if he would study rather to satisfie his hunger then his humour SECT 15. 15. Rule Beleeve the present condition is best for us Flesh and blood is not a competent judge Surfeited stomacks are for banqueting stuffe but a man that regards his health is rather for solid food Vaine men fancy such a condition best and would flourish in their bravery whereas a wise Christian hath his will melted into Gods will and thinks it best to be at his finding God is wise he knowes whether we need food or physick and if wee could acquiesce in providence the quarrell would soon be at an end O what a strange creature would man be if he were what he could wish himself Be content to be at Gods allowance God knowes which is the fittest pasture to put his sheep in Sometimes a more barren ground doth well whereas rank pasture may rot Doe I meet with such a crosse God shewes me what the world is he hath no better way to weane me then by putting mee to a step-mother Doth God stint me in my allowance he is now dieting me Do I meet with losses it is that God may keep me from being lost Every crosse winde shall at last blow mee to the right port Did we beleeve that condition best which God doth parcell out to us we should chearfully submit and say The lines are fallen in pleasant places SECT 16. 16. Rule Doe not too much indulge the flesh Wee have taken an oath in Baptisme to forsake the flesh The flesh is a worse enemy then the devil it is abosome traitour an enemy within is worst If there were no devil to tempt the flesh would be another Eve to tempt to the forbidden fruit Oh take heed of giving way to it whence is all our discontent but from the fleshly part The flesh puts us upon the immoderate pursuit of the world it consults for ease and plenty and if it be not satisfied then discontents begin to arise Oh let it not have the reines martyr the flesh in spirituall things the flesh is a sluggard in secular things an Horsleech crying Give give The flesh is an enemy to suffering it will sooner make a man a Courtier then a Martyr Oh keep it under put its neck under Christs yoke stretch and naile it to his Crosse never let a Christian look for contentment in his spirit till there be confinement in his flesh SECT 17. 17. Rule Meditate much on the glory which shall be revealed There are great things laid up in heaven Though it be sad for the present yet let us be content in that it will shortly be better it is but a while and we shall be with Christ bathing our souls in the fountaine of his love we shall never complain of wants or injuries any more our crosse may be heavie but one sight of Christ will make us forget all our former sorrowes There are two things should give contentment 1. That God will make us able to bear our troubles God saith Chrysostome doth like a Lutenist who will not let the strings of his Lute be too slack lest it spoile the musick nor will he suffer them to be too hard stretched or serued up lest they break So doth God deal with us he wil not let us have too much prosperity lest this spoile the musick of prayer and repentance nor yet too much adversity lest the spirit faile before him and the soules which he hath made 2. When we have suffered a while we shall be perfected in glory the Crosse shall be our ladder by which we shall climbe up to heaven Be then content and the scene will alter God will ere long turn our water into wine the hope of this is enough to drive away all distempers from the heart Blessed be God it will be better We have no continued City here therefore our afflictions cannot continue A wise man looks still to the end The end of the just man is peace Me thinks the smoothnesse of the end should make amends for the ruggednesse of the way Oh eternity eternity think often of the Kingdome prepared David was advanced from the field to the throne First he held his Shepherds staffe and shortly after the royall Scepter Gods people may be put to hard services here but God hath chosen them to be Kings to sit upon the throne with the Lord Jesus This being weighed in the balance of Faith would be an excellent meanes to bring the heart to contentment SECT 18. 18. Rule Be much in Prayer The last Rule for Contentment is Be much in Prayer Beg of God that he wil work our hearts to this blessed frame Is any man afflicted let him pray So is any man discontented let him pray Prayer gives vent The opening of a vein le ts out the bad blood When the heart is filled with sorrow and disquiet prayer le ts out the bad blood The key of prayer oiled with teares unlocks the heart of all its discontents Prayer is an holy spell or charme to drive away trouble Prayer is the unbosoming of the soule the unloading of all our cares in Gods brest and this ushers in sweet contentment When there is any burden upon our spirits by opening our minde to a friend we finde our hearts finely eased and quieted It is not our strong resolutions but our strong requests to God which must give the heart case in trouble by Prayer the strength of Christ is brought into the soule and where that is a man is able to go through any condition Paul could be in every state content but that you may not think hee was to do this of himself he tells you that though he could want and abound and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe all things yet it was through Christ strengthening him Phil. 4. 13. 'T is the childe that writes but it is the Scrivener guides his hand St. Paul arrived at the hardest duty in Religion viz. Contentment but the Spirit was his Pilot and Christ his strength and this strength was ushered in by holy prayer Prayer is a powerfull Oratour Constantine the Emperour as he did write Christs Name upon his door so he did invoke his Name in his closet Prayer is an exorâ—â—â— with God and an exoroist against sin The best way is to pray down discontent What Luther faith of Concupiscence I may say of Discontent Prayer is a sacred Leech to suck out the venome and swelling of this passion Prayer composeth the heart and brings it into tune Hath God deprived you of many comforts blesse God that he left you the Spirit of Prayer Use. 6. The last use is of comfort or encouraging word to the contented Christian. If there be an heaven upon earth thou hast it O Christian thou may'st insult over thy troubles and with the Leviathan laugh at the shaking of a spear Iob 41. 29. What shall I say thou art a crown
