Refreshing Streams Flowing from the Fullness of Christ, Part 1

Refreshing Streams Flowing from the Fullness of Christ · Part 1

p. 301THE MYSTERY OF CONTENTATION In and Through CHRIST.

PHIL. 4.11, 12, 13.

For I have learned in whatſoever eſtate I am therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abaſed, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things I am inſtructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and ſuffer need.

I can do all things through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me,

AMongſt the many ſweet and excellent fruits of the Croſſe of Chriſt, Contentation moſt neceſſary for a beleever.Contentation of minde to a Beleever in all conditions of life is one exceeding neceſſary; 1Hereby a beleever becomes Maſter both of the little and great world; Of unruly deſires within himſelf, and of temptations in the world without; It makes him acceptable to all with whom he converſeth, p. 302and to be admired and envied by his enemies; 2His contentation is their bane and diſcontent; It is their torment, they cannot ſpoil him of this little heaven, when poſſibly they have robbed him of his earthly emoluments. 3It is a treaſure hid in his ſoul that he carrieth with him to the third heaven; where an exceeding weight of glory, and contentation with full ſatisfaction to our deſires will be added to the little ſtock of our contentment here, which (as Jacob ſaid of that gracious manifeſtation, Gen. 28.) is no other but the houſe of God, and the gate of heaven; For God al-ſufficient dwels in the heart of a beleever; and giveth contentation to the ſoul where he dwels; though the out-let of his allowance here to a beleever be not comparably ſuch as it will be in heaven, where we ſhall ſee him face to face, and be filled with God, yet it is the gate of heaven, it is the porch wherein we wait for an entrance to the Temple not made with hands, wherein the meaſure of our contentation according to the full meaſure of our knowledge and enjoyment of God will be full and compleat.

In theſe words we have firſt the viciſſitude of Pauls outward condition; Four Points obſervable in the words.at one time he abounds, at another he is abaſed; At one time he is full, at another he ſuffers need.

2. The ſweet and gracious compoſure of his ſpirit, expreſſed in two ſingular acts; The firſt is his contentation of minde in all conditions, In whatſoever eſtate I am (ſaith he) I am therewith content; The latter is his prudent and pertinent comportment with his preſent condition, I know both how to be abaſed, and how to abound.

3. The way how he attained this Contentation of minde; I have learned (ſaith he) I am inſtructed; This he learned not at the feet of Gamaliel, but in the School of Jeſus Chriſt; who at the firſt initiation of his Diſciples teacheth them by word, example, and by the powerfull operation of his ſpirit inclining them to the leſſon, to deny themſelves to take up their croſſe, and follow him.

4. The ſole Authour of all the ſtrength and ability he had either for doing or ſuffering the good-will of God; I can do all p. 303things (ſaith he) through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me.

From the firſt particular, the variety and viciſſitude of his outward condition, at one time he abounds, at another time he is a baſed and ſuffers need, we obſerve this Doctrine.

The dear children of God in their outward condition are ſubject to many changes; At one time they are in proſperity, Doct. at another in adverſity; at one time cried up and highly honoured in the world, at another time cried down and abaſed: Job a man fearing God and eſchewing evil was the richeſt man in the Eaſt to day, but on the morrow the pooreſt and moſt diſtreſſed of all men in the whole earth in his time, in great honour and reputation at one time, Job 29.8. The young men ſaw me and hid themſelves, like School-boys out of an awfull reſpect to their School-maſter; And the aged aroſe and ſtood up, when they heard him they bleſſed him, and gave an honourable teſtimony to him by approving and commending what he had ſpoken; but at another time not only is he miſpriſed and neglected, but derided by the younger and baſer ſort of the people, Job 30.1. Joſeph at one time in great eſteem and credit with Potiphar; None greater in the houſe then he; at another time diſgraced and without any juſt cauſe caſt into priſon, Gen. 39.8, 9, 20. Moſes for the ſpace of fourty years was in great honour at Pharachs Court, but afterward was forced to fly with his life in his hand to Midian, and keep ſheep there other fourty years; David a man according to Gods heart, at one time in great proſperity and credit at Sauls Court, and greatly beloved, 1 Sam. 16.21. at another time in great adverſity and perplexity; he who before in a ſudden fit of Court-favour was ſought out and brought from his Father to the King, in a more violent fit of ſpight and malice was chaſed from Court, and hunted as a Partridge in the wilderneſſe, 1 Sam. 26.26. Jehoſhaphat a man of an upright heart, at one time in great proſperity, and had reſt from all his enemies, 2 Chro. 17.10. at another time a great change; whereas in former times other Kingdomes round about feared him, now the fear of them falleth upon him, 2 Chron. 20.12. Paul at one time abounded, and by a divine diſpenſation is loaded with p. 304ſuch things as were neceſſary for him, Act. 28.10. at another time he is in great adverſity; Thrice he ſuffered ſhipwrack, in perils of robbers, and in many other troubles, 2 Cor. 11. he was in eſteem at Lyſtra far contrary to his deſire, and in the ſame place was he diſgraced contrary to his deſervings, Act. 14. ſuch was his zeal to the honour of God; he was more grieved with their blaſphemous honouring then with their malicious diſgracing of him.

