The Art of Divine Contentment, Index
THE INDEX.
Chap. 1. THe Introduction to the Text. page 1, 2.
Chap. 2. Containing the first proposition. p. 5
Chap. 3. Containing the second proposition. p. 14
Chap. 4. Containing the third grand proposition, viz. a gracious spirit is a contented spirit. p. 22
The lesson of Contentment is hard to be learned. It is of universall extent, Ibid.
It concernes
Rich men. p. 24
Poor men. p. 26
Chap. 5. Whether a Christian may not resent his condition with some sadnesse, and yet be content? p. 32
Whether a Christian may not lay open his grievances to God, and yet be content? p. 33
What it is properly that Contentment doth exclude out of its Diocesse. pag. 34.
Chap. 6. Shewing the nature of Contentment. page 36
Contentment is
A divine thing. p. 36
An intrinsecal thing. p. 38
An habitual thing. p. 39
Chap. 7. Containing the reasons which presse to holy Contentment.
1. Gods Precept. p. 41
2. Gods Promise. p. 42
3. Gods Decree. p. 43, 44
Chap. 8. The first Use shewing how a Christian may live comfortably in the midst of troubles. p. 49
Chap. 9. Use 2. A Reproof to the discontented Christian. p. 52
Chap. 10. Use 3. A swasive to Contentment. p. 58
Severall Apologies that Discontent makes for it selfe answered.
The first Apology answered. p. 59
The second Apology answered. p. 66
The third Apology answered. p. 72
The fourth Apology answered. p. 78
The fifth Apology answered. p. 85
The sixth Apology answered. p. 90
The seventh Apology answered. p. 93
The eighth Apology answered. p. 96
The ninth Apology answered. p. 99
The tenth Apology answered. p. 108
The eleventh Apology answered. p. 110
The twelfth Apology answered. p. 114
Chap. 11. Divine Arguments or Motives to Contentment.
The first Argument, The excellency of Contentment. p. 118, 119
The second Argument, A Christian hath that which may make him content. p. 142
The third Argument, Else we confute our own prayers. p. 146
The fourth Argument, By Contentment God comes to have his end, and Satan misseth of his end. p. 147
The fifth Argument, Thus a Christian gets a victory over himself. p. 149
The sixth Argument, All crosse providences work for our good. p. 151
The seventh Argument, The evil of Discontent. p. 164
Which appears in 3. things.
The sordidnesse. p. 165
The sinfulnesse. p. 167
The simplicity. p. 178
The eighth Argument, The more a man hath, the lesse he is satisfied. p. 182
The ninth Argument, The brevity of life. p. 184
The tenth Argument, The evils that do attend a prosperous condition p. 187
The eleventh Argument, The examples of those who have been eminent for Contentation. p. 195
The twelfth Argument, The present misery and indigence of the godly, is all the hell he shall have. p. 202
The thirteenth Argument, Not to have a contented minde is a great judgement. p. 204
Chap. 12. Three Cautions laid down. Though a Christian should be in every state content, yet he must not be content
1. In his natural estate. p. 207
2. Where God is dishonoured. p. 209
3. With a little grace. p. 213
Chap. 13. The fourth Use, triall; Shewing the Characters of a contented spirit.
1. A contented spirit is a silent spirit. p. 221
2. A contented spirit is a chearfull spirit. p. 223
3. A contented spirit is a thankful spirit. p. 224
4. To a contented spirit nothing comes amisse. p. 226
5. A contented spirit will not rid himself out of trouble by running himselfe into sin. p. 230
Chap. 14. Use 5. Direction, Propounding several Rules for holy Contentment. p. 233
1. Rule. Advance Faith. p. 234
2. Rule. Breath after Assurance. p. 236
3. Rule. Get an humble spirit. p. 239
4. Rule. Keep a clear Conscience p. 241
5. Rule. Learne to deny your selves. p. 244
6. Rule. Labour for an heavenly heart. p. 247
7. Rule. Look not on the dark side of your condition, but the light side. p. 248
8. Rule. Consider in what a posture you stand here in the world. p. 250
9. Rule. Let not your hopes depend upon extrinsecals. p. 253
10. Rule. Often compare your condition. p. 255
11. Rule. Go not to bring your condition to your minde, but bring your minde to your condition. p. 263
12. Rule. Study the vanity of the creature. p. 264
13. Rule. Get phancy regulated, p. 266
14. Rule. Consider how little will suffice nature. p. 268
15. Rule. Beleeve the present condition best. p. 269
16. Rule. Doe not too much indulge the flesh. p. 271
17. Rule. Meditate much on the glory to be revealed. p. 272
18. Rule. Be much in prayer. p. 274
Chap. 15. Use 6. Comfort to the contented Christian. p. 277
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Watson, The Art of Divine Contentment (1654)