credere Deum but in Deum which is the actual application of Christ to our selves and as it were the spreading the sacred medicine of his blood upon our souls You that have heard much of Christ and yet cannot with an humble adherence say My Iesus be not offended if I tell you the Devill can say his Creed as well as you 3. To learne Christ is to live Christ. When we have Bible-conversations our lives as rich Diamonds cast a sparkling lustre in the Church of God and are in some sense parallel with the life of Christ as the Transcript with the Originall So much for the first notion of the word CHAP. III. Containing the second Proposition II. THis word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have learned is a word imports difficulty it showes how hardly the Apostle came by his contentment of minde it was not naturâ in genitum St. Paul did not come naturally by it but he had learned it It cost him many a prayer and teare it was taught him by the Spirit Whence Doct. 2. Good things are hard to come by The businesse of Religion is not so facile as most doe imagaine I have learned saith St. Paul Indeed you need not learn a man to sin this is naturall and therefore facile it comes as water out of a Spring 'T is an easie thing to be wicked Hell will be taken without storme but matters of Religion must be learned To cut the flesh is easie but to prick a vein and not cut an artery is hard The trade of sinne needs not to be learned but the Art of Contentment is not atchieved without holy industry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have learned There are two pregnant reasons why there must be so much study and exercitation 1. Because spirituall things are against nature Every thing in Religion is antipodes to nature There are in Religion two things Credenda Facienda and both are against nature 1. Credenda Matters of Faith As for a man to be justified by the righteousnesse of another to become a foole that he may be wise to save all by losing all this is against nature 2. Facienda Matters of practice As 1. Selfe-denyall for a man to deny his own wisdome and see himself blinde his own will and have it melted into the will of God plucking out the right eye beheading and crucifying that sin which is the favorite and lies nearest to the heart For a man to be dead to the world and in the midst of want to abound for him to take up the Crosse and follow Christ not onely in golden but bloody pathes to embrace Religion when it is dress'd in its night-cloathes all the Jewels of honour and preferment being pull'd off this is against nature and therefore must be learned 2. Selfe-examination For a man to take his heart as a watch all in pieces to set up a spirituall inquisition or Court of conscience and traverse things in his own soul to take Davids Candle and Lanthorn and search for sin nay as Judge to passe the sentence upon himself this is against nature and will not easily be attained to without Learning 3. Self-reformation To see a man as Caleb of another spirit walking antipodes to himself his heart changed the current of his life altered and running into the channel of Religion this is wholly against nature and is as strange as to see the earth fly upward or the bowle runne contrary to its own byasse When a stone ascends it is not a natural motion but a violent the motion of the soul heaven-ward is a violent motion it must be learned flesh and blood is not skill'd in these things Nature can no more cast out Nature then Satan can cast out Satan 2. Because spiritual things are above nature There are some things in nature that are hard to finde out as the causes of things which are not learned without studie Aristotle a great Philosopher whom some have call'd an Eagle fallen from the clouds yet could not finde out the motion of the River Euripus therefore threw himselfe into it What then are divine things which are in a sphere above Nature and beyond all humane disquisition as the Trinity the hypostatical Union the mystery of Faith to beleeve against hope onely Gods Spirit can light our candle here The Apostle cals these the deep things of God The Gospel is full of Jewels but they are lock'd up from sense and reason The Angels in heaven are searching into these sacred depths Use. Let us beg the Spirit of God to teach us wee must be divinitùs edocti The Eunuch could read but he could not understand till Philip ioyned himself to his chariot Gods Spirit must joyn himself to our chariot Hee must teach or wee cannot learn All thy children shall be taught of the Lord A man may read the figure on the Diall but hee cannot tell how the day goes unless the Sun shine upon the Diall we may read the Bible over but wee cannot learn to purpose till the Spirit of God shine into our hearts Oh implore this blessed Spirit it is Gods Prerogative Royall to teach I am the Lord thy God that teacheth