A Spiritual Antidote Against Sinful Contagion, Treatise 1 · Duty 20
DUTY XX:
BE content with that allowance of outward enjoyments, Content with allowance of outward Enjoyments.which God doth give and continue to you, under the present Providence. You wish others might have your outward enjoyments diminished by want of Trade and free Commerce; and those that are not visited with the Pestilence, might suffer a decay in their estates. And as it is hard to submit unto Gods Rod, when we feel the smart thereof upon our bodies, so it must be the fruit of much pains with our own hearts and fervent prayers unto God, to be content when we finde our selves decreasing in outward enjoyments. Those that have much, might have it reduced unto little; and those that had little, might be brought almost to nothing at all. And, Oh how apt is the heart of man, to fret within himself at such decays! and the heart of a Christian that hath much corruption amongst a little grace, to be more sensible of decays in Temporals, then declinings in Spirituals! We too often lose some degrees of our Grace, of Love, and Faith, and Hope, and too seldom complain thereof to God. But though we do not so often decay in Temporals, we too much complain to Man, and murmur and repine against God. Do not many finde some inward frettings in their hearts, that they live upon the spend, and nothing coming in; so many to maintain, and their shops shut up! What trouble is it unto some that the other day did live in good repute, and were esteemed to be rich, that now must be constrained to borrow, or to beg; that the other day they hoped they should be rich, but now are effectually convinced that they are poor; that if they escape the stroke of Death, see themselves falling into the depths of Poverty and want! To be content with that which God allows you, when it is but little, requireth not a little, but some degrees of Grace. Contentation is not natural, it is a lesson must be learned; and many in the School of Christ, are very dull, and spend much time before they can take it out. Phil. 4. 11, 12. I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be contented. I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to suffer need. But this is too great to be attained, but in the strength of Christ, Vers. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me. As if when a Christian had learned to do this, he had learned to do all things, Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing, be prayer-full but not careful, i. e. sollicitously, distrustfully, anxiously careful: But by Prayer make known your case, and care, and troubles unto God. Heb. 13. 5. Let your conversation (especially at such a time as this) be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. As we have? It may be that is a piece of Bread, a cup of Water, torn Cloaths. Why such as they be, you must be content withal; For he hath said, He will never leave you, nor forsake you. A Promise better worth then thousands per annum, which might and will leave the owners thereof: but God will never leave them that are his, 1 Tim. 6. 6, 7, 8. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Get holiness and contentedness, and you have got enough to make you happy hereafter, and comfortable here. We brought nothing into the World, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. You shall take as much with you as you brought. Having food and rayment, let us be therewith content. If you have not variety, yet you have for necessity; if you have any thing you can call food, be content; and rayment, though it be not costly, but course; yet if you have any thing you can call rayment, be content. That you may attain this excellent frame of heart, seriously weigh these Arguments.
1. God hath given to you the best things, the Twenty four Arguments or helps to Contentation, in a mean con…sition.best in themselves, and the best for you. Hath he not given you Himself, and his Son, and Spirit? Hath he not given you Grace and Promises of Glory? And doth he not sometimes give you the joys and comfort of the Holy Ghost? Why then are you discontented? How many times have you professed, that God is your Happiness, and that Heaven is your Treasure; and that the World, and the things thereof, are but the offal given unto Dogs? Do you believe the things you say? If you do, have you not more cause, infinitely more cause to rejoyce, that God hath given you the best, then murmur that he denieth to you the worst? Or, will you say or think, that he to whom God hath given Christ, and not riches too; Grace, and not Gold too; Heaven, and not Earthly things too; hath cause to be dis-satisfied? Would you not be ashamed to say it, and yet will you not be ashamed to do it; or will you go up and down complaining, and say, God hath given me nothing but Himself; nothing but a little Grace? What nothing but? Why there is nothing greater, nothing better, nothing surer. Oh! it would become you better to say, I have enough, though I have but little; I have all, when I have nothing at all, because I have him that is all, and all in all.
2. Jesus Christ was poor, as well as you. She that bare him was poor, Luk. 2. 24. compared with Levit. 12. 8. His birth was mean, born in a Stable, and laid in a Manger; was it so with you? He had not an house to dwell in, but so have you. Nay, Christ was poor, that he begged for your sakes, 2 Cor. 8. 9. foreign, He begged; you will say, when, and of whom? See the fourth of John, 7, 8, 9. verses. He asked for necessary refreshment; not Wine, but Water: Was it ever so with you? Were you ever so mean, to ask an alms; and is the Disciple, better then his Lord; or the servant greater then his Master? When your heart begins to murmur, reflect upon the condition of your Lord and Saviour.
