The Art of Divine Contentment, Chapter 10

The Art of Divine Contentment · Chapter 10

p. 58CHAP. X.

USE. III.

A swasive to Contentment.

Use. III.Vse. III. Exhortation. IT exhorts us to labour for Contentation; this is that which doth beautifie and bespangle a Christian, and as a spirituall embroidery doth set him off in the eyes of the world.

But,Objection. me thinks I hear some bitterly complaining, and saying to me, Alas, how is it possible to be contented? the Lord hath made my chaine heavy **Lam. 3. 7.Lam 3:7, he hath cast me into a very sad condition. foreign.Homer. Iliad 2.

Answ. There is no sinne,Answ. but p. 59labours either to hide it selfe under some maske, or if it cannot be concealed, then to vindicate it selfe by some Apology. This sin of discontent I finde very witty in its Apologies, which I shall first discover, and then make a Reply. We must lay it downe for a Rule, that discontent is a sinne, so that all the pretences and Apologies wherewith it labours to justifie it selfe, are but the painting and dressing of a strumpet.

SECT. I.

The first Aplogy that Discontent makes, Answered.

The first Apology which discontent makes is this;1. Apology. I have lost a childe. Paulina upon the losse of her children, was so possessed with a spirit of sadnesse, that she had like to have intombed her self in her own p. 60discontent; our love to Relation is oftentimes more then our love to Religion.

Answ. 1.1. Reply. We must bee content, not onelyonly when God gives mercies, but when he taketh them away. If we must in every thing give thanks, 1 Thes. 5. 18.**1 Thes. 5. 18.1 Thess 5:18 then in nothing be discontented.

2. Perhaps God hath taken away the Cisterne, 2. Reply.that he may give you the more of the Spring; he hath darkened the Star-light, that you may have more Sun-light. God intends you shall have more of himselfe, and is not he better then ten Sons? Look not so much upon a temporall losse, as a spirituall gaine; the comforts of the world runne dregges; those which come out of the Granary of the Promise, are purer and sweeter.

3. Your childe was not given,3. Reply. but lent. I have, saith Hanna, lent my son to the Lord **1 Sam. 1. 21.1 Sam 1:21. She lent him? the p. 61Lord had but lent him to her. Mercies are not entailed upon us, but lent; what a man lends, he may call for againe when he please. God hath put out a child to thee a while to nurse, wilt thou be displeased if he takes his childe home againe? O be not discontented, that a mercy is taken away from you; but rather be thankfull, that it was lent you so long.

4. Suppose your childe be taken from you,4. Reply. either he was good or bad; if he was Rebellious, you have not so much parted with a childe, as a burden; you grieve for that which might have been a greater griefe to you: if he was Religious, then remember, he is taken from the evil to come **Isa. 57. 1Isa 57:1, and plac'd in his cell of felicity. This lower Region is full of grosse and hurtfull vapours; how happy are those who are mounted into the celestiall Orbes! The righteous is taken away; in the Originall p. 62it is, he is gathered **foreign; a wicked childe dying is cut off, but the pious childe is gathered. Even as we see men gather flowers, and candy them, and preserve them by them; so hath God gathered thy child as a sweet flower, that he may candy it with glory, and preserve it by him for ever. Why then should a Christian be discontented; why should he weep excessively? Daughters of Ierusalem, weep not for mee, but weep for your selves **Luk. 23. 28.Luke 23:28. So, could we hear our children speaking to us out of heaven, they would say, Weep not for us who are happy, we lie upon a soft pillow, even in the bosome of Christ; the Prince of peace is embracing us, and kissing us with the kisses of his lips, be not troubled at our preferment; Weep not for us, but weep for your selves, who are in a sinfull, sorrowfull world, you are in the valley of teares, but wee are on the mountaines of Spices; wee are p. 63gotten to our harbour, but you are still tossing upon the waves of inconstancy. O Christian, be not discontented that thou hast parted with such a childe; but rather rejoyce that thou had'st such a childe to part with. Break forth into thankfulnesse. What an honour is it to a Parent to beget such a childe, that while he lives encreas…th the joy of the glorified Angels**Luk. 15. 10.Luke 15:10; and when he dies, increaseth the number of the glorified Saints?Lachryma poenitentiū sunt vinum Angelorū. Bern. serm. 30. super. Cant.

5. If God hath taken away one of your children,5. Reply. he hath left you more; he might have stripp'd you of all. He tooke away all Iobs comforts, his estate, his children, and indeed his wife was left, but as a crosse. Satan made a bow of this rib (as Chrysostom speaks) and shot a tentation by her at Iob, thinking to have shot him to the heart; Curse God and die: but Iob had upon him the brest-plate of Integrity; and though his children were taken away, yet not his p. 64graces; still he is content, still he blesseth God. O thinke how many mercies you still enjoy; yet our base hearts are more discontented at one losse, then thankfull for an hundred mercies.

God hath plucked one bunch of Grapes from you, but how many precious Clusters are left behinde?

Object. But it was my only Childe,Object. the staffe of my age, the seed of my comfort, and the only blossome, out of which the honour of an ancient family did grow.

Answ. 1.Answ. 1. God hath promised you (if you belong to him) a name, better then of sons and daughters **Isa, 56. 5.; Is he dead that should have been the monument to have kept up the name of a Family? God hath given you a new name, he hath written your name in the booke of Life; behold, your spirituall Heraldry; here is a name that cannot be cut off.

p. 652. Hath God taken away thy only childe? hee hath given thee his onelyonly Son: this is a happy exchange. What needs he complaine of losses that hath Christ, he is his fathers brightness **Heb. 1. 3▪Heb 1:3, his riches **Col. 2. 9.Col 2:9, his**Isa. 42 1.Isa 42:1 delight. Is there enough in Christ to delight the heart of God, and is there not enough in him to ravish us with holy delight? He is wisdome to teach us, righteousness to acquit us, sanctification to adorne us; he is foreign, that Royall and Princely gift; he is the bread of Angels **Christus panis angelorum. B…rn., the joy and triumph of Saints; he is foreign, all in all **Col. 3. 10.Col 3:10; why then art thou discontented? though thy childe be lost, yet thou hast him for whom all things are losse.