thee to profit Ministers may tell us our lesson God onely can teach us We have lost both our hearing and eye-sight therefore are very unfit to learn Ever since Eve listned to the Serpent wee have been deafe and since shee looked on the tree of Knowledg wee have been blinde but when God comes to teach he removes these impediments We are naturally dead who will goe about to teach a dead man Yet behold God undertakes to make dead men to understand mysteries God is the grand Teacher This is the reason the word preached works so differently upon men two in a Pew the one is wrought upon effectually the other lies at the Ordinances as a dead childe at the brest and gets no nourishment What is the reason because the heavenly gale of the Spirit blowes upon one and not upon the other One hath the anointing of God which teacheth him all things the other hath it not Gods Spirit speaks sweetly but irresistibly In that heavenly doxology none could sing the new song but those who were sealed in their foreheads reprobates could not sing it Those that are skilfull in the mysteries of salvation must have the seal of the Spirit upon them Let us make this our prayer Lord breath thy Spirit into thy Word and we have a promise which may add wings to prayer If yee then being evill know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that aske him And thus much of the first part of the Text The Scholar which I intended only as a short glosse or paraphrase CHAP. IV. The second branch
studied to defend the truth by Scripture if others had not endeavoured to overthrow it by Sophistry all the mists and fogs of Error that have risen out of the bottomlesse pit have made the glorious Sun of truth to shine so much the brighterr Had not Arius and Sabellius broached their damnable Errours the truth of those questions about the blessed Trinity had never beene so discussed and defended by Athanasius Augustine and others had not the Divel brought in so much of his princely darknesse the Champions for Truth had never runne so fast to Scripture to light their Lamps So that God who hath a wheele within a wheele over-rules these things wisely and turnes them to the best Truth is an heavenly plant that settles by shaking 3. God raiseth the price of his truth the more the very shreds and filings of truth are venerable When there is much counterfeit metall abroad we prize the true Gold the more the pure wine of Truth is never more precious then when unsound doctrines are broached and vented 4. Errour makes us more thankfull to God for the jewel of Truth When you see another infected with the Plague how thankful are you that God hath freed you from the infection when we see others have the Leprosie in the head how thankful are we to God that he hath not given us over to believe a lie and so â—e damned It is a good use that may be made even of the Errour of the times when it makes us more humble and thankful adoring the free grace of God who hath kept us from drinking of that deadly poison 2. The second Branch of the Apology that discontent makes is the impiety of the times I live and converse among the profane O that I had wings like a Dove that I might flie away and be at rest Answ. It is indeed sad to be mixed with the wicked David beheld the transgressors and was grieved and Lot who was a bright Starre in a dark night was vexed or as the word in the Original may beare wearied out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the unclean conversation of the wicked he made the sinnes of Sodom spears to pierce his own soul we ought if there be any spark of divine love in us to be very sensible of the sinnes of others and our hearts bleed for them yet let us not break forth in murmuring or discontent knowing that God in his providence hath permitted it and surely not without some reasons For 1. The Lord makes the wicked an hedge to defend the godly the wise God often makes those who are wicked and peaceable a meanes to safeguard his people from those who are wicked and cruell The King of Babylon kept Ieremy and gave speciall order for his looking to that he did want nothing God sometimes makes brazen sinners to be brazen walls to defend his people 2. God doth interline mingle the wicked with the godly that the godly may be a means to save the wicked such is the beauty of holiness that it hath a magnetical force in it to allure and draw even the wicked Somtimes God makes a beleeving husband a means to convert an unbeleeving wife and è contrà What knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thy husband or how knowest thou O man whether thou shalt save thy wife The godly living among the wicked by their prudent advice and pious example have won them to the embracing of Religion if there were not some godly among the wicked how in a probable way without a miracle can we imagine that the wicked should be converted Those who are now shining Saints in Heaven sometimes served divers lusts Paul once a persecutor Augustine once a Manichee Luther once a Monk but by the severe and holy carriage of the godly were converted to the faith SECT X. The tenth Apology answered The next Apology that Discontent makes is lownesse of parts and gifts I cannot saith the Christian discourse with that fluency nor pray with that elegancy as others Answ. 1. Grace is beyond gifts Thou comparest thy grace with anothers gifts ther is a vast difference Grace without gifts is infinitely better then gifts without grace in Religion the vitals are better then the intellectuals Gifts are a more extrinsecall and common worke of the Spirit which is incident to reprobates grace is a