The Reaſons wherefore the Lord our God without any change in the purpoſe of his love, Reaſons. in his wiſedome worketh ſuch changes in the condition of his own dear children, are,

1. 1. Changes make men fear God.For their Inſtruction; By ſuch changes the Lord inſtructs his children to fear him; It is ſaid of the wicked, Pſa. 55.19. They have not changes, and therefore they fear not God; becauſe Sentence againſt their evil works is not executed ſpeedily, therefore their heart is fully ſet in them to do evil; But by great changes from proſperity into adverſity, the children of God learn to fear God and eſchew evil, Ezr. 9.13. After all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great treſpaſſe, ſeeing our God hath puniſhed us leſſe then our iniquities deſerve; Should we again break thy Commandments? Hoſ. 3.4, 5. The children of Iſrael ſhall abide many daies without a King, and without a Prince, and without a Sacrifice; Afterward ſhall the children of Iſrael return, and ſeek the Lord their God, and David their King, and ſhall fear the Lord and his goodneſſe in the latter daies; Here was a great change, the people of Iſrael was ſometime the praiſe of the earth for good policy both civill and eccleſiaſticall, but here a great change and deſolation; they have neither a King nor face of a Church; God in his gracious and wiſe diſpenſation ſendeth theſe changes in their outward condition, that he may thereby work a change in their hearts and practice in after times, that they may repent of their former evil doings, and fear the Lord their God from generation to generation, who ſhall hear of ſuch fearfull changes, and ſhall ſerve the Lord with fear; the Lord ſends changes to teach them where they ſhould ſeek ſolid content and happineſſe, even in God himſelf who is alſufficient, and without any ſhadow of change; If our eſtate were alwaies proſperous p. 305in this world, we would reſt on it, and ſay as Peter lifted up in the mountain, Mat. 17. It is good to be here, yea, like beaſts in fat paſtures we would eat and lie down upon them; Therefore the Lord ſends a change, and teacheth us to ſeek hearts reſt in God alone, Hoſ. 2.6. I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall that ſhe ſhall not finde her paths; She ſhall follow after her Lovers, but ſhall not overtake them; Then ſhall ſhe ſay, I will go and return to my firſt husband, for then was it better with me then now.

2. 2. By changes men are chaſtiſed for ſins againſt mercies.God doth it for their correction to chaſtiſe them for ſinning againſt their father in a time of proſperity; Solomon was in great peace and proſperity, but when he ſinned, and to pleaſe his ſtrange wives, diſpleaſed the Lord his God by authorizing and countenancing a falſe and idolatrous worſhip, God ſent a change, and ſtirred up againſt him one adverſary after another, 1 King. 11.14, 23. Ezechias was in health and proſperity after the time he had been dangerouſly ſick, yet for his ingratitude the Lord ſent a change, and there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 32.35. The Prodigal Son Luk 15. abuſed his Fathers indulgence and his own plenty; The Lord corrected him with a rod of his own planting, he ſent a famine procured by his own waſte and miſ-government.

