A Childs Patrimony, Part 2 · Chapter 4 · Section 7
§ Diſcontent. 7.
We are as prone ſometimes to overlook our bleſſings alſo, and overgrieve our croſſes; when our minde is overſhadowed with diſcontent, that great diſturber of our peace and quiet.
It is an unreaſonable paſſion, what elſe to call it in proprietie of ſpeech, I know not, but this know; it makes a man complain, he knows not for what; and to quarrell with his eſtate, be it never ſo good: Like a thorn in the foot, or an arrow in the ſide, it makes all places and conditions uncomfortable. It puts a man out of conceit with his own eſtate (which a wiſe man thinks the beſt) and into a good opinion of an others condition be it farre meaner; for what matters it, what my condition be, if to me it ſeems bad qSi cui ſna non videtur ampliſſi, ma licèt totius mundi Dominus ſit, tamen m…ſer eſt ſen. cp. 9. Sapiens neminem videt cu… quo ſe commutatatum velit. Stulitia laboral faſlidio ſui. Quid…fe…t qualis fit ſtotus tuus ſi libi videtur malus… Sen. ep. 9.; if ſo, I muſt needs walk moſt unquietly with my ſelf, and moſt unthankfully towards God.
Thoſe ſonnes of Eliah enjoyed no ſmall priviledge, but yet that ſeemed nothing unto them: Aegypt, where they ſerved in clay, and brick, was now eſteemed farre beyond all, when their preſent diſcontent, like duſt caſt into the eye, had taken from them the ſight of all their good things rNumb. 16.. They are a ſad example to us, that we murmure not as they did; and it tels us alſo, how unreaſonably a diſcontented minde will reaſon.
It was an anſwer worthy our marking, which a ſervant gave touching his maſter; he was asked, What he left his Maſter doing? I left him ſaid he, ſeeking out cauſe of complaint, many bleſſings ſtanding round about him the while ſPlut: De tranquil. Hor. lib. 2. ep. 3.; it is the caſe and manner of many, and it is (ſaith the ſame Authour) as if a man ſhould ſeale up his hogſhead of good liquour, and drink that which is ſowre, and hurtfull. Thus diſquieting an humour diſcontent is; the remedies againſt it are,
Firſt, that we ſuffer not our minde too much to fix upon our grievance, for this were like a fooliſh patient, to chew the pill, and then we ſhall ſo much taſte the bitterneſſe of one croſſe, that we ſhall diſreliſh the comfort of twenty bleſſings.
2. It is good to look to thoſe below us: It is certain, no mans eſtate is ſo happy, but, if his diſcretion be not ſo much the more, he may finde ſomething in it, which would ſowre all: nor is any mans condition ſo low, but he may finde ſomething which will ſweeten the meaneſſe of it; Thus then I may reaſon,
I live not ſo high as others do; nor am I acquainted with others temptations: Great gates give room enough for great cares to enter in at; I am ſure great temptations. I am not ſo rich as others; nor am I diſquieted with their cares and feares: As the rich have advantage of the poore in poſſeſſing, ſo have the poore advantage over the rich in parting. I carry not that pomp and ſtate, which he or ſhe do, who ride in their coach; nor perhaps am I in ſo mean a condition, as he that drives it. I have not ſo much eaſe, as he or ſhe who ſit in their Sedan, (and yet that you cannot tell, for ſome bodies ſit there, that have little eaſe) but this I am ſure of, that in reſpect of bodily toyl, I go at more eaſe, then they who ſweat at ſo unbecoming and beaſt-like a burden tforeign. Luc. Cynicus. p. 813. Leg… Clem. Alex. paed 3. 11. p. 185..
I have not anothers velvet, nor their fare, nor their eaſe; nor have I their ſtone, or their gout; I muſt ſet one thing againſt another uforeign, &c. Chryſ. de Lazaro conc. 1. lege Di od. Sicul. bib. lib. 12. …., it may much quiet me And thus farre the Heathen have carried us by their falſe light, for to this purpoſe they have reaſoned the caſe, and ſo ſatisfied themſelves in their preſent condition; we ſhall reaſon more like Chriſtians, if we ſpeak as we are directed by him, who was taught in the School of Chriſt.