more distinguishing worke and is a jewell hung onely upon the Elect. Hast thou and seed of God the holy anointing be content I. Thou sayest thou canst not discourse with that fluency as others Answ. Experiments in Religion are beyond notions and impressions beyond expressions Iudas no doubt could make a learned discourse of Christ but welfare the woman in the Gospel that felt vertue coming out of him A sanctified heart is better then a silver tongue There is as much difference between gifts and grace as between a Tulip painted on the wall and one growing in the Garden II. Thou sayest thou canst not pray with that elegancy as others Answ. Prayer is a matter more of the heart then the head In prayer it is not so much fluency prevailes as fervency nor is God so much taken with the elegancy of speech as the efficacy of the Spirit Humility is better then volubility here the mourner is the oratour sighes and grones are the best Rhetorique 2. Be not discontented For God doth usually proportion a mans parts to the place where he calls him Some are set in an higher sphere and function their place requires more parts and abilities but the most inferiour member is usefull in its place and shall have a power delegated for the discharge of its peculiar office SECT XI The eleventh Apology answered The next Apology is The troubles of the Church Alas my disquiet and discontent is not so much for my self as the publick The Church of God suffers Answ. I confesse it is sad and we ought for this to hang our Harps upon the Willowes he is a wooden leg in Christs body that is not sensible of the state of the body As a Christian must not be proud flesh so neither dead flesh When the Church of God suffers hee must sympathize Ieremy wept for the Virgin daughter of Sion Wee must feel our brethrens hard cords through our soft beds in Musick if one string be touched all the rest sound when God strikes upon our brethren our bowels must sound as an Harp be sensible but doe not give way to discontent For consider 1. God sits at the sterne of his Church Sometimes it is as a ship tossed upon the waves O thou afflicted and tossed but cannot God bring this ship to haven though it meet with a storme upon the Sea The ship in the Gospel was tossed because sinne was in it but it was not overwhelmed because Christ was in it Christ is in the Ship
Psalmist having very elegantly describ'd the Churches trouble Psal. 74. prefixeth this title to the Psalme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a Psalme giving instruction that which seales up instruction works for good God puts us sometimes under the black rod but it is virga disciplinaris a rod of discipline Hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it God makes our Adversity our University Affliction is a Preacher Blow the trumpet in Tekoah Ier. 6. 1. The Trumpet was to preach to the people as appeares vers 6. Be thou instructed O Ierusalem Sometimes God speaks to the Minister to lift up his voice like a Trumpet and here hee speaks to the Trumpet to lift up its voice like a Minister Afflictions teach us 1. Humility commonly prosperous and proud corrections are Gods corrosives to eat out the proud flesh Jesus Christ is a Lily of the vallies he dwells in an humble heart God brings us into the valley of teares that he may bring us into the valley of humility Remembring my affliction the wormwood and the gall my soul hath them still in remembrance and is humbled in me When men are grown high God hath no better way with them then to brew them a cup of wormwood Afflictions are compared to thorns Gods thornes are to prick the bladder of pride suppose a man runne at another with a sword to kill him accidentally it onely lets out his impostume this doth him good Gods sword is to let out the impostume of pride and shall that which makes us humble make us discontented 2. Afflictions teach us Repentance Thou hast chastised me and I was chastifed I repented and after I was instructed I smote upon my thigh c Repentance is the precious fruit that growes upon the Crosse. When the fire is put under the Still the water drops from the Roses fiery afflictions make the waters of Repentance drop and distill from the eyes and is here any cause of discontent 3. Afflictions teach us to pray better They poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them Before they would say a prayer now they poured out a prayer Vigilab at in ceto qui stertebat in navi Jonah was asleep in the ship but awake and at prayer in the Whales belly When God puts under the firebrands of affliction now our hearts boile over the more God loves to have his children possessed with a spirit of prayer Never did David the sweet singer of Israel tune his Harp more melodiously never did he pray better then when he was upon the waters Thus afflictions do in discipline and shal we be discontented at that which is for our good 2. Afflictions are probatory Gold is not the worse for being tried or corne for being fanned Affliction is the touchstone of sincerity it tries what mettall wee are made of affliction is Gods fan and his sieve 'T is good that men be known some serve God for a livery they are like the fisherman that makes use of his net onely to catch the fish So they go a fishing with the net of Religion onely to catch preferment Affliction discovers these The Donatists went to the Gothes when the Arians prevailed Hypocrites will not faile in a storme true grace holds out in the winter-season That is a precious faith which like the star shines brightest in the darkest night 'T is good that our graces should bee brought to a triall thus we have