3. 3. By changes ſinne is prevented.The Lord ſendeth ſuch changes to prevent ſinne in his own Children; Paul was raviſhed to the third heaven, but ſoon after there is a great change; the meſſenger of Satan was permitted of God to buffet him leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure; The Lord in his wiſedom ſeeth, that continued proſperity would be a ſtumbling-block to his own children, Therefore in great mercy to prevent their ſtumbling and fall, he removes it out of their way; Whereas on the contrary he ſuffers wicked and worldly-minded men to enjoy proſperity outward, and to fall and be broken in peeces upon their own Idols of proſperity; Riches was a ſnare to the young man in the Goſpel, thoſe golden fetters intangled and reſtrained him from following Chriſt, Luk. 18.23. Worldly honour was a ſnare and a tonguetye to the Rulers of the Synagogue, they confeſſed not Chriſt becauſe they loved the p. 306praiſe of men Joh. 12.42, 43. Therefore Agur praieth God to remove ſuch ſtumbling-blocks out of the way, Prov. 30.9. Give me not riches, leſt I be full and deny thee.

4. 4. Changes diſcover the inſufficiency of the creature.The Lord doth it to diſcover to his own children the inſufficiency of creature-help and comfort, and to give them a proof of the al-ſufficiency of God; In our adverſity we perceive that ofttimes the creatures either cannot or will not help us, they prove a broken tooth or a disjointed legge, they will feed, but not grinde with us, ſit at eaſe, but not walk and toyl with us; they will have a large ſhare in our proſperity but none at all in our adverſity; The dear children of God, as David, have their own Achitophels, very familiar and inſinuating men into their ſecret counſels in the day of proſperity, but the winde of adverſity drives them away like ſmoak, Pro. 19.6, 7. Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts, but all the brethren of the poor do hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him? he purſueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him: yea, many times we perceive not only inſufficiency in them to do us good, but baſe and malicious ingratitude in rendring evil for good; This David found in the day of his diſtreſſe, Pſal. 35.13, 15. When they were ſick I humbled my ſoul with faſting, but in my adverſity they rejoyced. On the contrary in the dark day of adverſity we ſee the alſufficiency of our God, we ſee him in the mount, when and where inferior helps and comforts cannot be ſeen; when worldly comforts like winter-brooks in Summer, diſappoint us of refreſhment in a time of drought and neceſſity, then finde we in our God a fountain of living water to revive us, Pſa. 27.10. When my Father and my mother forſake me, then the Lord will take me up; when Moſes his Parents out of fear and deſire of ſelf-preſervation caſt him into the river, then his al-ſufficient God ſent Pharaohs daughter in a ſpecial providence to take him out of the waters; when men fail and forſake, then it is that God helpeth. Jacob ſaw moſt of the light of Gods countenance, even then when he ſaw nothing but clouds of wrath in the countenances of his fierce brother Eſau, and of his ingrate Uncle Laban, Gen. 20.12, 13. Gen. 31.5. when falſe witneſſes did calumniate Steven before p. 307the Council, then found he moſt of Gods ſpecial preſence, and a teſtimony from heaven; His face did ſhine as the face of an Angel, Act. 6.15. When the Councill gnaſhed upon him with their teeth in that hour of darkneſſe, he ſaw moſt of the glory of his God; he ſaw the glory of God, and Jeſus ſtanding on the right hand of God. Act. 7.54, 55. According to that in the Pſa. 112.4. Ʋnto the upright there ariſeth light in darkneſſe; In their ſaddeſt hours they ſee the light of their Fathers countenance.

