Doctrine of Contentment, Title page – To the reader
THE DOCTRINE OF Contentment Briefly Explained, and practically Applied, in a TREATISE on 1 Tim. 6. 8.
By HENRY WILKINSON D. D. Sometimes Principal of Magdalen Hall in OXFORD.
Heb. 13. 5. Let your converſation be without covetouſneſs; and be content with ſuch things as ye have: for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee.
Aug. Confeſs. l. 3. Omnis mihi copia, quae Deus meus non eſt, egeſtas eſt.
Seneca de Vita beata. Beatus eſt praeſentibus qualiacunque ſunt contentus, amicūſque rebus ſuis.
LONDON, Printed for George Sawbridge, at the Bible on Ludgate-hill, Anno Dom. 1671.
HONORATISSIMO DOMINO Guliel. D. Gray BARONI de VVARK, foreign, Patrono ſuo longè Optimo Gratitudinis & Obſervantiae ergô D. D. D. Q. L. M. Q.
HENRICUS WILKINSON.
TO THE READER.
HAving read in Hiſtories, that the gates of Mindus were larger then the City, I purpoſe to avoid ſuch an indecorum: for I will not make a large porch to a ſmall building, nor premiſe a long Preface to a ſhort Treatiſe. OnelyOnly in brief I ſhall premiſe two Particulars.
1. That I am not ignorant that many have gone before me, and in elaborate volumes have treated on this ſubject of Contentment: I ſhall not be diſcouraged to follow after thoſe Authours (though I am ſenſible that I come ſhort of them; yet) I will caſt my mite into the Treaſury, hoping that a willing mind, and a real deſire of doing good may obtain acceptance with God and men. Throughout the whole Diſcourſe I have profeſſedly inſiſted on a plain and perſpicuous method. And although the Doctrine of Contentment is the To foreign of this Tract, and of other Authours, both they and I concurring in the ſubſtantials thereof, yet as to the manner of handling of this Doctrine, I inſiſt onelyonly on my own method, neither do I plow with any other mans heiſer; but what I treat on, hath coſt me much pains in my retired meditations (though I am willing to learn of any.) What I here treat on I know experimentally to be true, and my deſire and endeavour is to comfort others with theſe particular comforts, wherewith I my ſelf have been comforted.
2. Concerning the Doctrine of Contentment which is here treated on, it is a rare, excellent and profitable Leſſon, which can be never enough taught, and never enough learned. The book of Nature cannot teach it exactly, we muſt therefore have recourſe unto the Book of Scripture, where onelyonly it is exactly taught. Philoſophers are in the dark, and their lamps twinkle; we muſt go to ſchool to Chriſt, and to his Apoſtles, who teach us this great Leſſon. Contentment of ſpirit is not an herb which grows in our gardens: it is a plant of our heavenly Father's plantation, and it is onelyonly watered by the influences of the Spirit of God. To make God our portion, as David did, and Pſal. 119. 57. Lam. 3. 24.as the Church profeſſeth, The Lord is my portion. To learn (as St Paul did) in every eſtate to be content: Phil. 4. 11.To caſt our care upon God who careth for us (as St Peter exhorts,) 1 Pet. 5. 7.This is the right and onelyonly way to render our lives comfortable, and to make us live a heaven upon earth. I will not (that I may keep my promiſe) detain thee Candid Reader, with a long preliminary diſcourſe. I heartily wiſh thy profitting by what thou readeſt: and if thou profit by reading of this Diſcourſe, (which my hearts deſire is that thou mayeſt) give God the glory and praiſe of all, and help him in thy prayers, who commends thee to Gods gracious providence, and is deſirous of the employment, to be,
Thy ſervant for Chriſts ſake, Henry Wilkinſon. From my Study in Goffield in Eſſex. June 6. 1671.