7. And lastly,7. Reply. let us blush to thinke that nature should seeme to outstrip grace.Pet. Mart. Puluillus an Heathen, when he was about to consecrate a Temple to Iupiter, and news was brought to him of the death of p. 66his sonne, would not desist from his enterprize, but with much composure of minde gave order for decent burial.

SECT. II.

The second Apology answered.

2. Apology that discontent makes,2▪ Apology. is, I have a great part of my estate strangely melted away, and trading begins to faile.

God is pleased sometimes to bring his children very low, and cut them short in their estate, it fares with them as with that widow who had nothing in her house save a pot of oyle **2 King. 4. 2.2 Kgs 4:2; but be content.

1. God hath taken away your Estate, 1. Reply.but not your Portion. This is a sacred Paradox. Honour and Estate are no part of a Christians Joynture, they are rather ac…essaries then essentialls, and are extrinsecall p. 67and forreigne, therefore the losse of these cannot denominate a man miserable, still the portion remains, The Lord is my portion saith my soul **Lam. 3. 24.Lam 3:24. Suppose one were worth a million of money; and he should chance to lose a pin off his sleeve, this is no part of his estate, nor can we say he is undone: the losse of sublunary comforts is not so much to a Christians portion, as the losse of a pin is to a million. These things shall bee added to you **Mat. 6. 32.Matt 6:32; Adj…cientur, they shall be cast in as overplus: when a man buyes a piece of cloth, he hath an inch or two given in to the measure; now, though he lose his inch of cloth, yet he is not undone, for still the whole piece remaines: our outward estate is not so much in regard of the portion, as an inch of cloth is to the whole piece; why then should a Christian be discontented when the title to his spiritual treasure remains? a thief may take away all my money p. 68that I have about me, but not my land; still a Christian hath a title to the land of promise. Mary hath chosen the better part which shall not be taken from her.

2. Perhaps if thy estate had not been lost,2. Reply thy soul had beene lost**Pecuniam perdidisti, fortassis illa te perderes, manens.; outward comforts doe often quench inward heat. God cannot bestow a jewel upon us, but we fall so in love with it, that we forget him that gave it; what pity is it that we should commit idolatry with the creature! God is forc'd sometimes to draine away an estate; the plate and jewels are often cast over-board to save the passenger. Many a man may curse the time that ever he had such an estate, it hath been an enchantment to draw away his heart from God. Some there are that will be rich **1 Tim. 6. 9.1 Tim 6:9, and they fall into a snare **Aliud est esse di vitem, aliud velle flori divitem: hîc cupiditas accusatu…, non a… rum. Bede.. Art thou troubled p. 69that God hath prevented a snare? Riches are Thornes **Mat. 13. 7.Matt 13:7, art thou angry that God hath pull'd a way a thorne from thee?Spinae suffocantes & pungentes. Riches are compar'd to thick clay **Hab. 2. 6.Hab 2:6, Perhaps thy affections, which are the feet of the soul, might have stuck so fast in this golden clay that they could not have ascended up to heaven, be content; if God damme up our outward comforts, it is that the streame of our love may runne faster another, way.

3. If your estate be small,3. Reply yet God can blesse a little. 'Tis not how much money we have, but how much blessing. He that often curseth the bags of gold**Ex malè Quae…itis vix gaudet tertius haeres., can blesse the meale in the barrel, and the oyl in the cruse. What if thou hast not the full fleshpots? yet thou hast a promise, I will blesse her provision **Psal. 132. 15.Ps 132:15, and then a little goes a great way; be content, thou hast the dew of a blessing distill'd: a dinner of green herbs, where love is, p. 70is sweet; I may adde, where the love of God is: another may have more estate then you, but more care; more riches, lesse rest; more revenewes, but withall more occasions of expence: he hath a greater inheritance, yet perhaps God doth not give him power to eate thereof **Eccles. 6. 2.Eccl 6:2, he hath the dominion of his estate,foreign. Menand. not the use; he holds more, but enjoyes lesse: in a word, thou hast lesse gold then he, perhaps lesse guilt**Lucrum in arca, damnum in Co…scientia. Aug. in Serm. Innocent..

4. You did never so thrive in your spiritual trade,4. Reply. your heart was never so low as since your condition was low; you were never so poore in spirit, never so rich in faith. You did never runne the wayes of Gods Commandments so fast as since some of your golden weights were taken off. You never had such trading for heaven all your life**Foelix mutatio, ubi Deum pro mundo accipi…us, pro terr…s …lum.; this is uberrimus p. 71quaestus. You did never make such adventures upon the promise as since you left off your Sea-adventures. This is the best kinde of merchandize; O Christian, thou never had'st such incomes of the Spirit, such spring-tides of joy; and what though weak in estate, if strong in assurance? be content, what you have lost one way, you have gain'd another.

5. Be your losses what they will in this kinde,5. Reply. remember in every losse there is onelyonly a suffering; but in every discontent there is a sinne, and one sinne is worse then a thousand sufferings. What? because some of my revenews are gone, shall I part with some of my righteousnesse? shall my faith and patience go too? because I doe not possesse an estate, shall I not therefore possesse my own spirit? O learne to be content.

p. 72SECT. III.

The third Apology answered.

The third Apology is,3. Apology. It is sad with me in my relations; where I should finde most comfort, there I have most grief. This Apology or Objection brancheth it selfe into two particulars, whereto I shal give a distinct Reply.