the comfort and the Gospel the honour and why then discontented 3. Afflictions they are expurgatory these evills work for good because they work out sinne and shall I be discontented at this What if I have more trouble if I have lesse sin The brightest day hath its clouds the purest gold its drosse the most refined soule hath some lees of corruption The Saints lose nothing in the furnace but what they can well spare their drosse is not this for our good why then should we murmure I am come to send fire on the earth Tertullian understands it of the fire of affliction God makes this like the fire of the three children which burned onely their bonds and set them at liberty in the furnace So the fire of affliction serves to burne the bonds of iniquity By this therefore shall the iniquity of Iacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne When affliction or death comes to a wicked man it takes away his soule when it comes to a godly man it onely takes away his sinne is there then any cause why wee should be discontented God steeps us in the brinish waters of affliction that hee may take out our spots Gods people are his husbandry the ploughing of the ground kills the weeds and the harrowing of the earth breaks the hard clods Gods ploughing of us by affliction is to kill the weeds of sinne his harrowing of us is to break the hard clods of impenitency that the heart may be the fitter to receive the seeds of grace and if this be all why should we be discontented 4. Afflictions doe both exercise and encrease grace First they exercise grace affliction doth breath our graces every thing is most in its excellency when it is most in its exercise Our grace though it cannot be dead yet it may be asleep hath need of awakening What a dull thing is the fire when it is hid in the embers or the Sunne when it is masqued with a cloud a sick man is living but not lively afflictions quicken and excite grace God doth not love to see grace in the eclipse Now faith puts forth its purest and most noble acts in times of affliction God makes the fall of the leafe the spring of our graces What if we are more passive if grace be more active 2. Afflictions do encrease grace as the winde serves to encrease blow up the flame so do the windy blasts of affliction augment blow up our graces grace spends in the furnace but it is like the widowes oile in the cruse which did encrease by pouring out The torch when it is beaten burns brightest so doth grace when it is exercised by sufferings Sharp frosts nourish the good corne so doe sharp afflictions grace some plants grow better in the shade then in the Sun as the Bay and the Cypress The shade of adversity is better for some then the Sun-shine of prosperity Naturalists observe that the Colewort thrives better when it is watered with salt water then with fresh So do some thrive better in the salt water of affliction and shall wee be discontented at that which makes us grow and fructifie more 5. These afflictions do bring more of Gods immediate presence into the soule When we are most assaulted we shall be most assisted I will be with him in trouble It cannot be ill with that man with whom God is by his powerfull presence in supporting and his gracious presence in
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
of Reproach that the world did shoot at Christ went deeper into his heart then the spear His suffering was so ignominious that as if the Sunne did blush to behold it withdrew its bright beams and masqued it selfe with a cloud and well it might when the Sun of Righteousnesse was in an eclipse all this contumely and reproach did the God of glory endure or rather despise for us Oh then let us be content to have our names eclipsed for Christ let not reproach lie aâ— our heart but let us binde it as a crown about our head Alas what is reproach this is but small shot how will men stand in the mouth of the Canon those who are discontented at a reproach wil be offended at a faggot 5. Is not many a man contented to suffer reproach for maintaining his lust and shall not we for maintaining the truth Some glory in that which is their shame and shall we be ashamed of that which is our glory Be not troubled at these petty things he whose heart is once divinely touched with the loadstone of Gods Spirit doth account it his honour to be dishonoured for Christ and doth as much despise the worlds censure as he doth their praise 6. We live in an Age wherein men dare reproach God himselfe The Divinity of the Son of God is blasphemously reproached by the Socinian The blessed Bible is reproached by the Antiscripturist as if it were but a legend of lies and every mans faith a fable The Iustice of God is called to the barre of Reason by the Arminian The Wisdome of God in his providentiall actings is taxed by the Atheist The Ordinances of God are decryed by the Familist as being too heavy a burden for a free-borne conscience and too low and carnall for a sublime Seraphique spirit The Wayes of God which have the Majesty of holinesse shining in them are calumniated by the Profane The mouthes of men are open against God as if he were an hard Master and the path of Religion too strict and severe If men cannot give God a good word shall we be discontented or troubled that they speak hardly of us such as labour to bury the glory of Religion shall we wonder that their throats are open sepulchres to bury our good name Oh let us be contented while we are in Gods scouring house to have our names sullied a little the blackler wee seeme to be here the brighter shall wee shine when God hath set us upon the celestiall shelfe SECT