5. 5. Changes try and manifeſt grace.The Lord ſendeth ſuch changes for the trial and manifeſtation of his own graces in them, 1 Pet. 1.6, 7. Of their faith in a time of adverſity: hereby Jobs faith was tried and manifeſted, Job 13.15. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him; His patience and ſubmiſſion to the good will of God, Job 1.21, 22. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord; Hereby Aarons ſubmiſſion to Gods Judgement on his Sons was manifeſted, Lev. 10.3. when Moſes ſaid to him, This is it that the Lord ſpake, ſaying, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people will I be glorified: And Aaron held his peace; Hereby Davids patience and ſubmiſſion was manifeſted, Pſa. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, becauſe thou didſt it; hereby their love to God is manifeſted: Many hypocrites in a day of proſperity with their mouth will ſhew much love, Ezek. 33.31. and ſeem to rejoyce in the word of God with the temporary beleever, but when a change comes by perſecution, then they queſtion, hate, and in end perſecute the ſame truth ſometime they profeſſed; but the children of God at ſuch a time do make the ſincerity of their love toward God and his truth more manifeſt; Demas out of love to this preſent world forſook the truth, but Luke abode in it, 2 Tim. 4.10. Hereby the meekneſſe of the children of God is made manifeſt in a day of their reproach; Proud and malicious hypocrites will ſeem very quiet and Saint-like men, ſo long as men eſteem highly of them, but if any thing be ſpoken or done to their reproach, then become they like the foaming waves of the Sea caſting up mire and dirt, they anſwer calumny with calumny, and render wrong for wrong; The p. 308ſupercilious Phariſees, when they imagined they were wronged in their reputation by that young man, Joh. 9.34. they anſwered with much ſawcineſſe and bitterneſſe, Thou waſt altogether born in ſin, and doſt thou teach us? And they caſt him out; By their power they break all that will not bow to them: It was not ſo with David, when malicious men changed his Name, and belched out reproaches againſt him, 2 Sam. 16.11. Let him alone (ſaid he to Abiſhai of railing Shimei) in the day of Moſes his reproach when the people murmured and ſpoke againſt him; yet the meek ſervant of God ſpoke for them to God; hereby the meekneſſe of Stephen was made manifeſt; when his Perſecutors caſt ſtones at him, he ſent up praiers to God for them; when they cried with a loud voice againſt him, he cried with a loud voice to heaven for them, Lord, lay not this ſin to their charge, Act. 7.60. hereby Pauls meekneſſe was made manifeſt, 1 Cor. 4.12, 13.

Laſtly, 6. By Changes God acquaints with his ſpecial love.The Lord ſends changes in their outward condition for their ſpiritual aduantage, to aſſure them of the love of God toward them; as the tender mother croſſeth the breaſt with wormwood out of love to her childe, to wean it from the breaſt, and acquaint it with a more ſolid and enduring food; So our heavenly Father when he perceives his children nuſling on the breaſt of worldly contentments, out of love he layeth on the wormwood of affliction to wean them from the love of that periſhing meat, and to acquaint them with that hidden Manna, even the ſenſe of his love in Jeſus Chriſt, and by the bitter taſte of afflictions outward, he maketh his love and the Croſſe of Chriſt reliſh the more ſweetly to our ſouls, Hoſ. 2.14. I will bring her into the wilderneſſe and ſpeak comfortably unto her, and as it is in the Original, I will ſpeak to her heart; when the children of God are brought to ſuch an outward condition, that as in a wilderneſſe there is nothing from without to comfort them, then the Lord ſpeaks comfort to their heart; when there is none to viſit and comfort Paul and Silas in the dungeon, Act. 16. God viſits them with the comforts of his Spirit, and makes them ſing for joy. 2. By outward changes the inward joy of their heart is encreaſed, in their proſperous condition their joy was but uncertain p. 309from an opinion they had of their faith, mixed with doubting of the truth and of the ſoundneſſe of their faith; The Lord in time of the change of their condition ſtrengthens their faith; and the experience of a tried faith ſolveth their former ſcruples, and makes them to rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and glorious; As a man finding a peece of gold hath ſome joy from his opinion that it is gold, but after he hath tried by the touchſtone, and perceives it is upright gold, his joy is greater: ſo the joy of Gods children is much encreaſed from the trial of their faith in time of adverſity, 1 Pet. 1.7, 8. That the trial of your faith might be found unto praiſe, honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, whom having not ſeen, ye love; in whom though now you ſee him not, but beleeving, ye rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and glorious. 3. Our love to God and his holy Commandments is encreaſed; as the coldneſſe of the air in winter makes a repercuſſion of the heat into the bowels of the earth, ſo ſtorms of afflictions in our outward eſtate ſerve through a gracious providence to keep in and concentrate our love upon God and his will, Pſa. 119.71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy Statutes.

For Admonition to the children of God in the day of their proſperity not to reſt on worldly comforts; they are uncertain, Ʋſe 1 Outward comforts are not to be reſted on.and thou canſt not tell how ſoon a change may come, 1 Tim. 6.17. Put not your truſt in the uncertainty of riches, in the Original it is in the inevidence of riches, that may be ſeen to day, and to morrow take the wings of the morning and be gone; When riches encreaſe ſet not thy heart upon them, Pſa. 82.10. but improve thy preſent and periſhing commodities to a ſpirituall uſe for raiſing up thy thoughts and deſires from preſent enjoyments to a high eſteem and ſtrong deſire of that enduring ſubſtance in heaven; This uſe our Lord will have us to make of our deſires to have, and of our cares to keep the good things of this world, Joh 6.27. Mat. 6.19, 20. From thy worldly riches, inheritance, honours and pleaſures, ſtep up to behold and to long after thoſe durable riches, that inheritance incorruptible, that Crown of immortal glory, and thoſe rivers of pleaſures reſerved in heaven for us.

