The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Title page – To the reader
THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN Contentment: Wherein is ſhewed,
I. What CONTENTMENT is.
II. The holy Art or Myſtery of it.
III. Severall Leſſons that Chriſt teacheth, to work the Heart to Contentment.
IV. The excellencies of it.
V. The evils of Murmuring.
VI. The aggravations of the ſin of Murmuring.
By Jeremiah Burroughs.
The firſt of the three Volumes that are publiſhed by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhill, Sydrach Simpſon, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderley.
London, Printed for Peter Cole, at the Printing-Preſs in Cornhil, near the Royall Exchange. 1649.
THou haſt here a true Catalogue of all the works of Maſter Ieremiah Burroughs that are Publiſhed by us
Thomas Goodwyn,
William Greenhil,
Sydrach Simpſon,
Philip Nye,
William Bridge,
Iohn Yates
William Adderly
The firſt Volume.
The rare Jewel of Chriſtian Contentment:
Wherein is ſhewed, 1. What Contentment is: 2. The holy Art or Myſtery of it: 3. Severall Leſſons that Chriſt teacheth, to work the Heart to Contentment: 4. The excellencies of it: 5. The evils of Murmuring: 6. The aggravations of the ſin of murmuring.
The ſecond Volume.
Goſpel-Worſhip:
Wherein is ſhewed, 1. The right manner of Sanctifying the Name of God in general; and particularly in theſe three great Ordinances: 1. Hearing the Word: 2. Receiving the Lords-Supper: 3. Prayer.
The third Volume.
Goſpel-Converſation:
Wherein is ſhewed, 1. That the Converſation of Believers muſt be above what could be by the light of Nature: 2. Beyond thoſe that lived under the Law: 3. Suitable to what Truths the Goſpel holds forth.
All Printed for Peter Cole, at the Printing-Preſſe in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, London, 1649.
To the READER.
THis worthy Man, eſpecially in his latter times, was ſurrounded (through Gods bleſſing on him) with a very great confluence of what might give forth Contentment to a vaſt ſpirit of his ranck and calling. He was enriched with a large meaſure of abilities and opportunities in ſerving his Lord (to glorifie whom, and do much good to others, is the divine part of a man gracious (which he was) the higheſt and moſt ſolid ſatisfaction, and in many reſpects exceeds what perſonall communion with God, ſingly conſidered, brings in) Beſides, he lived and dyed in a fulneſſe of honor and eſteem with the beſt of men, of Saints; yea, the worſt of enemies: Likewiſe of eſtate, and outward comforts within his ſphaere and rank; all which might and did afford Contentment to what was outward in him. In the midſt of theſe his ſtudy was to finde out a more ſublime way, and hidden art of ſelfe ſufficiency, then was in the power of all things to contribute or teach: Such a skill as did not only poyſe & compoſe his ſpirit in the preſent enjoyment of all; but might fortifie and furniſh him with proviſion for the future againſt the loſſe of all, in times wherein no man knoweth what evil will be in the earth. This mark his firſt lines ſhew he ſhot at: This Art ſome Philoſophers of old pretended themſelves Maſters of, and to inſtruct other in, through the aſſiſtance of Natural and Moral elements, elevated to the utmoſt height their Principles could carry them; but in vaine: Their Chymiſtry in this kinde being able to produce no more but a ſullen obſtinacie and obdurateneſſe of minde. The natural Spirit of a man feeling it ſelfe greater then all creatures, gathering up and conſolidating it ſelf into it ſelf, is able (as Solomon ſaies) to ſuſtaine its owne, and all other infirmites. But that Autarchy this Author here preſents, is a Myſtery, which 1 Tim. 6.6.none of theſe Princes of the world knew, 1 Cor. 2.or the wiſdome of man teacheth, but the holy Ghoſt teacheth; and which few, but thoſe that are perfect, do attaine: Teaching the ſoule to deny it ſelfe into weakneſſe, emptineſſe, in and to its ſelfe and all things elſe; and thus diſſolved to unite it ſelfe to him who onelyonly hath bleſſedneſſe and all-ſufficiencie, with whom aſſociated and made intimate, it melts it ſelfe into all his intereſts, making them its owne, and thereby comes to have all that All-ſufficiency of the High God to be its ſelf-ſufficiency: And then, what ſtate can that ſoule be in, wherein it may not be content? ſeeing it hath God to be the chiefeſt comfort in its beſt times, and onelyonly comfort in its worſt. This, though it be the inheritance of every Saint, in the right and title to it, yet the poſſeſſion and enjoyment of it, depepends upon an improvement of this inheritance, and that upon a skill which is to be learned by experience and much exerciſe (as Paul ſpeaks) I have learned in whatſoever eſtate I am, therewith to be content. This piece of learning this ſerious ſpirited man inured himſelfe unto, and digging for it as Rubies, as Solomons ſcholler for wiſdome, hath found it, and hath hewen forth this Jewel (a Title given neither by himſelfe, not us the Publiſhers, to the ſubject it ſelfe, yet the materials themſelves deſerving it) out of the Rock, and hath artificially cut it) that the innate rays of this ſo glorious a Grace might ſhine forth to others. And here it comes to be preſented, though ſet forth as the richeſt Jewels are, often for awhile, in ruder mettal, untill bargained for, but then are placed in Tablets worthy of them. The onelyonly ſeat this is ordained for; is the precious Tablets of mens Hearts, in and from which alone the native luſtre of it will be made conſpicuous. Reader, buy it, ſet and wear it there,Prov. 3. and it ſhall (as Solomon ſpeaks) be life unto thy ſoul, and grace unto thy neck: Thou ſhalt not be afraid when thou lieſt down; yea thy ſleep ſhall be ſweet unto thee: for the Lord will be thy confidence.
Thomas Goodwyn,
Sidrach Simpſon,
William Greenhil,
Philip Nye,
William Bridge,
John Yates.
William Adderly.