3. Many of those that have been closer followers of Christ, then you have been, have been poorer then yet you are. Read Heb. 11. 30. to the 39. and see if they were not indeed, as to Spirituals, better then you. Humility will teach you to say they were; and yet see whither as to Temporals, they were not worse then you. Truth will teach you to say they were; they were destituted of many accommodations that you enjoy; they wandred in Deserts, and in Mountains, in Dens, and Caves of the Earth; is it so with you? Were not the Apostles of Christ better then you, and are you troubled, if sometimes you have no money by you? it was Peters case as well as yours. Acts 3. 6. Silver and Gold have I none; but were they ever so discontented as you are? did ever such murmuring words fall from their mouths? Nay look about you in the World, and you shall see many whom you might charitably judge, love God more then you do, and fear God more then you do, and have more communion with God, then you have, are yet in a meaner condition then your selves. When you would get your hearts to be low and humble, look upon your Superiors in gifts and grace: When you would have it thankful and content, look upon your Inferiors, in those things, the want of which you so much complain of.
4. If you have not so much of the World as others have, so you have not in some other respects so much trouble and affliction, as some of those have with their worldly enjoyments. A great estate hath oftentimes great troubles; and great cares, and great temptations. See if you have not freedom from such affliction, as others with their abundance do lie under. None is so full, nor happy, as to meet with no affliction; nor is your condition so miserable as to enjoy no good; and therefore,
5. Study what you have, as well as what you have not. You want superfluity, but you have for necessity; that time you spend in complaining of your wants, would be better improved in giving thanks to God for what you have.
6. Consider what an ill return … have made to God of the little you have h… do you yet complain you have no more …ould you not rather wonder at the patience … goodness of your God, that hath not stripped you of all? If you have not been faithful in a little, would you have been faithful, if you had had more? God saw you had not grace enough to manage a great estate, you have loved a little too much. But what would you have done if you had more? God himself would rather have your love, then give you any thing that should be sharer with him. Have you improved your one talent? Have you spent your little better, do not complain that you have no more.
7. It may be, if you had not had so little of the World, you had not had so much of Heaven in your heart; nor so much of God, nor so much of rich experience of the Work of God upon your Soul. And though others may, yet God saw that you would not; if you had not been so poor in the World, you would not have been so rich towards God. It may be you have gone more to God in your wants, then you would have done if you had been full.
8. The less you have, the less you are to be accountable for, at the coming of your Lord. If your estate is less, your accounts will not be so great. To whom much is given, of them much will be required, Luk. 12. 48. Have not you had more then you can give account you have spent well? Are not your accounts great enough already, but you must complain that you have not more to answer for?
9. More is not good for you then you have. God denieth nothing unto his, that he seeth would be better for them to have, then be without. The condition God puts you in, is best for you; and would you have it, whether it be good for you, or no? Psal. 64. 11. & 34. 10.
10. Consider it is your own will and desire it should be with you as it is, and do you complain that you have your will? You would have it so, or else you fearfully dissemble with God: Have not you often prayed, that Gods will might be done? and are you discontented when your Prayers are answered? Have not you often resigned your will to Gods? and often desired your will might be molded into his? and will you contradict your praying by repining?
11. Consider, if you had more of the World, you would be more unwilling to leave the World; and that you need not be; you are loth enough to die already, and need not wish for more to make you more unwilling: Usually mens love to the World doth encrease, as the enjoyments of it do encrease; the more men have of it, the more they love it; and the more they love it, the more loth they are to leave it.
12. Consider, you must leave all when you come to die, had you never so much. If now you have much when you come to your Grave, you shall have nothing over; and if now you have but little, then and there you shall have no want. Why do you trouble your self about such things as you cannot take with you into eternity? as will not accompany you into another World? that cannot stand you instead at the hour of Death, or day of Judgment? Will a great estate afford comfort to a dying man? or will it administer peace to a departing Soul? or can these things be-friend you at the Bar of God? If you had an houseful of Gold and Silver, you cannot take an handful with you. Then let it be your care, you do not go down into the Grave with your heart full of the World, or full of discontent, that you could not get it, Eccles. 5. 15. Psal. 49. 16, 17, 18. 1 Tim. 6. 7, 8. Job 1. 21.