1. My childe goes on in rebellion;1. Branch. I fear I have brought forth a child for the Devill.Reply. It is indeed sad to think that hell should be paved with the skulls of any of our children, and certainly the pangs of griefe which the mother hath in this kinde are worse then her pangs of travell; but▪ though you ought to be humbled; yet not discontented: for consider

1. You may pick something out of your childes undutifulnesse;…. the p. 73childes sinne is sometimes the Parents Sermon; quod dolet, docet, the undutifulnesse of children to us may be a memento to put us in minde of our undutifulnesse once to God. Time was when we were rebellious children; how long did our hearts stand out as Garisons against God? how long did he parly with us, and beseech us ere we would yield? hee walked in the tenderness of his heart towards us, but wee walked in the frowardnesse of our hearts towards him; and since grace hath been planted in our soules, how much of the wilde Olive is still in us? how many motions of the Spirit doe we daily resist? how many unkindnesses and affronts have we put upon Christ? Let this open a spring of …e…tance; look upon your child…s rebellion, and mourne for your … rebellion.

2. Though to see him undutiful is your griefe, 2. Reply.yet not alwayes your p. 74sinne. Hath a Parent given the childe, not onelyonly the milke of the brest, but the sincere milke of the word **1 Peter 2. 2.1 Pet 2:2? Hast thou seasoned his tender yeares with Religious education? thou canst do no more; Parents can onelyonly worke knowledge, God must work grace; they can onelyonly lay the wood together, it is God must make it burne; a Parent can onelyonly be a guide to shew his childe the way to heaven, the Spirit of God must be a load-stone to draw his heart into that way. Am I in Gods stead (saith Iacob) who hath withheld the fruit of the womb **Gen. 30. 2.Gen 30:2? can I give children? So, is a Parent in Gods stead to give grace? Who can help it, if a childe having the Scripture, light of conscience, Scripture education, these three Torches in his hand, yet runs wilfully into the deep ponds of sin? Weep for thy childe, pray for him; but do not sin for him, by discontent.

p. 753. Say not,3. Reply. you have brought forth a childe for the Devill, God can reduce him; He hath promised to turne the heart of the children to their Parents **Mal. 4. 6.Mal 4:6, and to open springs of grace in the Desert **Isa. 35. 6Isa 35:6; When thy childe is going full-saile to the Devill, God can blow with a contrary winde of his Spirit, and alter his course. When Paul was breathing out persecution against the Saints, and was sailing hell-ward, God turns him another way; before he was going to Damascus, God sends him to Ananias; before a Persecutor, now a Preacher. Though our children are for the present fallen into the Devills pound, God can turne them from the power of Satan**Acts 26. 18.Acts 26:18, and bring them in at the twelfth houre. Monica was weeping for her son Augustine, at last God gave him in upon prayer, and he became a famous instrument in the Church of God.

p. 762. The second branch of the objection is;2. Branch. But, my husband takes ill courses, where I looked for honey, behold a sting.

Answ. 'Tis sad to have the living and the dead tied together; yet, let not your heart fret with discontent; mourne for his sinne, but doe not murmur. For

1. God hath placed you in your relation,1. Reply. and you cannot be discontented, but you quarrell with God. What? for every crosse that befalls us, shall we call the infinite wisdome of God in question? O the blasphemy of our hearts!

2. God can make you a gainer by your husbands sinne;2. Reply. perhaps you had never been so good, if he had not been so bad. The fire burnes hottest in the coldest climate; God often by a divine Antiper…stasis turnes the sinnes of others to our good**Etiam poccatum ipsum in bonum convertit, Aug. in Rom. 8.Rom 8, and makes their maladies our medicines. The more profane the p. 77husband is, oft the more holy the wife growes; the more earthly he is, the more heavenly she growes; God makes sometimes the husbands sinne a spur to the wives grace. His exorbitances are quasi flabellum, as a paire of bellowes to blow up the flame of her zeale and devotion the more, and è contrá.

Is it not thus? doth not thy husbands wickednesse send thee to prayer? Thou perhaps hadst never prayed so much, if he had not sinn'd so much; his deadness quickens thee the more; the stone of his heart is an hammer to break thy heart. The Apostle saith, The unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband **1 Cor. 7. 14.1 Cor 7:14; but in this sense, the believing wife is sanctified by the unbelieving husband, she growes better; his sinne is a whetstone to her grace, and a medicine for her security.

p. 78SECT. IV.

The fourth Apology Answered.

The next Apology that discontent makes,4. Apology. is, But my friends have dealt very unkindly with mee, and proved false.

Answ. 'Tis sad when a friend proves like a Brooke in Summer **Job 6. 15▪Job 6:15; The Traveller being parched with heat, comes to the brook, hoping to refresh himselfe; but the brook is dryed up: yet be content.

1. You are not alone,1. Reply. others o… the Saints have been betrayed by friends; and when they have lean… ed upon them, they have been as … foot out of joynt. This was true in the Type, David **Psal. 55. 12, 13.Ps 55:12Ps 55:13; It was not … enemy reproached me, but it was thou… a man, mine equall, my guide and … acquaintance; we tooke sweet counse… together; and in the Antitype, Christ… p. 79he was betrayed by a friend; and why should we thinke it strange to have the same measure dealt out to us as Jesus Christ had? The servant is not above his Master.

2. A Christian may often read his sinne in his punishment;2. Reply. Hath not he dealt treacherously with God? how oft hath he grieved the Comforter, broken his vowes? and through unbelief sided with Satan against God? How oft hath he abused love? taking the Jewells of Gods mercies, and making a golden calfe of them, serving his own lusts? how oft hath he made the free grace of God, which should have been a bolt to keep out sinne, rather a key to open the door to it? these wounds hath the Lord received in the house of his friend **Zach. 13. 6.Zech 13:6. Look upon the unkindnesse of thy friend, and mourne for thy owne unkindnesse against God, shall a Christian condemn that in another, which he allows too much in himself?

p. 803. Hath thy friend proved treacherous?3. Reply. perhaps you did repose too much confidence in him. If you lay more weight upon an house then the pillars will bear, it must needs break. God saith, Trust ye not in a friend **Mica. 7. 5.; perhaps you did put more trust in him, then you did dare to put in God: Friends are as Veniceglasses, we may use them, but if we lean too hard upon them, they will break. Behold, matter of humility, but not of sullennesse and discontent.