In all our grievances let us look to ſomething that may comfort us, as well as diſcourage xD… Sibs So. Conf. p. 172.: looke to that we enjoy, as well as that we want. As in proſperitie God mingles ſome croſſe to diet us; ſo in all croſſes there is ſomething to comfort us. As there is a vanitie lies hid in the beſt worldly good; ſo there is a bleſſing lies hid in the worſt worldly evil. God uſually makes up that with ſome advantage in another kinde, wherein we are inferiour to others. Others are in greater place, ſo they are in greater danger; others be richer, ſo their cares and ſnares be greater: The poore in the world may be richer in faith then they. The ſoul can better digeſt and maſter a low eſtate then a proſperous, and being under ſome abaſement, it is in a leſſe diſtance from God. Others are not ſo afflicted as we, then they have leſſe experience of Gods gracious power then we. Others may have more healthy bodies, but ſouls leſſe weaned from the world. We would not change conditions with them, ſo as to have their ſpirits with their condition. For one half of our lives, the meaneſt are as happy, and free from cares, as the greateſt Monarch: that is, whileſt both ſleep, & uſually the ſleep of the one is ſweeter then the ſleep of the other. What is all that the earth can afford us, if God deny health? and this a man in the meaneſt condition may enjoy. That wherein one man differs from another, is but title, and but for a little time; death levelleth all. There is ſcarce any man, but the good he receives from God, is more then the ill he feels, if our unthankfull hearts would ſuffer us to think ſo. Is not our health more then our ſickneſſe? do we not enjoy more then we want? I mean of the things that are neceſſary; are not our good dayes more then our evill? And yet (ſo unkindly we deale with God) one croſſe is more taken to heart, then an hundred bleſſings. We ſhould conſider, God doth not owe us any thing. Thoſe that deſerve nothing ſhould be content with any thing. We ſhould look to others as good as our ſelves (as well as to our ſelves) and then we ſhall ſee it is not our own caſe onelyonly; who are we that we ſhould look for an exempt condition from thoſe troubles, which Gods deareſt children are addicted unto?
The chief help then of our diſcontent is, to look up to a ſupreame hand; The Heathen alſo by their glimmering light, could diſcerne how vaine it was to ſtrive againſt the abſolute prerogative thereof. We muſt not quarrell with that condition, which God ſees fit for us, for that were to blame His wiſdome, who gives no account of His matters; and in ſo ſtrugling we make our hands the ſtronger.
The humbled and meekned ſpirit, that can reſigne it ſelf, ſubmit and wait under Gods Almighty hand, ſhall be lifted up in Gods good time. In the mean time, having knowledge of Gods excellencies, and his own vileneſſe; He looks upon mercies, and counts himſelf leſſe then the leaſt of them: He looks upon afflictious, and under the greateſt can ſay right humbly, It is Gods merciemercy I am not conſumed. Are his preſſures many, he ſees merciemercy in is, that they are not yet more: Sees he little light of comfort? he praiſeth God he can ſee any at all: nay, diſcerneth he none at all? yet he ſtayeth himſelf upon his God and ſubmits xI can be abaſed Phil. 4. 12. If we can on…c take out this leſſon, it will bring with it ſuch a Chriſtian perfection, that we ſhall nor be to ſeek almoſt in any point of Chriſtianitie. Dr Airay's lectur. Object..
Yea, but how if this perſon, now under the rod, is not perſwaded that God is his Father, though he cannot but know, that He correcteth every childey: As many as I love, I chaſten yHeb. 12. 6. Revel 3. 19. Anſw..
If ſo, yet he doth know, that God is his Lord, and thence, an humble ſubmiſſion muſt follow. As Laba… zGen. 24. 50.and Bethuel in another caſe; This thing is proceeded of the Lord, we cannot therefore ſay either good or evill. So, whatſoever the affliction be, be it in body, goods or good name, yet he muſt ſay, for he is better inſtructed then they; This is proceeded of the Lord, we muſt ſay good of it. Let His will be done, ſo we pray; His will is done, let us ſubmit. Woe be to theſe croſſe▪ wills aVae oppoſitis voluntatibus., they ſtruggle, ſtrive and tugge, to pluck the neck out of Gods yoke, and ſo put themſelves to more pain.
Thus ſtill we muſt reſolve the caſe, God is a debter to no man; He may do what He will with His own; And they that deſerve nothing, ſhould be content with any thing. But this is not all, there muſt not be only a ſubmiſſion unto Gods hand, but a bettering by it; we muſt gaine by our wants, and be bettered by our afflictions. It is not gold that comes not purer out of the fining pot; he that doth not learn by affliction, will be taught by nothing. We reade but of one, whoſe heart did not ſomewhat relent under the blow, and one there was, that did not, That was King Ahaz b2 Chron. 28. 22.. In his affliction he ſinned more; but we muſt be made more wiſe by it, elſe we loſe the utilitie cPerdidimus utilita…m calamitis; miſerrimi fact…ſ…is, & peſſimi permanſiſtis, Aug. de civi…. ib. 1. cap 33.and benefit of our affliction, which is not little to a good heart. We muſt in patience ſubmit, and learn thereby to ſearch in particular, what the ſins are in our ſouls which God pointeth at, and would kill by the ſmart in our bodies. If we have worldly loſſes, we muſt ſearch then, was not our ſinne covetouſneſſe, bottoming our ſelves on things below? If diſgrace; was not my ſinne ambition? If ſcarcitie, was not my ſinne the abuſe of Gods good creatures, vainly, needleſſely, unthankfully? And, if pains or aches; did'ſt thou not offend in ſinfull pleaſures dLege Chryſoſt. … Pſal. 3.? Thus ſhall we ſpeak good of the affliction, and ſubmit, yea, and be thankfull. That is a dutie of a Chriſtian, to be thankfull for afflictions, for corrections. It was good for me that I have been afflicted ePſal. 119 71.; if it was good for him, then doubtleſſe he ſpake good of it, and was thankfull. I remember, ſaith Chryſoſtome fHom. 10. in Coloſſ. 3., a very pious and holy man was uſed to pray thus; We give thee thanks O Lord, (Thanks was his firſt word) for all thy mercies from the firſt day, to this preſent day beſtowed upon us, Thy unworthy ſervants: for thoſe we know, for thoſe we know not &c. for our tribulations, and for our refreſhments;foreign, &. c. for our hell here, and our Fatherly puniſhments, as for our Heaven hence, and our hope of reſt. He puts afflictions &c. into the Catalogue or regiſter of Gods mercies, and in the firſt place. Indeed it is no hard matter to open the mouth in way of thankfulneſſe for the good things of this life, as we call them; but to be thankfull for the evills, that is an hard task, but yet the dayly work of a true Chriſtian.