VI. The sixth Apology answered The sixth Apology that Discontent makes is disrespect in the world I have not that esteem from men as is suitable to my quality and graces And doth this trouble Consider 1. The world is an unequall Judge as it is full of change so of partiality The world gives her Respects as she doth her places of preferment more by favour often then desert Hast thou the ground of reall worth in thee that is best Worth is in him that hath it Honour is in him that gives it better deserve respect and not have it then have it and not deserve it 2. Hast thou grace God respects thee and his judgement is best worth prizing A Beleever is a person of honour being borne of God Since thou wast precious in mine eyes thou has been honourable and I have loved thee Let the world think what they will of you perhaps in their eyes you are a cast-away in Gods eyes a Dove a Spouse a Iewel others account you the dregs and off-scouring of the world but God will give whole Kingdomes for your ransome Let this content no matter with what oblique eyes I am looked upon in the world if I am rectus in curia God thinks well of me 'T is better that God approve then man applaud The world may put us in their Rubrick and God put us in his black-book What is a man the better that his fellow-prisoners commend him if his Judge condemne him Oh labour to keepe in with God prize his love let my fellow-subjects frowne I am contented being a favorite of the King of heaven 3. If we are the children of God we must look for disrespect a believer is in the world but not of the world we are here in a pilgrim-condition out of our own Countrey therefore must not looke for the respects and acclamations of the world it is sufficient that we shall have honour in our own Country T is dangerous to be the worlds favorite 4. Discontent arising from disrespect favours too much of pride an humble Christian hath a lower opinion of himselfe then others can have of him He that is taken up about the thoughts of his sins and how he hath provoked God he cryes out as Agar I am more brutish then any man and therefore is contented though he be set among the Dogs of the flock Though he be low in the thoughts of others yet hee is thankfull that he is not laid in the lowest hell A proud man sets an high value upon himselfe and is angry with others because they will not come up to his price Take heed of pride O had others a window to look into thy brest as Crates once expressed it or did thy heart stand where thy face doth thou would'st wonder to have so much respect SECT VII The seventh Apology answered The next Apology is I meet with very great sufferings for the truth Consider 1. Your sufferings are not so great as your sinnes Put these two in the balance and see which weighs heaviest where sinne lies heavie sufferings lie light A carnall spirit makes more of his sufferings and lesse of his sinnes he lookes upon one at the great end of the Perspective but upon the other at the little end of the Perspective The carnall heart cries out Take away the Frogs but a gracious heart cries Take away the iniquity The one saith never any one suffered as I have done but the other saith Never any one sinned as I have done 2. Art thou under sufferings thou hast an opportunity to shew the valour and constancy of thy minde some of Gods Saints would have accounted it a great favour to have been honoured with martyrdome One said I am in prison till I am in prison thou countest that a trouble which others would have worne as an ensigne of their glory 3. Even those who have gone onely upon morall principles have shewn much constancy and contentment in their sufferings Curtius being bravely mounted and in armour threw himselfe into a great gulfe that the City of Rome might according to the Oracle be delivered from the Pestilence and we having a Divine Oracle that they who kill the body cannot hurt the soul shall we not with much constancy and patience devote our selves to injuries for Religion and rather suffer for the truth then
is a degree above the other In every thing giving thanks A gracious heart spies mercie in every condition therefore hath his heart scrued up to thankfulness others will bless God for prosperity he blesseth him for affliction Thus he reasons with himselfe Am I in want God sees it better for me to want then to abound God is now dieting of me he sees it better for my spirituall health sometimes to be kept fasting therefore he doth not onely submit but is thankfull The Male-content is ever complaining of his condition the contented spirit is ever giving thanks Oh what height of grace is this A contented heart is a Temple where the praises of God are sung forth not a Sepulchre wherein they are buried A contented Christian in the greatest straits hath his heart enlarged and dilated in thankfulnesse Hee oft contemplates Gods love in election hee sees that he is a monument of mercy therefore desires to be a paterne of praise There is alwayes gratulatory musick in a contented soule the Spirit of grace works in the heart like new wine which under the heaviest pressures of sorrow will have a vent open for thankfulnesse this is to bee content 4. He that is content no condition comes amiss to him so it is in the Text in quocunque statu in whatever state I am A contented Christian can prout res exigit turne himselfe to any thing either want or abound The people of Israel knew neither how to abound nor yet how to want when they were in want they murmured Can God prepare a table in the wilderness when they ate were filled then they lifted up the heele Paul knew how to mannage every