4. You have a friend in Heaven will never faile you;4. Reply. There is a friend (saith Solomon) that sticketh closer then a brother Such a friend is God;Pro. 18. 14.Prov 18:14 he is very studious and inquisitive in our behalfe; he hath a debating with himselfe, a consulting and projecting how he may doe us good; he is the best friend, which may give contentment in the midst of all discourtesies of friends.

p. 81Consider, 1. He is a loving friend. God is love**1 John 4. 16.1 John 4:16, hence he is said sometimes to engrave us on the Palmes of his hand, Isa. 49. 16.Isa 49:16Isa. 49. 16. that we may be never out of his eye, and to carry us in his bosome, Isa. 40. 11.Isa 40:11Isa. 40. 11. near to his heart. There is no stop or stint in his love; but as the River Nilus, it overflowes all the bankes: his love is as far beyond our thoughts, as it is above our deserts. O the infinite love of God, in giving the Son of his love to be made flesh **Quantus Deus quantillus factus oft homo? Aug., which was more then if all the Angels had been made wormes! God in giving Christ to us, gave his very heart to us, here is love pensil'd out in all its glory, and engraven as with the point of a Diamond. All other love is hatred in comparison of the love of our friend.

2. He is a carefull friend; He careth for you**1 Pet. 5. 71 Pet 5:7

1. He minds and transacts our businesse as his own, he accounts his p. 82peoples interests and concernments as his interest.

2. He provides for us, Grace to enrich us, Glory to ennoble us; It was Davids complaint, No man cared for my soul **Ps. 142. 4Ps 142:4; a Christian hath a friend that cares for him.

3. He is a Prudent friend**Dan. 2. 20.Dan 2:20. A friend may sometimes erre through ignorance or mistake, and give his friend poison in stead of sugar; but God is wise in heart **Job 9. 4.Job 9:4. He is skilfull as well as faithfull; he knowes what our disease is, and what Physick is most proper to apply; he knowes what will doe us good, and what winde will be best to carry us to heaven.

4. He is a Faithfull friend**Deut. 7. 9, 10.Deut 7:9Deut 7:10; and he is faithfull, 1. In his Promises, In hope of eternall life, which God that cannot lie hath promised **Tit. 1. 2.Titus 1:2. Gods people are childen that will not lie **Tis. 63. 8; but God is a God that cannot lie; he will not deceive the faith of his p. 83people; nay, he cannot: he is called foreign, the Truth; he can as well cease to be God, as cease to be true. The Lord may sometimes change his Promise, (as when he converts a temporall Promise into a spirituall;) but he can never breake his Promise.

5. He is a compassionate Friend. Hence in Scripture we read of the earnings of his bowels **Jer. 31. 20.Jer 31:20. Gods friendship is nothing else but compassion; for there is naturally no affection in us to desire his friendship, nor no goodness in us to deserve it; the load-stone is in himselfe. When we were full of blo…d, hee was full of bowels; When wee were enemies, he sent an Embassage of peace; When our hearts were turned back from God, his heart was turned towards us. O the tendernesse and sympathy of our friend in Heaven! We our selves have some relentings of heart to those which are in misery; p. 84but it is God who begets all the mercies and bowels that are in us, therefore he is call'd the Father of mercies **2 Cor. 1. 32 Cor 1:3.

6. He is a constant Friend. His compassions faile not **Lam. 3. 22.Lam 3:22. Friends do often in adversity drop off as leaves in Autumne**Dum fueris foelix multos numerabis a micos. Nubila si fu… rint tempora, solus e…is Amici circa sartaginem, as Plutarch saith; these are rather flatterers then friends. Ioa… was for a time faithful to King Davids house, he went not after Absal…ms Treason, but within a while proved false to the Crown, and went after the treason of Adonijah **1 Kin. 1. 71 Kgs 1:7; God is a friend for ever. Having loved his own, he loved them to the end **foreign. Joh. 13. 1.John 13:1. What though I am despised, yet God loves me? What though my friends cast me off, yet God loves me; he loves foreign, to the end, and there is no end of that love.

This me thinks, in case of discourtesies, and unkindnesses, is enough to charme down discontent.

p. 85SECT. V.

The fifth Apology answered.

The next Apology is,5. Apology. I am under great reproaches**Deteriores sunt qui famam corrumpunt quam qui praedi… diripi… ̄t. Greg. Let not this discontent; For,

1. It is a sign there is some good in thee;1. Reply.. Quid mali feci? saith Socrates; what evil have I done that this bad man commends me? The applause of the wicked usually denotes some evil, and their censure imports some good**Ps. 38. 20Ps 38:20. David wept and fasted, and that was turned to his reproach **Ps. 69. 10Ps 69:10; as we must passe to Heaven through the pikes of suffering, so through the clouds of Reproach.

2. If your reproach be for God,2. Reply as Davids was; For thy sake I have borne reproach **Ps. 69. 7.Ps 69:7, then it is rather matter of triumph then dejection; Christ doth not say, when you are p. 86reproached, be discontented; but foreign, Rejoyce **Ma…. 5. 11.. Weare your Reproach as a Diadem of honour, for now a spirit of glory rests upon you **1 Pet…r 4. 14.. Put your reproaches into the inventory of your riches; so did Moses **Heb. 11. 26.Heb 11:26. It should be a Christians ambition to wear his Saviours livery, though it be sprinkled with blood, and sullied with disgrace.

3.3. Reply. God will doe us good by reproach**Boni per contumeli… as meliores existunt. Gregor. in Hom.; as David said of Shimei his cursing, It may be the Lord will requite good for his cursing this day **2 Sam. 16. 12.2 Sam 16:12; this puts us upon searching out sinne. A child of God labours to read his sin in every stone of reproach that is cast at him; besides, now we have an opportunity to exercise patience and humility**Detractione pationtia nostra probatur. Aug. lib. 3. contra P…til..

