The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 46
Meditation XLVI. Ʋpon Contentment and Satisfaction.
IT is our Saviours Maxim, that Mans life conſiſteth not in the abundance of things which he poſſeſſeth. If there be any happineſs upon Earth, it is in that we call Contentation, which cometh from the Minde within, and not from the things without. Perfect Satisfaction is to be had onelyonly in Heaven, where we ſhall be happy, not by the Confinement, but by the Fruition of our deſires: Then (ſaith David) I ſhall be ſatisfied, when I awake with thy likeneſs. How happy therefore is every Godly Mans Condition, who are the onelyonly Perſons that are inſtructed in the Myſtery of Contentment while they live on Earth, and ſhall be in Heaven the ſole Poſſeſſors of perfect and everlaſting Bleſſedneſs? True it is, that Philoſophy hath greatly prized, and earneſtly ſought this Rich Jewell of Contentation; but Chriſtianity hath onelyonly found it. The Moraliſts have exerciſed their Wits in giving of Rules to attain it, and have let fall ſome Sentences that may deſerve to be put in the Chriſtians Regiſter, but they could never look into the true Grounds from whence ſound Contentment doth ariſe, and upon which it is to be built. The higheſt of their Precepts have not (as I may ſay) the root of the Matter in them, and are therefore inſufficient wholly to compoſe the Minde, to ſuch a Calme and Even Temper, as may, in the variety of Changes, ſhew and diſcover its ſelf to be ſo reconciled to its preſent Condition, as not to loſe its Inward Peace and Serenity, whatſoever the Stormes and Croſs Accidents are from without. What are the Conſiderations which they preſcribe as a ſupport againſt Poverty, Sickneſs, Impriſonment, loſs of Friends, Baniſhment, and ſuch like Evils? are they not Perſwaſions drawn from the Dignity of Man, from the vanity and uncertainty of all outward things; from the ſhortneſs and frailty of Life, from the befalling of the ſame things unto others? But alaſs … what ſlender Props are theſe to bear the ſtreſs and weight of thoſe Armies of Trialls, which at once may affault the Life of Man. Theſe may haply ſerve as ſecondary helpes to alleviate the bitterneſs of ſome Afflictions, when we are apt to think them greater than what others have felt, or longer than what others have endured: But to keep the Minde in Peace in the midſt of all aeſtuations from without, there muſt be more Effectual Remedies than either Nature or Morality can ſuggeſt. From whence then can true Contentment ariſe but from Godlineſs, which hath a Sufficiency to eſtabliſh the Heart? it is that alone which bringeth a Man home to God, out of whom neither Contentment, nor Satisfaction can ever be had. It is that which acquainteth a Man with that great Secret, of Gods Speciall Providence over his Children, who Rules the World, not onelyonly as a Lord, to make them ſenſible of his Power, but as a loving Father to make them confident of his goodneſs, whereby he diſpoſeth all things for the beſt. O when Faith hath once apprehended this, how firmly can it reſt upon the Promiſes which are made to Godlineſs, both of this life and that which is to come? How can it work far more Contentation with the meaneſt Food, than others have with the coſtlieſt Delicates; with the pooreſt Raiment, than others have with their richeſt Ornaments? It is Faith onelyonly that teacheth a Chriſtian like a skilfull Muſician, to let down a String a Peg lower, when the Tune requires it; or like an experienced Spagirick to remit, or intend his Furnace as occaſion ſerves. Such an one was Paul, who learned this heavenly Art, not at Gamaliels feet, but in Chriſts School, the Holy Spirit of God being his Teacher, ſo that he knew both how to want and how to abound, and in whatſoever State he was therewith to be content. Let none then ſo far admire thoſe Heathen Sages in thoſe ſpeculations of theirs concerning this Myſtery, as if they had attained to hit that Mark at which they levelled, and had arrived at the utmoſt boundaries of it. Whenas in all their Eſſayes, they have fallen as far ſhort of true Contentation, as Sick Mens Slumbrings and Dreams, do of a ſound and healthfull reſt. Of all their Precepts and Rules I may ſay as Eraſmus did of Seneca, in an Epiſtle of his, Si legas eum ut paganum, ſcripſit Chriſtianè ſi ut Chriſtianum, ſcripſit paganicè; If you read them as the Sayings of Heathens, they ſpeak Chriſtianly; but if you look upon them as the Sayings of Chriſtians, they ſpeak Paganly. And how could it be that they ſhould ever do otherwiſe? they being wholly deſtitute of the Light of Grace, and the Guidance of the Spirit, which are both requiſite to this high and holy Learning? the one as a Principle, and the other as a Teacher. But yet this I muſt ſay alſo, that they have done enough to ſhame many, who, enjoying the Benefit of Divine Revelation, and living in the open Sun-ſhine of the Goſpel, have profited thereby in ſo ſmall a Proportion beyond them. Who can forbear bluſhing to ſee thoſe who Profeſs to be Chriſtians, to live ſo contrary to the Law and Rule which they ſhould walk by? to ſeek contentment, not by moderating their deſires, but by ſatisfying them, which will ſtill encreaſe, as things come on: like to Rivers, which the more they are fed, and the further they run, the wider they ſpread. Can it rationally be deemed by any, that thoſe things which are Summes in the deſire, and Cyphers in the fruition, ſhould ever effect contentedneſs in the minde? Is not the deficiency that Men ſee in their abundance the ground of their Multiplying it? and can they ever, by the Additions which they make, heal its deficiency? why then ſhould any try and attempt ſuch fruitleſs projects, which cannot but end in diſappointment? Methinks I ſhould not need to expoſtulate the matter with Chriſtians: That anointing which teacheth them all things, ſhould inſtruct them in this, that Godlineſs is the onelyonly way to Contentment in this life, and ſatisfaction in the other. But Lord, however others live, help me to bring my Minde to my Condition, which is as well my duty as my happineſs while I am on earth; and to reſt aſſured that in heaven thou wilt bring my Eſtate to my Minde, which is that I may enjoy thee in whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand there are pleaſures for evermore.