13. Consider, God loves you as much in your mean condition, as he did in your flourishing and prosperous estate. The friendship of men might encrease and decrease, as your enjoyment in the World does ebb and flow; but so doth not the love of God. God loves none, because they be rich; neither doth he hate any, because they be poor. God loved Job upon his Dung-hill, and Lazarus in his Rags and Sores. If you be poorer then you were, you are not therefore less beloved by the God of Heaven then you were. And let that content you,
14. Consider, God doth not give his people their portion in this life, but their estate doth lie above in another World. A Christians estate is invisible, and out of sight: Your treasure is in Heaven. These things are not all you look for, and hope for: But better, greater, and more lasting things you have in your eye, and hope. If you looked for no more hereafter, you might be troubled that you have no more here: You are not of the number of the men of this World, that have their portion in this life. Psal. 17. 14. You are an heir to a great estate, and are now in your minority; and shall the heir be discontented, if he have not the actual possession in his non-age; and will you, if you have not possession of great things here, as well as expectation of great things hereafter.
15. Consider these things are at Gods dispose, and he may give them to whom he will, and in what measure he will; and will not you be pleased, if God doth with his own, as seemeth him good? Shall your eye be evil because Gods is good? Matth. 20. 13, 14, 15. Doth God keep from you any thing that is your due? These things are gifts, and not a debt.
16. Consider, you have more already, then you do deserve: Study much your own unworthiness, and believe you are indeed less then the least of all Gods mercies, Gen. 32. 10. Every crum of Bread is more then you do deserve.
17. Consider, it is uncomely for a living man to complain of Gods dispensations, and to murmur against them, Lam. 3. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain, or murmur, especially in such times of great mortality? Doth God take some outward things from you? But doth not he take the lives of others, and continue yours? Think with your self, if some of those that are gone down into their Graves, would have complained, if God had spared their lives, though he had diminished their estates. God continueth that unto you, which is dearer unto you, then a great estate; and will you yet complain?
18. Consider, much is not necessary; a little will bear your charges till you come unto your journeys end: Nature is content with little, and Grace with less. Lusts are chargeable to maintain, but Grace will teach you to live at a cheaper rate. Pride is costly, but Humility is more easily satisfied. Gluttony and Drunkenness require more, but Temperance less.
19. Consider, when you have but little in possession, you have all in the promise; which promise you may believingly plead with God at the Throne of Grace. There are many promises concerning outward things, which God hath made unto his people, which are conditional; that he will give you these outward things, if your having them, will more conduce unto his glory, and your own good; and shall not a promise of God, quiet your heart? Is there not more in Gods promise to satisfie you, then in the Creature, if you had as much as you do desire. Psal. 34. 9, 10. & 37. 9, 11.
20. Consider your little is better then a wicked mans much: You have a little, and you have it with the love of God; and a wicked man hath much, and hath it with the frowns of God. You have a little with a blessing, and the wicked have abundance with a curse. And which do you think is better? God giveth you a little, and the pardon of your sins too, with a soft and sensible heart. And he giveth more to the ungodly, but retains their sins, and takes not from them an hard and impenitent heart: And so far as Grace prevails, you are more truly thankful for a little, then they are for their all. And to have a little, and be thankful, is better then to have more, and be unthankful, Psal. 37. 16.
21. Do the Fowls of the Heaven, or the Beasts of the Field, disquiet themselves as you do? and as bad as you think you are, yet being one of Gods children, you are better then they, Matth. 6. 26. Will God provide for Beasts, and not for those he hath redeemed with the precious Blood of his own Son?
22. All your discontenting cares, they are fruitless and unprofitable, they will do you much harm; but they cannot do you any good. What addition do you make by all your vexatious-pricking-heart-disquieting care? By all your thoughts, you cannot add one cubit to your stature, nor any more unto your State. Matth. 6. 27.
23. These discontents are fitter for an Heathen, then a Christian; those that have no better, and do know no better; but not for you. Matth. 6. 32.
24. Consider your relation unto God: Is he not your Father? and cannot you then quietly commit your affairs to him? and cast all your cares upon him. Do your little children thus disquiet themselves about their food and rayment? Shall they trust you more, then you trust God? He is your Father, and therefore will: He is in Heaven, and therefore can give to you all that is needful for you; and what is needful for you, he knows better then your self.
Thus I have in my Meditations thought upon some Arguments for Contentation with our present condition, if we have but small enjoyments in this World: Which, through the Grace of God, have had some operation in my heart in writing; and I pray they may also have upon yours in reading of them.