The Travels of True Godliness, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Shewing how Thoughtful meeting with his dear Friend Contentment, finding now nothing wanting in order to the making his Life ſweet and comfortable here, and eternally happy hereafter, fell a ſinging Allelujahs, Hymns of Praiſe and Thankſgiving to God and the Lamb.
THoughtful Chriſtian, for ſo now we muſt call him, notwithſtanding all the high and unutterable Bleſſings, Riches and Honour he had arrived at by his late embracing True Godlineſs, remained very ſad and melancholy, being attended with many deſponding Cogitations, by perceiving not only the great Diſtreſſes and Troubles which his Wife and Children were like to meet with in this world, but alſo what ſad, unſettled and unhappy daies he was fallen into, and of the abounding Evils and horrible Blaſphemies which ſtar'd him in the face whereever he came; together with the low and deplorable condition the Church of Chriſt and True Religion was in, in this diſmal hour, which Godlineſs perceiving, told him of one Contentment, whom he ſaw he had not yet found; and that if he could but obtain that favour to perſwade him to dwell with him, his mind would remain ſweetly ſettled and compoſed, and that he would enjoy all calmneſs and ſerenity of Soul imaginable, being delivered from all Anxious Thoughts about all preſent and future Events of things, and undergo all Croſſes and harſheſt Accidents with equanimity and acquieſcence of Spirit, wholly ſubmitting unto, and being fully ſatisfied with the Divine Diſpoſal. Now this glorious, noble and Renowned Prince Contentment had been it ſeems travelling from place to place like a poor Pilgrim, as True Godlineſs had done, ſeeking a fit reſting place, but could find none; for he had been to viſit Riches, but no dwelling there; and Poverty alſo, but found no lodging there; with Youth he could find no abode, and Old Age was a ſtranger to him; Pleaſure could give him no entertainment; Honours were forc'd to ſay, I know him not; he was not lodged in the Princes Palace, nor in the Peſants Cottage; the unmarried ſought him, but could not find him' and the married wiſht for him, but there was no abiding for him neither; for none of all theſe States and ſimple Conditions of men could yield perfect Peace, Content and Serenity of Mind; but Thoughtful hearing Godlineſs ſpeaking of him, that he was uſed to dwell with him, or where he took up his Lodging, ſent preſently his old Friend Conſideration to ſeek out for him, and by the providence of God it was not long before he found him; yet for the information of my thinking Reader, I ſhall ſhew the way how Conſideration, by the aſſiſtance of Faith, met with him, and brought him home to his dear Maſter, Thoughtful Chriſtian; and fixt Companion, viz.
Firſt, Conſideration led him forth to ponder upon the Divine Attributes, Providences and Promiſes of God, he cauſed him to conſult infinite Power, Wiſdom, Omniciency, Holineſs, Mercy, Goodneſs, Truth and Faithfulneſs, &c.
Secondly, He alſo ſtirred him up to ſeek for Contentment by pondering upon his preſent ſtate and condition. What ſaith he) hath God done for thee? Thou waſt in the gall of bitterneſs, and bond of Iniquity, and God hath brought thee out, and yet not Content! Thou wast a a Child of Wrath, and now art a child of God, yet not Content! Haſt thou God for thy God, Chriſt for thy Saviour, the Holy Spirit for thy Comforter, and yet not Content! Nay, doth God Chriſt and the Holy Spirit, dwell with thee, and yet not Content! Haſt thou received. True Godlineſſes glorious Retinue into thy houſe, to abide with thee, to enrich thee, ſtrengthen thee, to comfort thee, and make thy life ſweet to thee▪ and yet not Content! Are thy ſins pradon'd, thy ſoul juſtified, haſt thou Union and Communion with the Father and Son, and yet not Content! Is thy Name writ in the Book of Life? ſhalt thou dwell with God and Chriſt for ever? is Heaven thy Inheritance? art thou an Heir of a Crown and Kingdom, that fadeth not away, and yet not Content! Nay, let me tell thee all theſe things, and many more are abſolutely thine with Contentment. Come are thou willing to poſſeſs them, to make them thy own, and to enjoy them for ever, yea or no? if thou wouldſt be ſure of them, then get Contentment to dwell with thee; for Godlineſs with Contentment is great gain, 1 Tim. 6.6. It doth not ſay Godlineſs without Contentment, but with Contentment. 'Tis this glorious Prince it appears, who puts thee into the ſure poſſeſſion of all true happineſs, and yet not Content!
Thirdly, Ponder ſaith Conſideration, upon the excellency of Contentment; for a Saint never looks like himſelf, acts like himſelf, acts like a perſon of ſuch Rank and Quality, a perſon who hath received ſo many glorious and excellent Graces and Priviledges, but when in all conditions he is therewith contented
Fourthly, Ponder, ſaith Conſideration, upon the Evils of Diſcontent; Oh what diſhonour doth it bring unto God! what reproach to True Godlineſs? and what great wrong to thy own Soul!