4. Jesus Christ was content to be reproached for us;4. Reply. Hee despised the shame of the Crosse **Heb. 11. 2.Heb 11:2. It may amaze us to thinke, that he who was God could endure to be spit upon, to be p. 87crowned with thornes, in a kinde of jeere; and when he was ready to bow his head upon the Crosse, to have the Jewes in scorne wag their head, and say, He saved others, himselfe he cannot save. The shame of the Crosse was as much as the blood of the Crosse; His Name was crucified before his Body. The sharpe arrowes of Reproach that the world did shoot at Christ, went deeper into his heart then the spear; His suffering was so ignominious, that as if the Sunne did blush to behold, it withdrew its bright beams, and masqued it selfe with a cloud; (and well it might, when the Sun of Righteousnesse was in an eclipse;) all this contumely and reproach did the God of glory endure, or rather despise for us. Oh then, let us be content to have our names eclipsed for Christ; let not reproach lie a… our heart, but let us binde it as a crown about our head. Alas, what is reproach? this p. 86duplicate page p. 87duplicate page p. 88is but small shot, how will men stand in the mouth of the Canon? those who are discontented at a reproach, wil be offended at a faggot.

5. Is not many a man contented to suffer reproach for maintaining his lust,5. Reply. and shall not we for maintaining the truth? Some glory in that which is their shame **Phil. 3. 19.Phil 3:19, and shall we be ashamed of that which is our glory? Be not troubled at these petty things; he whose heart is once divinely touched with the loadstone of Gods Spirit, doth account it his honour to be dishonoured for Christ**Act. …5. 4.Acts 5:4; and doth as much despise the worlds censure, as he doth their praise.

6. We live in an Age,6. Reply. wherein men dare reproach God himselfe. The Divinity of the Son of God is blasphemously reproached by the Socinian; The blessed Bible is reproached by the Antiscripturist, as if p. 89it were but a legend of lies; and every mans faith a fable; The Iustice of God is called to the barre of Reason by the Arminian; The Wisdome of God in his providentiall actings, is taxed by the Atheist; The Ordinances of God are decryed by the Familist, as being too heavy a burden for a free-borne conscience, and too low, and carnall for a sublime Seraphique spirit; The Wayes of God which have the Majesty of holinesse shining in them, are calumniated by the Profane; The mouthes of men are open against God, as if he were an hard Master, and the path of Religion too strict and severe; If men cannot give God a good word, shall we be discontented or troubled that they speak hardly of us? such as labour to bury the glory of Religion, shall we wonder that their throats are open sepulchres **Rom. 3. 31.Rom 3:31, to bury our good name? Oh let us be contented while we are in Gods scouring house, p. 90to have our names sullied a little; the blackler wee seeme to be here, the brighter shall wee shine when God hath set us upon the celestiall shelfe.

SECT. VI.

The sixth Apology answered.

The sixth Apology that Discontent makes,6. Apology. is disrespect in the world. I have not that esteem from men as is suitable to my quality and graces. And doth this trouble? Consider

1. The world is an unequall Judge,1. Reply. as it is full of change, so of partiality. The world gives her Respects as she doth her places of preferment; more by favour often, then desert. Hast thou the ground of reall worth in thee? that is best. Worth is in him that hath it; Honour is in him that gives it**Honor est in honor ante.; better deserve respect, p. 91and not have it, then have it, and not deserve it.

2. Hast thou grace?2. Reply. God respects thee, and his judgement is best worth prizing. A Beleever is a person of honour, being borne of God. Since thou wast precious in mine eyes, thou has been honourable, and I have loved thee **Isa. 43. 4.Isa 43:4. Let the world think what they will of you; perhaps in their eyes you are a cast-away, in Gods eyes a Dove **Cant. 2. 14.Song 2:14, a Spouse **Cant. 5. 1.Song 5:1, a Iewel **Mal. 3. 17.Mal 3:17; others account you the dregs and offscouring of the world**1 Cor. 4. 14.1 Cor 4:14, but God will give whole Kingdomes for your ransome **Isa. 43. 5Isa 43:5. Let this content; no matter with what oblique eyes I am looked upon in the world, if I am rectus in curia, God thinks well of me. 'Tis better that God approve, then man applaud. The world may put us in their Rubrick, and God put us in his black-book. What is a man the better that his fellow-prisoners commend him, if his Judge condemne p. 92him? Oh labour to keepe in with God, prize his love, let my fellow-subjects frowne, I am contented, being a favorite of the King of heaven.

3. If we are the children of God,3. Reply we must look for disrespect; a believer is in the world, but not of the world; we are here in a pilgrim-condition, out of our own Countrey, therefore must not looke for the respects and acclamations of the world, it is sufficient that we shall have honour in our own Country**Heb. 13. 14Heb 13:14; Tis dangerous to be the worlds favorite.

4. Discontent arising from disrespect,4. Reply favours too much of pride; an humble Christian hath a lower opinion of himselfe then others can have of him. He that is taken up about the thoughts of his sins, and how he hath provoked God, he cryes out as Agar, I am more brutish then any man **Prov. 30. …Prov 30; and therefore is contented p. 93though he be set among the Dogs of the flock **Job 30. 1.Job 30:1. Though he be low in the thoughts of others, yet hee is thankfull that he is not laid in the lowest hell **Ps. 86. 13Ps 86:13. A proud man sets an high value upon himselfe, and is angry with others because they will not come up to his price. Take heed of pride; O had others a window to look into thy brest, (as Crates once expressed it) or did thy heart stand where thy face doth, thou would'st wonder to have so much respect.

SECT. VII.

The seventh Apology answered.

The next Apology is,7. Apology. I meet with very great sufferings for the truth**Scala aurea ad c… lum, sed c…cumsepta gladiis.. Consider

1. Your sufferings are not so great as your sinnes. Put these two in the balance,1. Reply and see which weighs heaviest; p. 94where sinne lies heavie, sufferings lie light. A carnall spirit makes more of his sufferings, and lesse of his sinnes; he lookes upon one at the great end of the Perspective, but upon the other at the little end of the Perspective. The carnall heart cries out, Take away the Frogs; but a gracious heart cries, Take away the iniquity **2 Sam. 24. 10.2 Sam 24:10. The one saith, never any one suffered as I have done; but the other saith, Never any one sinned as I have done**Mica. 7. 9..

