this end may be accomplished is the unfained desire and hearty prayer of him who is Thy servant in and for Christ SIMEON ASâ—â— May 3. 1653. THE ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT CHAP. I. The Introduction to the Text. PHIL. 4. 11. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content THese words are brought in by way of Prolepsis to anticipate and prevent an Objection The Apostle had in the former Verses laid down many grave and heavenly exhortations among the rest to be carefull for nothing Vers. 6. Not to exclude 1. A prudential care For Hee that provideth not for his owne house hath denyed the Faith and is worse then an Infidel Nor 2. A Religious care For wee must give all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure But 3. To exclude all anxious care about the issues and events of things Take no thought for your life what you shall eat and in this sense it should be a Christians care not to be carefull The word in the Greeke Carefull comes from a Primitive that signifies To cut the heart in pieces a soule-dividing Care take heed of this Wee are bid to commit our way unto the Lord the Hebrew word is Roll thy way upon the Lord. It is our work to cast care and it is Gods work to take care By our immoderacy we take his work out of his hand Care when it is excentrick either distrustfull or distracting is very dishonorable to God it takes away his providence as if he sate in heaven and minded not what became of things here below like a man that makes a clock and then leaves it to go of it self Immoderate care takes the heart off from better things and usually while wee are thinking how we shall do to live we forget how to die Curis tabescimus omnes Care is a spiritual canker that doth waste and dispirit cui bono We may sooner by our care add a furlong to our grief then a cubit to our comfort God doth threaten it as a curse They shall eat their bread with carefulness better fast then eat of that bread Be careful for nothing Now lest any one should say I Paul thou preachest that to us which thou hast scarce learned thy self Hast thou learned not to be carefull The Apostle seems tacitly to answer that in the words of the Text I have learned in whatsoever
What an honour is it to a Parent to beget such a childe that while he lives encreasâ—th the joy of the glorified Angels and when he dies increaseth the number of the glorified Saints 5. If God hath taken away one of your children he hath left you more he might have stripp'd you of all He tooke away all Iobs comforts his estate his children and indeed his wife was left but as a crosse Satan made a bow of this rib as Chrysostom speaks and shot a tentation by her at Iob thinking to have shot him to the heart Curse God and die but Iob had upon him the brest-plate of Integrity and though his children were taken away yet not his graces still he is content still he blesseth God O thinke how many mercies you still enjoy yet our base hearts are more discontented at one losse then thankfull for an hundred mercies God hath plucked one bunch of Grapes from you but how many precious Clusters are left behinde Object But it was my only Childe the staffe of my age the seed of my comfort and the only blossome out of which the honour of an ancient family did grow Answ. 1. God hath promised you if you belong to him a name better then of sons and daughters Is he dead that should have been the monument to have kept up the name of a Family God hath given you a new name he hath written your name in the booke of Life behold your spirituall Heraldry here is a name that cannot be cut off 2. Hath God taken away thy only childe hee hath given thee his onely Son this is a happy exchange What needs he complaine of losses that hath Christ he is his fathers brightness his riches his delight Is there enough in Christ to delight the heart of God and is there not enough in him to ravish us with holy delight He is wisdome to teach us righteousness to acquit us sanctification to adorne us he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Royall and Princely gift he is the bread of Angels the joy and triumph of Saints he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all in all why then art thou discontented though thy childe be lost yet thou hast him for whom all things are losse 7. And lastly let us blush to thinke that nature should seeme to outstrip grace Puluillus an Heathen when he was about to consecrate a Temple to Iupiter and news was brought to him of the death of his sonne would not desist from his enterprize but with much composure of minde gave order for decent burial SECT II. The second Apology answered 2. Apology that discontent makes is I have a great part of my estate strangely melted away and trading begins to faile God is pleased sometimes to bring his children very low and cut them short in their estate it fares with them as with that widow who had nothing in her house save a pot of oyle but be content 1. God hath taken away your