The Art of Divine Contentment, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Shewing the nature of Contentment.
HAving answered these Questions,What Conten… tion is. I shall in the next place come to describe this foreign, or Contentment.
It is a sweet temper of spirit wherby a Christian carries himself*Se aquanimiter fert, B…de. in an equal poize in every condition. The nature of this will appear more clear in these three Aphorisms.
1. Contentment is a divine thing; it becomes ours not by acquisition, Aphorism. foreign non acquisitione, sed infusione.but infusion: it is a slip taken off from the tree of life, and planted by the Spirit of God in the soul; it is a fruit that growes not in the garden of Philosophy, but is of an heavenly birth: It is therefore very observable, that Contentment is joyned with Godlinesse, and goes in equipage; But Godlinesse with Contentment is great gain *1 Tim 6 6. Contentment being a consequent of Godlinesse, or concomitant, or both: I call it divine, to contradistinguish it to that Contentment which a morall man may arrive at; Heathens have seemed to have this Contentment, but it was onelyonly foreign, the shadow and picture of it, the Beryll, not the true Diamond: theirs was but civill, this is sacred: theirs was only from principles of Reason, this of Religion: theirs was onelyonly lighted at Nature's torch, this at the Lamp of Scripture. Reason may a little teach Contentment; as thus, Whatever my condition be, this is that I am born to*Job 14. 1; and if I meet with crosses, it is but foreign, a Catholick miserie; all have their share, why therefore should I be troubled*Ferre quam sortem omnes patiuntur, nemo recusat.? Reason may suggest this; and indeed, this may be rather constraint, then content, but to live securely and chearfully upon God in the abatement of creature-supplyes, Religion onelyonly can bring this into the souls exchequer.
2. Contentment is an intrinsecall thing, it lies within a man,Aphorism, not in the barke, but the root. Contentment hath both its fountaine and stream in the soule; the Beame hath not its light from the Aire: the beams of comfort which a contented man hath, do not arise extrinsicè from forraigne comforts, but from within; as sorrow is seated in the spirit, The heart knowes its own grief *Pro. 14. 10.: So Contentment lies within in the soul, and doth not depend upon externals. Hence I gather, that outward troubles cannot hinder this blessed Contentment; it is a spirituall thing, and ariseth from spirituall grounds, viz. The apprehension of Gods love. When there is a tempest without, there may be musick within: a Bee may sting through the skin, but it cannot sting to the heart: Outward afflictions cannot sting to a Christians heart, where Contentment lies. Thieves may plunder us of our money and pla…e, but not of this pearl of Contentment, unlesse wee are willing to part with it, for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart. The soule who is possessed of this rich treasure of Contentment, is like Noah in the Arke, that can sing in the midst of a Deluge.
3. Contentment is an Habituall thing, is shines with a fixed light in the firmament of the soul.Aphorism. Contentment doth not appear onelyonly now and then, as some Starrs which are seen but seldome: it is a setled temper of the heart. One action doth not denominate: he is not said to be a liberall man, that gives alms once in his life; a covetous man may do so, but he is said to be liberall, that is given to liberality *Rom 12 13.; that is, who upon all occasions is willing to indulge the necessities of the poor: so he is said to be a contented man that is given to Contentment. It is not casuall, but constant. Aristotle in his Rhetorick, distinguisheth betweene colours in the face that arise from passion, and those which arise from complexion; the pale face may look red when it blusheth, but this is only a passion: he is said properly to be ruddy and sanguine, who is constantly so, it is his complexion. He is not a contented man who is so upon an occasion, (and perhaps when he is pleased;) but who is so constantly, it is the habit and complexion of his soul.