2. Art thou under sufferings?2. Reply. thou hast an opportunity to shew the valour and constancy of thy minde; some of Gods Saints would have accounted it a great favour to have been honoured with martyrdome. One said, I am in prison till I am in prison; thou countest that a trouble which others would have worne as an ensigne of their glory.

3. Even those who have gone onelyonly upon morall principles,3. Reply. have p. 95shewn much constancy and contentment in their sufferings. Curtius being bravely mounted, and in armour, threw himselfe into a great gulfe, that the City of Rome might according to the Oracle be delivered from the Pestilence; and we having a Divine Oracle, that they who kill the body cannot hurt the soul; shall we not with much constancy and patience devote our selves to injuries for Religion? and rather suffer for the truth, then the truth suffer by us? The De…ii among the Romans vowed themselves to death, that their legions and souldiers might be crowned with the honour of the victory. O what should we be content to suffer to make the truth victorious? Regulus **Pet. Mart.having sworne that he would returne to Carthage (though he knew there was a furnace heating for him there) yet not daring to infringe his oath, he did adventure to goe; we then who are Christians, having made p. 96a vow to Christ in Baptism, and so oft renewed it in the blessed Sacrament, should with much contentation rather choose to suffer then violate our sacred oath. Thus the blessed Martyrs, with what courage and chearfulnesse did they yeeld up their souls to God? and when the fire was set to their bodies, yet their spirits were not at all fired with passion or discontent. Though others hurt the body, let them not the minde through discontent; shew by your heroick courage that you are above those troubles which you cannot be without.

SECT. VIII.

The eight Apology answered.

The next Apology is,8. Apology. The prosperity of the wicked. Answ. I confesse 'tis so often, that the evill enjoy p. 97all the good, and the good endure all the evil. David, though a good man, stumbled at this, and had like to have fallen**Psa. 73. 2▪Ps 73:2; wel, be contented, for remember,

1. These are not the only things,1. Reply. nor the best things, they are mercies without the pale; these are but acorns with which God feedes swine; you who are believers, have more choice fruit, the Olive, the Pomegranate, the fruit which grows on the true Vine Jesus Christ; others have the fat of the earth, you have the dew of heaven; they have a South-land, you have those springs of living water which are clarified with Christs blood, and indulcorated with his love.

2. To see the wicked flourish is matter rather of pity then envie; 2. Reply.'Tis all the heaven they must have. Wo to you rich men, for you have received your consolation **Luke 6. 24.Luke 6:24. Hence it was that David made it his solemne prayer, Deliver me from the wicked, Psal. 17. 14.Ps 17:14from men p. 98of the world which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure, Psal. 17. 14. The words (me thinks) are Davids Letany; from men of the world which have their portion in this life, Good Lord deliver me. When the wicked have eaten of their dainty dishes, there comes in a sad reckoning which wil spoile all. The world is first musicall, and then tragical; if you would have a man fry, and blaze in hel, let him have enough of the fat of the earth. O remember, for every sand of mercy that runs out to the wicked, God puts a drop of wrath into his Vial. Therefore as that souldier said to his fellow, Do you envy me my grapes? they cost me dear, I must die for them. So I say, Do you envie the wicked? alas, their prosperity is like Hamans banquet before execution. If a man were to be hanged, would one envie to see him walk to the gallowes through p. 99pleasant fields and fine galleries, or to see him go up the ladder in cloth of gold? The wicked may flourish in their bravery a while, but, when they flourish as the grasse, it is, that they shal be destroyed for ever **Ps. 92. 7Ps 92:7. This proud grasse shall be mowen down. Whatever a sinner enjoyes he hath a curse with it**Mal. 2. 2Mal 2:2; and shal we envie? What if poisoned bread be given to dogs? The long furrowes in the backs of the godly have a seed of blessing in them, when the table of the wicked becomes a snare, and their honour their halter.

SECT. IX.

The ninth Apology Answered.

9. The next Apology that discontent makes for it self,9 Apology is the evils of the times. The times are full of Heresie and Impiety, and this is that which troubles me. This Apology p. 100consists of two branches, to which I shall answer in specie; and first,

1. The times are full of Heresie.1 Branch. This is indeed sad,The Heresie of the times. when the Divel cannot by violence destroy the Church, he endeavours to poison it; when he cannot with Samsons Foxtailes set the corne on fire, then he sowes tares; as he labours to destroy the peace of the Church by Division, so the truth of it by Errour; we may cry out with Seneca, Verè vivimus in temporum faecibus. We live in times wherein there is a sluce open to all novel opinions, and every mans opinion is his Bible. Well, this may make us mourne, but let us not murmur through discontent: Consider.

1. Errour makes a discoverie of men,1. Reply.

11. Bad men; Errour discovers such as are tainted and corrupt. When the Leprosie brake forth in the forehead, then was the Leper discovered. p. 101Errour is a spiritual Bastard, the Divell is the father, and pride the mother; you never knew an erroneous man, but he was a proud man; now, it is good that such men should be laid open, to the intent, first, that Gods righteous judgements upon them may be adored**2 Thes … 2▪ 12.2 Thess 2:12. Secondly, that others who are free be not infected. If a man hath the Plague, it is well it breaks forth; for my part, I would avoid an Heretick as I would avoid the Divel, for he is sent on his errand. I appeale to you, if there were a Taverne in this City, where under a pretence of selling wine, many hogsheads of poison were to be sold, were it not well that others should know of it that they might not buy? it is good that those who have poisoned opinions should be known, that the people of God may not come near either the sent, or tast of that poison.