p. 310This Doctrine ſerveth for a ground of reprehenſion to thoſe who mis-judge the Children of God from their outward afflicted condition, Ʋſe. 2 Outward afflictions argue not a man to be forſaken of God.as if they were forſaken of God; It was the ſinne of Davids enemies. Pſa. 71.11. ſaying, God hath forſaken him: This was the fault of Jobs Friends, from the great and ſudden change of his proſperous condition, charging him with hypocriſie, Job 8.6, 13. This raſh miſ-conſtruction of the providence of God in afflicting his own dear children, provokes him highly againſt theſe bitter Criticks, Job 42.7. The Lord ſaid to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled againſt thee, and thy two friends, for ye have not ſpoken of me the thing that is right: It is well known that wicked men may proſper in their outward condition. Job obſerved it in his time, Job 12.6. The Tabernacles of robbers proſper; and they that provoke God are ſecure, into whoſe hand God bringeth abundantly; So did Solomon in his experience, Eccl. 8.14. there be juſt men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous; which is all to be underſtood in reſpect of their outward condition; The rich glutton fared ſumptuouſly every day, but Lazarus would have been content with the crumbs that fell from his Table, Luk. 18. Eccl. 7.15. There is a juſt man that periſheth in his righteouſneſſe, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedneſſe. The uncircumciſed Philiſtims and the vile Benjamites proſpered for a time, 1 Sam. 4. Judg. 20. Antiochus Epiphanes who did pollute the Sanctuary, and bring into it the abomination of deſolation, Dan. 11.31. yet he deſtroyed wonderfully and proſpered, Dan. 8.24. how did the Goths and Vandals, for the moſt part all Arians, overrun and oppreſſe the world many years. It is known from time to time that the deareſt children of God have been plunged in the deeps of adverſity, Heb. 11.36, 37, 38. We muſt neither juſtifie the wicked and their courſes from their outward proſperity, nor condemn the children of God and their courſes from their adverſity; the Chriſtian Church for the ſpace almoſt of 300 years was under the hammer of Pagan perſecuting Emperours, and after ſome breathing how did it groan under the Arian Perſecution! Therefore be not raſh p. 311to pronounce in the favour of evil men and their courſes becauſe they proſper; Conſider the Lord turneth them up and down as a wheel at his pleaſure, Pſa. 83.13. he cuts them down like graſſe when they are at the higheſt, Pſa. 92.7. As Haman Eſth. 7. Babylon Iſa. 47.10. and Herod Act. 12.21. By their proſperity the Lord fats and fits them for a day of ſlaughter, Rom. 9.22. What if God willing to ſhew his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long-ſuffering the veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction? The Lord like a ſtrong man ſeems to retire for a time from the courſe of his juſtice, that he may with greater ſtrength fetch a ſore blow upon them; But the changes that befall the godly are to purifie them from the droſſe of corruption, Dan. 12.10. and fit them to be veſſels of honour, to the praiſe, honour, and glory of God at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.7.

It ſerveth for a ground of comfort to the children of God, Ʋſe 3 not to be diſcouraged with changes in their outward condition, Outward changes ought not to diſcourage.as if it were a thing ſtrange; In thy adverſe condition examine how thou uſedſt thy proſperity, if thou waſt ingrate to God, proud toward thy neighbours, or vainly confident in thy worldly enjoyments, humble thy ſelf in the ſight of God; and if thou be humbled for the ſins of thy proſperity,

1. It is thy comfort, 1God in love hath made a change in thy outward condition, to change thee in thy inward man, and fit thee for a condition of happineſs that will have no change; But if after due examination thy conſcience beareth thee witneſſe, that in the day of proſperity thou draweſt out thy ſoul to the indigent, thou madſt not the wedge of gold thy confidence, yet comfort thy ſelf in this, that thereby thy heavenly Father weaneth thee from the world, and this weaning is an act of love in the Parent, though the childe for the time hath no wit to diſcern the ſame.