Estate but not your Portion This is a sacred Paradox Honour and Estate are no part of a Christians Joynture they are rather acâ—essaries then essentialls and are extrinsecall and forreigne therefore the losse of these cannot denominate a man miserable still the portion remains The Lord is my portion saith my soul Suppose one were worth a million of money and he should chance to lose a pin off his sleeve this is no part of his estate nor can we say he is undone the losse of sublunary comforts is not so much to a Christians portion as the losse of a pin is to a million These things shall bee added to you Adjâ—cientur they shall be cast in as overplus when a man buyes a piece of cloth he hath an inch or two given in to the measure now though he lose his inch of cloth yet he is not undone for still the whole piece remaines our outward estate is not so much in regard of the portion as an inch of cloth is to the whole piece why then should a Christian be discontented when the title to his spiritual treasure remains a thief may take away all my money that I have about me but not my land still a Christian hath a title to the land of promise Mary hath chosen the better part which shall not be taken from her 2. Perhaps if thy estate had not been lost thy soul had beene lost outward comforts doe often quench inward heat God cannot bestow a jewel upon us but we fall so in love with it that we forget him that gave it what pity is it that we should commit idolatry with the creature God is forc'd sometimes to draine away an estate the plate and jewels are often cast over-board to save the passenger Many a man may curse the time that ever he had such an estate it hath been an enchantment to draw away his heart from God Some there are that will be rich and they fall into a snare Art thou troubled that God hath prevented a snare Riches are Thornes art thou angry that God hath pull'd a way a thorne from thee Riches are compar'd to thick clay Perhaps thy affections which are the feet of the soul might have stuck so fast in this golden clay that they could not have ascended up to heaven be content if God damme up our outward comforts it is that the streame of our love may runne faster another way 3. If your estate be small yet God can blesse a little 'T is not how much money we have but how much blessing He that often curseth the bags of gold can blesse the meale in the barrel and the oyl in the cruse What if thou hast not the full flesh-pots yet thou hast a promise I will blesse her provision and then a little goes a great way be content thou hast the dew of a blessing distill'd a dinner of green herbs where love is is sweet I may adde where the love of God is another may have more estate then you but more care more riches lesse rest more revenewes but withall more occasions of expence he hath a greater inheritance yet perhaps God doth not give him power to eate thereof he hath the dominion of his estate not the use he holds more but enjoyes lesse in a word thou hast lesse gold then he perhaps lesse guilt 4. You did never so thrive in your spiritual trade your heart was never so low as since your condition was low you were never so poore in spirit never so rich in faith You did never runne the wayes of Gods Commandments so fast as since some of your golden weights were taken off You never had such trading for heaven all your life this is uberrimus quaestus You did never make such adventures upon the promise as since you left off your Sea-adventures This is the
Suavitate in sweetnesse A poisonfull weed may grow as much as the Hyssop or Rose-mary the Poppy in the field as the Corne the Crab as the Pearmaine but the one hath a harsh sowre taste the other mellows as it growes An hypocrite may grow in outward dimensions as much as a childe of God hee may pray as much professe as much but he growes onely in magnitude hee brings forth sowre grapes his duties are leavened with pride the other ripens as he growes he growes in love humility faith which do mellow and sweeten his duties and make them come off with a better relish The Beleever growes as the flower he casts a fragrancy and perfume 3. A true Christian growes Robore in strength he growes still more rooted and setled The more the tree growes the more it spreads its root in the earth A Christian who is a Plant of the heavenly Ierusulem the longer he growes the more he incorporates into Christ and sucks spirituall juice and sap from him he is a dwarfe in regard of humility but a gyant in regard of strength He is strong to do duties to beare burdens to resist tentations 4. He growes Vigore in the exercise of his grace He hath not only oile in his lamps but his lamps are burning and shining Grace is agile and dexterous Christs vines doe flourish hence wee read of a lively hope and a fervent love here is the activity of Grace Indeed sometimes grace is as a sleepy habit in the soule like sap in the vine not exerting its vigour which may be occasion'd through spiritual sloth or