2. Errour is a Touchstone to discover p. 1022good men; it tries the gold, There must be Heresies, that they which are foreign, approved, may be made manifest**1 Cor. 11. 11.1 Cor 11:11. Thus our love to Christ and zeale for truth doth appear. God shewes who are the living fish, viz. such as swim against the stream; who are the sound sheep, viz. such as feed in the greene pastures of the Ordinances; who are the Doves, viz. such as live in the best aire, where the Spirit breaths; God sets a Garland of honour upon these, These are they which came out of great tribulation **Rev. 7. 14Rev 7:14. So, these are they that have opposed the Errours of the times; these are they that have preserved the virginity of their conscience; who have kept their judgment sound, and their heart soft. God will have a Trophy of honour set upon some of his Saints, they shal be renowned for their sincerity, being like the Cypresse, quae viriditatem in hyeme non amittit **Ambrose, which keeps its greennesse p. 103and freshnesse in the winter-season.

2. Be not sinfully discontented,2. Reply. for God can make the errours of the Church advantageous to truth. Thus the truths of God have come to be more beaten out and confirmed; as it is in Law, one man laying a false title to a piece of land, the true title hath by this means beene the more searched into and ratified: some had never so studied to defend the truth by Scripture, if others had not endeavoured to overthrow it by Sophistry; all the mists and fogs of Error that have risen out of the bottomlesse pit, have made the glorious Sun of truth to shine so much the brighterr. Had not Arius and Sabellius broached their damnable Errours, the truth of those questions about the blessed Trinity had never beene so discussed and defended by Athanasius, Augustine, and others; had not the Divel brought in so much of his p. 104princely darknesse, the Champions for Truth had never runne so fast to Scripture to light their Lamps. So that God who hath a wheele within a wheele, over-rules these things wisely, and turnes them to the best. Truth is an heavenly plant that settles by shaking.

3. God raiseth the price of his truth the more;3. Reply. the very shreds and filings of truth are venerable.Etiam ramenta auripretiosa. When there is much counterfeit metall abroad, we prize the true Gold the more: the pure wine of Truth is never more precious then when unsound doctrines are broached and vented.

4. Errour makes us more thankfull to God for the jewel of Truth.4. Reply. When you see another infected with the Plague, how thankful are you, that God hath freed you from the infection? when we see others have the Leprosie in the head, how thankful are we to God that he hath not p. 105given us over to believe a lie, and so …e damned? It is a good use that may be made even of the Errour of the times, when it makes us more humble and thankful, adoring the free grace of God who hath kept us from drinking of that deadly poison.

2. The second Branch of the Apology that discontent makes,2 Branch of the Apology. is the impiety of the times. I live and converse among the profane,The impiety of the times. O that I had wings like a Dove, that I might flie away and be at rest **Ps. 55. 6.Ps 55:6! Answ. It is indeed sad to be mixed with the wicked, David beheld the transgressors, and was grieved **Psal. 119 158.Ps 119:158; and Lot, (who was a bright Starre in a dark night) was vexed▪ or as the word in the Original may beare, wearied out, **foreign., foreign, with the unclean conversation of the wicked **2 Pet. 2. 72 Pet 2:7; he made the sinnes of Sodom spears to pierce his own soul; we ought (if there be any spark of divine love in us) to be very sensible of p. 106the sinnes of others, and our hearts bleed for them, yet let us not break forth in murmuring or discontent, knowing that God in his providence hath permitted it, and surely not without some reasons. For,

1. The Lord makes the wicked an hedge to defend the godly;1. Reply. the wise God often makes those who are wicked and peaceable, a meanes to safeguard his people from those who are wicked and cruell. The King of Babylon kept Ieremy, and gave speciall order for his looking to, that he did want nothing**Jer. 39. 11, 12.Jer 39:11Jer 39:12. God sometimes makes brazen sinners to be brazen walls to defend his people.

2. God doth interline & mingle the wicked with the godly,2. Reply. that the godly may be a means to save the wicked; such is the beauty of holiness, that it hath a magnetical force in it to allure and draw even the wicked. Somtimes p. 107God makes a beleeving husband a means to convert an unbeleeving wife, and è contrà. What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife **1 Cor. 7, 16.1 Cor 7:16? The godly living among the wicked, by their prudent advice, and pious example have won them to the embracing of Religion; if there were not some godly among the wicked, how in a probable way without a miracle can we imagine that the wicked should be converted? Those who are now shining Saints in Heaven, sometimes served divers lusts **Tit. 3. 3Titus 3:3. Paul once a persecutor; Augustine once a Manichee; Luther once a Monk; but by the severe and holy carriage of the godly, were converted to the faith.

p. 92SECT. X.

The tenth Apology answered.

The next Apology that Discontent makes, is lownesse of parts,10. Apology. and gifts.

I cannot, saith the Christian, discourse with that fluency, nor pray with that elegancy as others.

Answ. 1.1. Reply. Grace is beyond gifts; Thou comparest thy grace with anothers gifts, ther is a vast difference; Grace without gifts is infinitely better then gifts without grace; in Religion, the vitals are better then the intellectuals: Gifts are a more extrinsecall and common worke of the Spirit, which is incident to reprobates; grace is a more distinguishing worke, and is a jewell hung onelyonly upon the Elect. Hast thou and seed of God, the holy anointing? be content.

p. 93I. Thou sayest, thou canst not discourse with that fluency as others.

Answ. Experiments in Religion are beyond notions, and impressions beyond expressions. Iudas no doubt could make a learned discourse of Christ; but welfare the woman in the Gospel, that felt vertue coming out of him**Luke 8. 47.Luke 8:47. A sanctified heart is better then a silver tongue. There is as much difference between gifts and grace, as between a Tulip painted on the wall, and one growing in the Garden.

II. Thou sayest, thou canst not pray with that elegancy as others.

Answ. Prayer is a matter more of the heart then the head. In prayer it is not so much fluency prevailes, as fervency **Jam. …. 16.; nor is God so much taken with the elegancy of speech,foreign. as the efficacy of the Spirit. Humility is better then volubility; here the mourner is the oratour, sighes and grones are the best Rhetorique.

p. 1102. Be not discontented;2. Reply. For God doth usually proportion a mans parts to the place where he calls him: Some are set in an higher sphere and function, their place requires more parts and abilities; but the most inferiour member is usefull in its place, and shall have a power delegated for the discharge of its peculiar office.