estate hee could be either a note higher or lower he was in this sense an Universalist he could do any thing that God would have him If he were in prosperity hee knew how to be thankfull if in adversity he knew how to be patient he was neither lift up with the one nor cast down with the other He could carry a greater saile or lesser Thus a contented Christian knowes how to turne himselfe to any condition Sicut bonus est dux peritus qui in quolibet exercitu operatur secundùm exigentiam ejus coriarius qui ex quolibet corio facit optimos sotulares ità Christianus sapiens qui scit quolibet statu bene se gerere Wee have those who can be contented in some estate but not in every estate They can be content in a wealthy estate when they have the streames of milk and honey while Gods candle shines upon their head now they are content but if the winde turne and be against them now they are discontented While they have a silver crutch to lean upon they are contented but if God breaks this crutch now they are discontented but Paul had learned in every estate to carry himselfe with equanimity of minde others could be content with their affliction so God would give them leave to pick and choose They could be content to bear such a cross they could better endure sicknesse then poverty or bear losse of estate then losse of children if they might have such a mans crosse they could bee content any condition but the present this is not to bee content A contented Christian doth not goe to choose his crosse but leaves God to choose for him he is content both for the kinde and for the duration A contented spirit saith Let God apply what medicine he pleaseth and let it lie on as long as it will I know when it hath done its cure and eaten the venome of sin out of my heart God will take it off againe In a word a contented Christian being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word desires to be wholly at Gods dispose and is willing to live in that sphere and climate where God hath set him and if at any time hee hath been an instrument of doing noble and brave service in the publick hee knowes hee is but a rational toole a servant to authority and is content to returne to his former private condition of life Cincinnatus after he had done worthily and purchased to himself great fame in his Dictatourship did notwithstanding afterwards voluntarily returne to till and manure his foure acres of ground Thus should it bee with Christians professing Godliness with Contentment having served Mars not daring to offend Iupiter lest otherwise they discover onely to the world a brutish valour being so untam'd and head-strong that when they have conquered others yet they are not able to rule their own spirits 5. He that is contented with his condition to rid himselfe out of trouble will not runne himselfe into sin I deny not but a Christian may lawfully seek to change his condition so farre as Gods providence doth goe before he may follow but when men will not follow providence but run before it as he said This evill is of the Lord why should I wait any longer if God doth not open the doore by his providence they will break it open and wind themselves out of affliction by sin bringing their soules into trouble by bringing their estates out of troubble This is far from holy Contentation this is unbelief broken out into rebellion A contented Christian is willing to wait Gods leasure and will not stir till God open a door As Paul said in another case They have beaten us openly uncondemned being Romanes and have cast us into prison and now do they thrust us out privily nay verily but let them come themselves and fetch us out So with reverence saith the contented Christian God hath cast me into this condition and though it be sad and troublesome yet I will not stir till God by a clear providence fetch me out Thus those brave spirited Christians Heb. 11. 35. They accepted not deliverance that is upon base dishonourable termes They would rather stay in prison then purchase their liberty by carnall compliance Estius observes on the place they might not onely have had their enlargement but been rais'd to honour put into offices of trust yet the honour of Religion was dearer to them then either liberty or honour A contented Christian will not remove till as the Israelites hee see a pillar of cloud and fire going before him It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord 'T is good to stay Gods leasure and not to extricate our selves out of trouble till wee see the star of Gods providence pointing out a way to us CHAP. XIV USE 5. Containing a Christian Directory or Rules about Contentment Use. V. I Proceed now to an use of direction to shew Christians how they may attaine to this Divine Art of Contentation Certainly it is feasible others of Gods Saints have reached to it St. Paul here had it and what do wee think of those we