by reason of falling into some sin but this is only pro tempore for a while the spring of grace will come the flowers will appear and the fig tree put forth her green figs The fresh gales of the Spirit do sweetly revive and refocillate grace The Church of Christ whose heart was a garden and her graces as precious spices prayes for the heavenly breathings of the Spirit that her sacred spices might flow out 5. A true Christian growes Incremento both in the kinde and in-the degree of grace To his spirituall living he gets an augmentation hee addes to faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance c. here is grace growing in the kind and he goes on from faith to faith there is grace growing in the degree We are bound to give thanks to God for you brethren because your faith groweth exceedingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it encreaseth over and above And the Apostle speaks of those spirituall plants which were laden with Gospel fruit Phil. 1. 11. A Christian is compar'd to the Vine an embleme of fruitfulnesse he must bear full clusters We are bid to perfect that which is lacking in our faith A Christian must never be so old as to bee past bearing he brings forth fruit in his old age An heaven-borne plant is ever growsing hee never thinks hee growes enough he is not content unlesse he adde every day one cubit to his spiritual stature We must not be contented just with so much grace as will keep life and soul together a dram or two must not suffice but we must be stil encreasing with the encrease of God We had need renew our strength as the Eagle our sinnes are renewed our wants are renewed our tentations are renewed and shal not our strength be renewed Oh bee not content with the first embryo of grace grace in its infancy and minority You look for degrees of glory bee you Christians of degrees Though a Beleever should be contented with a modicum in his estate yet not with a modicum in Religion A Christian of the right breed labours still to excell himselfe and come nearer unto that holinesse in God who is the originall the paterne and prototype of all holinesse CHAP. XIII USE 4. Shewing how a Christian may know whether he hath learned this divine Art Use. IV. THus having laid down these three Cautions I proceed in the next place to an use of Triall 4. How may a Christian know that he hath learned this lesson of Contentment I shall lay down some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or characters by which you shall know it 1. A contented spirit is a silent spirit He hath not one word to say against God I was dumb or silent because thou Lord didst it Ps. 39. Contentment silenceth all dispute He sitteth alone and keepeth silence There is a sinfull silence when God is dishonoured his truth wounded and men hold their peace this silence is a loud sinne and there is an holy silence when the soul sits down quiet and content with its condition When Samuel tells Eli that heavy message from God that he would judge his house and that the iniquity of his family should not bee purged away with sacrifice for ever doth Eli murmur or dispute No he hath not one word to say against God It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good A discontented spirit saith as Pharaoh Who is the Lord why should I suffer all this why should I bee brought into this low condition Who is the Lord But a gracious heart saith as Eli It is the Lord let him doe what he will with me When Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron had offered up strange fire and fire went from the Lord and devoured them is Aaron now in a passion of discontent No Aaron held his peace A contented spirit is never angry unless with himselfe for having hard thoughts of God When Ionah said I do well to be angry this was not a contented spirit it did not become a Prophet 2. A contented spirit is a chearfull spirit the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Contentment is something more then Patience for Patience denotes onely submission Contentment denotes chearfulnesse A contented Christian is more then passive he doth not only bear the Cross but take up the Crosse He looks upon God as a wise God and whatever hee doth though it bee not ad voluntatem yet ad sanitatem it is in order to a cure Hence the contented Christian is chearfull and with the Apostle takes pleasure in infirmities distresses c. He doth not onely submit to Gods dealings but rejoyce in them he doth not onely say Iust is the Lord in all that is befallen me but Good is the Lord. This is to be contented A sullen melancholy is hatefull it is said God loves a chearfull giver I and God loves a chearfull liver We are bid in Scripture not to be careful but we are no where bid not to bee chearfull He that is contented with his condition doth not abate of his spirituall joy and indeed he hath that within him which is the ground of chearfulnesse hee carries a pardon sealed in his heart 3. A contented spirit is a thankfull spirit This