SECT. XI.

The eleventh Apology answered.

The next Apology is,11. Apology. The troubles of the Church. Alas, my disquiet and discontent is not so much for my self, as the publick. The Church of God suffers.

Answ. I confesse it is sad, and we ought for this to hang our Harps upon the Willowes **Ps. 137.Ps 137; he is a wooden leg in Christs body, that is not sensible of the state of the body. As a Christian p. 111must not be proud flesh, so neither dead flesh. When the Church of God suffers, hee must sympathize; Ieremy wept for the Virgin daughter of Sion. Wee must feel our brethrens hard cords through our soft beds; in Musick, if one string be touched, all the rest sound; when God strikes upon our brethren, our bowels must sound as an Harp **Isa. 16. 11Isa 16:11; be sensible, but doe not give way to discontent. For consider,

1.1. Reply. God sits at the sterne of his Church **Ps. 46. 5.Ps 46:5; Sometimes it is as a ship tossed upon the waves, O thou afflicted and tossed **Isa. 54. 1…Isa 54:1: but cannot God bring this ship to haven, though it meet with a storme upon the Sea? The ship in the Gospel was tossed, because sinne was in it; but it was not overwhelmed, because Christ was in it. Christ is in the Ship of his Church, fear not sinking; The Churches Anchor is cast in Heaven. Doe not wee think God loves his p. 96Church, and takes as much care of it as wee can? The names of the twelve Tribes were on Aarons brest, signifying how near to Gods heart his people are; They are his portion **Deut. 32. 9.Deut 32:9, and shall that be lost? His glory **Is. 46. 13Isa 46:13, and shall that be finally eclipsed? No certainly. God can deliver his Church, not only from, but by opposition; the Churches pangs shall help forward her deliverance.

2. God hath alwayes propagated Religion by sufferings. 2. Reply.The foundation of the Church hath been laid in blood **Sanguine fundata est Ecclesia, sanguine crevit., and these sanguine showres have ever made it more fruitful. Cain put the knife to Abels throat, and ever since, the Churches veins have bled; but she is like the Vine, which by bleeding growes; and like the Palm-tree, which may have this motto, Percussa resurgit; the more weight is laid upon it, the higher it riseth. The holinesse and patience of the p. 113Saints under their persecutions, hath much added both to the growth of Religion, and the Crowne. Basil, and Tertul. observe of the Primitive Martyrs, that divers of the Heathens seeing their zeale and constancy, turned Christians. Religion is that Phenix which hath alwayes revived and flourished in the ashes of holy men. Isaiah sawen asunder; Peter crucified at Ierusalem with his head downwards**Euseb.; Cyprian Bishop of Carthage, Polycarp of Smyrna, both marryr'd for Religion; yet evermore the Truth hath been sealed most by blood, and gloriously dispersed; whereupon Iulian did forbeare to persecute, non ex clementia, sed invidia; not out of pity, but envy, because the Church grew so fast, and multiplied as Nazianzen well observes.

p. 114SECT. XII.

The twelfth Apology answered.

The twelfth Apology that Discontent makes for it selfe,12. Apology. is this: It is not my trouble that troubles me, but it is my sins that do disquiet and discontent.

Answ. Be sure it be so; doe not prevaricate with God and thy own soule, in true mourning for sinne, when the present suffering is removed, yet the sorrow is not removed; but suppose the Apology be real, and sin is the ground of your discontent▪ Yet I answer, a mans disquiet about sin, may be beyond its bounds in these three cases.

1. When it is disheartning, 1. Reply.that is, when it sets up sin above mercy. If Israel had onelyonly pored upon their sting,10. Dolor exanimans. and not looked up to the p. 115brazen Serpent, they had never been …ealed. That sorrow for sinne which …rives us away from God, is not without sinne, for there is more de…paire in it then remorse; The soule …ath so many teares in its eyes, that it cannot see Christ. Sorrow as sorrow …oth not save (that were to make a Christ of our teares,) but is useful as …t is preparatory in the soule, making sinne vile, and Christ precious. Oh …ook up to the Brazen Serpent, the Lord Iesus; a sight of his blood will …evive, the medicine of his merits … broader then our sore.

It is Satans policy, either to keep is from seeing our sins; or if wee will needs see them, that wee may be swallowed up of sorrow **2 Cor. 2….2 Cor 2, either he would stupifie us, or affright us; either keep the glasse of the Law from our eyes, or else pensil out our sins in such Crimson colours, that wee may sink in the quick-sands of despaire.

p. 1162. When sorrow is indisposing, it untunes the heart for prayer,2. Dolor impediens. meditation, holy conference; it cloisters up the soul. This is not sorrow, but rather sullennesse, and doth render a man not so much penitentiall, as Cynical.

3. When it is out of season; God bids us rejoyce, 3. Dolor intempestivus.and we hang our harps upon the Willowes; he bids us trust, and we cast our selves down, and are brought even to the margin of despaire. if Satan cannot keep us from mourning, he will be sure to put us upon it when it is least in season.

When God calls us in a speciall manner to be thankfull for mercy, and put on our white robes, then Satan will be putting us into mourning; and in stead of a garment of praise, cloath us with a spirit of heavinesse; so God loseth the acknowledgement of a mercy, and we the comfort.

p. 117If thy sorrow hath tuned and fitted thee for Christ, if it hath raised in thee high prizings of him, strong hungerings after him, sweet delight in him; this is as much as God requires, and a Christian doth but sin to vexe and torture himselfe further upon the wrack of his owne discontent.

And thus I hope I have answered the most materiall Objections, and Apologies which this sinne of Discontent doth make for it selfe. I see no reason why a Christian should be discontented, unlesse for his Discontent. Let me in the next place propound something which may be both as a loadstone and a whetstone to Contentation.