The Heathen Philoſopher could ſay gMar. Aur. A…t. med…. 12. …. ſect. 2. p 197.A wiſe man ſhould be fitted for all eſtates and conditions, like Empedocles his Allegoricall Spheare, or like a ſquare body; Throw it, you cannot overthrow it; caſt it down, if you can, it will ſtand as upright as before, loſing nothing at all of its heigh… hLege …p. 168. Baſ…i.. And ſuch a man, ſaith he, hath gained unto himſelf great reſt and …aſe, for he hath g…t his minde looſe from outward inta…glements, and that manifold luggage wherewith we are round about incumbred. We may diſcern our ſelves, as we do our metalls, beſt by our falls, or caſting down; if when we are thrown, our ſound is flat and dull, murmuring-wiſe; it argues a leaden ſpirit *foreign N…z…rz. …at. 18. When there is a ſtorm with cut he keeps his minde cleare within. pag. 302., which ſinks under trouble, like lead into the wat…rs: But if our ſound be ſilver-like, cleare and pleaſing, it argues we are of better metall. That is not ſilver, which comes not clearer out of the fining pot, nor is that gold which doth not ſhine in the fire iProſpe…itie doth beſt diſcover vice; but adverſitie doth beſt diſcover v…tue..
A good eye is for any colour, though all colours are not equally lightſome.
A good eare for every ſound, though every ſound hath not the ſame gratefulneſſe; Good teeth are for all meats that are wholeſome, though all be not alike toothſome: ſo a ſound underſtanding is fit for whatſoever ſhall happen, though every thing, which happens, is not alike pleaſing. He that cannot receive evill, as we call it, from Gods hand, as well as good, ſhews, that h… is of a crazed temper in the Inward man, as an eye that ſeeks after green colours; or as teeth after that which is tender, which argueth, ſaith the ſame Philoſopher, Sore eyes, and unſound teeth.kMar. Aur. lib. 10. ſect 37. p. 177
I have been long upon the point, the longer that I might perſwade to a contentedneſſe in every condition; and that we might finde uſe, and pick good out of all. But it is the Lord who perſwades the heart, and He doth it, elſe no condition will pleaſe, ſeem it to others never ſo pleaſing. To poſſeſſe our ſouls in patience (we loſe them elſe) is the readieſt way to be eaſed, and in time to be exalted. The Lord teach thee the wiſdome of His people; and give thee content in preſent things, underſtanding in all: He ſubdue thy ſpirit; He meeken thy heart; He faſhion and mould thy will to a patient ſubmiſſion unto His, that it may be as conformable thereunto, as the wax unto the ſeal. All this God can do, He onelyonly. And when He hath thus humbled the heart, and thus meekned the ſpirit, when he hath thus faſhioned it, then the work is done, and nothing will be grievous.
It is a remarkable ſpeech from Mr Bradford lFox p. 1503.; he hath many ſuch, but with that one I will conclude, and ſhut up this; Though my body be in an houſe, out of which I cannot come when I will (for he was in priſon) yet in that I have conformed my will to Gods will, I finde herein libertie enough; and for my lodging, bedding, ſeeding, &c. all above my worthineſſe; worthineſſe quoth I? alaſſe! I am worthy of nothing but damnation. So he wrote to his mother; I muſt tell you alſo what he ſaid to his friend. He was in a ſtrong hold, neare the time of his enlargement, when he was to paſſe to his crown, but through the fire. His friend told him, that he would, if it pleaſed, intercede with the Queen for his life; Do if you will, ſaid he: if her Majeſtie will be pleaſed to give me my life, I will thank her; if my libertie, I will thank her for that; if neither of both, I will thank her ſtill. If ſhe will keep me here, I can thank her here; if ſhe will ſend me hence to the ſtake, I can thank her there alſo. See what an humble man can do! he can ſmart patiently; he can ſuffer ſilently; he can receive blows and return thanks. No murmuring, no repining, no complaining in his mouth. He hath committed his cauſe to God. Learn how contented this man is; and obſerve the patience of the Saints, ſo I have done.