Fifthly, 'Tis below thy Chriſtian Relation, ſaith Conſideration, to be diſcontent: It was the Speech of Jonadab to Amon, why art thou, being a King's Son, lean from day to day? But that was (as one obſerves) for a wicked Cauſe; he ſaw his Spirit was troubled, for otherwiſe he was fat enough. 'Tis below thy Relation to God, who is thy Portion, thy Shield, thy Sanctuary, thy Father. David thought it no ſmall matter to be a Son-in-Law to an Earthly King; and art thou the King's Son of Heaven and Earth, and yet not content? 'Tis be…ow thy relation to Jeſus Chriſt: What, art thou the Spouſe of Chriſt, a Member of Chriſt, the Brother and Friend of Chriſt, an Heir with Chriſt, and yet not content? 'Tis below thy relation to the holy Ghoſt; Is he thy Comforter, Guide, Witneſs, Strength, and art not content? 'tis below thy relation to the holy Angels, who are thy Guard, thy Attendance, thy Friends, thy Watchmen; Haſt thou Millions of thoſe glorious Spirits to miniſter to thee, to fight for thee, keep thee in all thy wayes, and yet not content? 'Tis below thy relation to the Saints and heavenly family; Art thou brought home then to ſit down with them, to partake of all the ſacred priviledges of God's Houſe with them, and to have a ſhare in all their prayers, and yet not content? 'Tis below the high and ſovereign dignity thou art raiſed to; Art thou born from above, a Prince, a Favourite of Heaven, an Heir of both Worlds, and yet not content?
Sixthly, 'Tis below thoſe Graces, Divine helps and endowments thou haſt received. Art thou in the Covenant of Grace? Has God tyed and bound himſelf by promiſes and holy Oath to help thee, uphold thee, and keep thee from falling, and yet not Content? Is thy Eternal Eſtate ſecur'd, art thou made ſure of Heaven and yet diſcontented?
Laſtly, Conſider, all thy affictions, troubles and ſorrows are nothing in compariſon of what other Saints have met with, nay, to thoſe Jeſus Chriſt met with himſelf for thy ſake, and art not content? beſides, are they not leſs than thy ſins deſerve; and yet not content? nay, and all thoſe hard things thou meeteſt with God will cauſe to work for thy good; and yet not content? all the bitter things thou art ever like to meet with, will be in this World nothing but ſweet hereafter and yet not content? all thy troubles will be ſoon gone, they are but for a moment; beſides, they are intermixt with much ſweet; and yet not content? nay, and all thy ſorrows will be turned into joy, and all tears will be wip'd off from thine eyes, and yet not content? No ſooner had Conſideration laid all theſe things and many others of like nature before him, but lo, to his eternal joy, Contentment came in, and was immediately gloriouſly welcomed by Godlineſſes heavenly Retinue; yea, it cannot be imagined what rejoycing now there was in poor Thoughtful's houſe; it would do alſo ones heart good to ſee how the ſcattered powers of the enemy were forced to fly into holes. Apollyon himſelf was fain to pull in his horn. Deſpond was vanquiſhed, curſed Diſquiet and Murmur could find no more place in his houſe, O this to him was the day of dayes!
Upon this, perceiving Glorious Content with Triumph was entred into his houſe, to dwell with the reſt of True Godlineſs's heavenly Retinue, and that there was now nothing wanting to make his life life comfortable here, and happy hereafter, he fell a ſinging of ſweet Hymns of Praiſe and Thankſgiving to God.
A ſweet Hymn of Praiſe.
1. True Godlineſs is come to me
And with him alſo lo I ſee,
His glorious Train who will attend
My precious ſoul unto the End:
No day like this hath ever bin
Content with Triumphs enter'd in.
2. I love thee, and admire thee too
What Work remains thou'lt help me do;
My chiefest buſineſs it is done,
Poſſeſs the houſe which thou haſt won,
The fruits of Conqueſt now begin,
Content with Triumphs enter'd in
3. What's this! *In-dweling ſin moves again.don't boaſt what can it be;
Remains there ſtill an enemy!
Have I o'er come all deadly foes,
And ſhall this Old-man me oppoſe?
The fruits of Conqueſt now begin,
Content with Triumphs enter'd in.
4. I ſhall I'm ſure be rid of thee,
And then how happy ſhall I be?
When Godlineſs in me doth reign
Alone with his moſt glorious Train;
And not a foe dares once appear,
O then what Triumphs ſhall I hear!
5. Can man on Earth more happy be?
I Peace poſſeſs, I Glory ſee,
God and Chriſt with me do dwell;
I'm ſure of Heaven, ſav'd from Hell:
The fruits of Conqueſt now begin,
Content with Triumphs enter'd in
FINIS.