read of in that little book of Martyrs Heb. 11. who had trialls of cruell mockings and scourgings who wandered about in Deserts and Caves yet were contented so that it is possible to be had And here I shall lay down some Rules for holy Contentment SECT 1. 1. Rule Advance Faith All our disquiets do issue immediately from unbelief 'T is this that raiseth the storme of discontent in the heart Oh set faith a work 't is the property of faith to silence our doubtings to scatter our feares to still the heart when the passions are up Faith workes the heart to a sweet serene composure 't is not having food and raiment but having Faith which will make us content Faith chides down passion When Reason begins to sinke let Faith swim Quest. How doth Faith worke Contentment Answ. 1. Faith shewes the soule that whatever its trials are yet it is from the hand of a Father 't is indeed a bitter cup but Shall I not drinke the cup which my father hath given me to drinke 't is in love to my soule God corrects with the same love hee crownes me God is now training me up for heaven he carves me to make me a polished shaft These sufferings bring forth patience humility even the peaceable fruits of righteousnesse And if God can bring such sweet fruit out of a sower stock let him graft me where hee please Thus Faith brings the heart to holy Contentment 2. Faith sucks the honey of Contentment out of the hive of the Promise Christ is the Vine the Promises are the clusters of Grapes that grow upon this Vine and Faith presseth the sweet wine of Contentment out of these spiritual clusters of the Promises I will shew you but one cluster The Lord will give grace and glory here is enough for Faith to live upon The Promise is the flower out of which Faith distills the spirits and quintessence of divine Contentment In a word Faith carries up the soul and makes it aspire after more noble and generous delights then earth affords and to live in the world above the world Would you lead contented lives live up to the height of your Faith SECT 2. 2. Rule Labour for Assurance Oh let us get the interest cleard between God and our own souls Interest is a word much in use a pleasing word Interest in great friends interest-money Oh if there be an interest worth looking after 't is an interest between God and the soule Labour to say My God To be without money and without friends and without God too is sad but he whose faith doth flourish into Assurance that can say I know in whom I have beleeved as Saint Paul that man hath enough to give his heart contentment When a mans debts are paid and he can go abroad without feare of arresting what contentment is this Oh let your title be cleared if God be ours whatever we want in the creature is infinitely made up in him Doe I want bread I have Christ the bread of life Am I under defilement his blood is like the trees of the Sanctuary not only for meat but medicine If any thing in the world be worth labouring for it is to get sound evidences that God is ours If this bee once clear'd what can come amisse No matter what stormes I meet with so that I know where to put in for harbour He that hath God to be his God is so well contented with his condition that hee doth not much care whether he hath any thing else To rest in a condition where a Christian cannot say God is his God is matter of feare and if he can say so truly and yet is not contented is matter of shame David encouraged himselfe in the Lord his God It was sad with him Ziklag burnt his wives taken captive he lost all and like to have lost his Souldiers hearts too for they spake of stoning him yet hee had the ground of Contentment within him viz. an interest in God and this was a pillar of supportment to his spirit He that knowes God is his and all that is in God is for his good if this doth not satisfie nothing will SECT 3. 3. Rule Get an humble spirit The humble man is the contented man if his estate bee low his heart is lower then his estate therefore he is content If his esteem in the world be low hee that is little in his own eyes will not bee much troubled to be little in the eyes of others He hath a meaner opinion of himself then others can have of him The humble man studies his own unworthinesse he looks upon himself as less then the least of Gods mercies and then a little will content him He cries out with Paul that he is the chief of sinners therefore doth not murmure but admire Hee doth not say his comforts are small but his sins are great He thinks it a mercy he is out of hell therefore is contented He doth not goe to carve out a more happy condition to himselfe he knowes the worst piece God cuts him is better then he deserves A proud man is never contented he is one that hath an high opinion of himselfe therefore under small blessings is disdainfull under small crosses impatient The humble spirit is the contented spirit if his cross be light he reckons it in the inventory of his mercies if it be heavie yet takes it upon his knees knowing that when his estate is worser it is to make him better Where you lay humility for the foundation Contentment will bee the superstructure SECT 4. 4. Rule Keep a cleare Conscience Contentment is the Manna that is laid up in the Arke of a good conscience Oh take heed of indulging any sin 'T is as naturall for guilt to breed disquiet as for putred matter to breed vermine Sinne lies as Ionah in the ship it raiseth a tempest If dust or motes be gotten into the eye they make the eye water and cause a sorenesse in it if the eye be clear then it is free from that sorenesse If sin be gotten into the conscience which is as the eye of the soule then grief and disquiet breeds there but keep the eye of conscience clear and all is well What Solomon saith of a good stomack I may say of a good conscience To the hungry soule every bitter thing is sweet so to a good conscience every bitter thing is sweet it can pick contentment out of the Crosse. Good conscience turnes the waters of Marah into wine Would you have a quiet heart get a smiling conscience I wonder not to hear Paul say he was in every state content When hee could make that triumph I have lived in all good conscience to this day When once a mans reckonings are clear it must needs let in abundance of contentment into the heart Good conscience can suck contentment out of the bitterest drugge under slanders This is