The Art of Divine Contentment, Imprimatur – To the reader 1
April. 23. 1653.
Imprimatur,
EDM. CALAMY.
ΑΥΤΑΡΚΕΙΑ, OR THE ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT BY THOMAS WATSON, M. of A. of Emmanuel Colledg in Cambridg, and now Pastor of Stephens Walbrook, LOND.
The Second Edition, corrected.
Godlinesse with Contentment is great gain. 1 TIM. 6. 6.
foreign. Eurip.
Beatus est qui suis contentus est. Seneca.
LONDON, Printed by T. M. for Ralph Smith, at the sign of the Bible in Cornhil, neer the Royal Exchange, 1654.
The Epistle to the Reader:
Christian Reader,
HAving seriously considered the great dishonours done to Almighty God (as wel as the prejudice which doth accrue to our selves) by the sin of Discontent, (a Catholick and Epidemical sin*In statu maxim… querulo & moroso fiui sumus. Sen.;) It did at first put me upon the study of this subject. Nor is it incongruous to handle this next in order to the Christian Charter. I shewed you there the great things which a Believer hath in reversion, Things to come are his; & here, behold a Christians holy & gracious deportment in this life, which discovers it self in nothing more eminently, then in Contentation. Discontent is to the soul, as a disease to the body*Est animi ag…i…udo. Cic. Tusc. 4.; it puts it out of temper, and doth much hinder its regular and sublime motions heavenward. Discontent is hereditary, and no doubt but it is much augmented by the many sad eclipses and changes that have fallen out of late in the body politick; yet the disease is not to be pleaded for, because natural; but to be resisted, because sinful. That which should make us out of love with this sullen distemper, is the contemplating the beautifull Queen of Contentation *Contraria juxta se po…ita, &c.. For my part, I know not any ornament in Religion that doth more bespangle a Christian, or glitter in the eye of God and man, then this of Contentment. Nor certainly is there any thing wherein all the Christian vertues do work more harmoniously, or shine more transparently then in this Orb. Every grace doth act its part here, and help to keep the soul in its foreign; this is the true Philosophers stone, which turnes all into Gold; this is the curious enamel and embroidery of the heart, which makes Christs spouse all glorious within. How should every Christian be ambitious to wear such a sparkling Diamond! If there be a blessed life before we come at Heaven, it is the contented life; and why not contented? Why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen *Gen. 4. 6.? Man of all creatures hath the least cause to be discontented. Canst thou deserve any thing from God? doth he ow thee any thing? What if the scene turn, and God puts thee under the black rod? Whereas he useth a rod, he might use a Scorpion; he might as wel damn thee, as whip thee; Why then art thou so querulous? why dost thou give way to this irrational and unthankful sin of discontent? The good Lord humble his own people for nourishing such a viper in their brest, as doth not only eat out the bowels of their comfort, but spits venome in the face of God himself. O Christian, who art over spread with this fretting leprosie, thou carriest the man of sin about thee; for thou settest thy felf above God, as if thou wert wiser then he, would'st saucily prescribe hun what condition is best for thee. O this Divel of discontent, *foreign, exinde foreign.which whomsoever it possesseth, it makes his heart a little hel. I know there wil not be perfect contentment here in this life*Amplissie mâ quâque laetitia subsit quaepiam vel parva quarimonia. Lucius Apul. Florid. l. 2, foreign. Perfect pleasure is only at Gods right hand *Ps. 16. 11; yet we may begin here to tune our instrument before we play the sweet lesson of Contentment exactly in heaven. I should be glad if this little piece might be like Moses his casting the tree into the waters*Ex. 15. 25, to make the uncouth, bitter condition of life, more sweet and pleasant to drink of. I have once more adventured into the publick; this I acknowledg to be rudi Minervâ, home-spun; some better hand might have made a more curious draught: but having preached upon the subject, I was earnestly sollicited by some of my Hearers to publish it; and although it is not drest in that rich attire of eloquence, as it might; yet I am not about Poetry, or Oratory, but Divinity; nor is this intended for fancy, but practice. If I may herein do any service, or cast but a mite into the treasury of the Churches grace, I have my desire. The end of our living is to live to God, & to lift up his Name in the world*Nihil turpius est quam grandis natu senex, qui nullum aliud habet argumentum quo probet se diù vixisse prater atatem. Seneca. de Tranquil.. The Lord adde an effectual blessing to this work, and fasten it as a nail in a sure place; He of his mercy make it as spiritual physick to purge the ill humour of Discontent out of our hearts, that so a crown of honor may be set upon the head of Religion, and the crystal streams of joy and peace may ever run in our souls: which is the prayer of him who is desirous to be a faithful Orator for thee at the throne of grace,
THOMAS WATSON. From my study at Stephens Walbrook, May 5. 1653