2. 2What knoweſt thou but there is much preventing mercy in thy change? Theſe worldly advantages have been ſnares to many; It is far better thy outward proſperity be changed into adverſity, then thy inward peace into fear and and trouble of ſpirit, which would have been if thy proſperity had been to thee a ſtumbling-block of iniquity.

p. 3123. 3Ʋnder ſuch a change wherein thou perceiveſt the inſufficiency of Creatures, thou wilt ſee moſt of the alſufficiency and unchangeableneſſe of the love of God; At ſuch a time the Lord will viſit thy ſoul more frequently then in former times when thou waſt courted and taken up with the complements of the world; and one of ſuch viſitations will give thee more ſolid comfort then all the ſalutations and acclamations of men in the time of thy moſt flouriſhing eſtate.

Laſtly, Now thou getteſt a proof of thy faith and patience, and as at ſuch a time thou praiſeſt God who preſerveth the work of his own hands in thee, ſo thou ſhouldſt rejoyce in a tried faith, as a Souldier in a day of battell rejoyceth in his armour of proof; And if there had not been a change and trial, thou wouldeſt not have had the joy of a tried, ſound, and ſtedfaſt faith; Therefore ſaith James Iam. 1.2. My Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.

The ſecond particular to be conſidered in the words, Point 2 is, the Apoſtles ſetled compoſure of ſpirit, His Contentation.expreſſed in his inward contentation of minde; In whatſoever eſtate I àm, I am therewith content; The word in the Original ſignifieth, I am ſufficient; Becauſe ſufficiency and abundance in a man himſelf makes him quiet and content; and on the contrary, ſenſe of, and grief for the want of ſufficiency makes him diſcontent and ſollicitous for the ſupply of his wants; to this ſenſe the primitive word is uſed, Luk. 3.14. Be content with your wages, ſaid the Baptiſt to the Souldiers; Be ye ſufficed with them, and Heb. 13.5. Be content with ſuch things as ye have, in the original it is, Be ye ſufficed with ſuch things as ye have for the preſent; In this place the word ſignifieth a ſelf-ſufficiency, as it is alſo uſed, 2 Cor. 9.8. that ye having alſufficiency; This foreign and ſelf-ſufficiency is in the beleever himſelf, but not from himſelf, ſuch a ſelf-ſufficiency is only in God from himſelf, Gen. 17.1. I am the alſufficient God; Some render El ſhaddai by the ſame word that is uſed here, Junius and Tremel. in Marg. and Mercer. on Gen. 17.1. The beleever his ſufficiency is in himſelf not from himſelf but from God; as in the clear day a houſe hath ſufficiency of light within it ſelf, yet not from it ſelf but from the Sunne; So the ſufficiency and comfort p. 313of the childe of God is within him, but from God the Fountain of all the comfort and contentment in his ſoul; The beleever gets of Gods rich and free grace an intereſt in Chriſt, and in him a title to God who is all in all, 1 Cor. 3.23. Ye are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods; with Chriſt he gets aſſurance of all things needful to make him happy; This inward proviſion of Gods favour and of faith in Chriſt is beſtowed and laid up in the beleeving heart by Jeſus Chriſt the great Steward of the childrens bread, whereof in his wiſedom he gives a ſufficient portion in a right proportion for their contentment and preſent ſatisfaction, ſo much as may hold up their hearts till they come to their Fathers houſe where is bread enough; Faith in God and his promiſes for the preſent, and hope of abſolute contentment in heaven, makes a ſound beleever content with his preſent condition; as a Traveller ſufficiently fed and refreſhed in the morning, is reſolute and content to paſſe through a barren wilderneſſe until the evening, at which time he looks for convenient lodging and plentifull refreſhment; ſo a ſoul refreſhed here with ſome ſenſe of the comfortable love of God in Jeſus Chriſt, which is as the morning of the eternal day of our happineſſe, is reſolved and well content to paſſe through any hardneſſe in this time of our ſojourning until the evening of his life, at which time he will get a day without an evening, and a full portion that ſhall never be taken from him.

A renewed man is a man contented in any condition of life; Doct. both in proſperity and adverſity he reſigns himſelf over to Gods diſpoſall and with all ſubmiſſion of ſpirit ſtudieth to reverence his diſpenſation and to reſt thereon.A renewed man is a contented man.

Obj. Object. That ſeems no great matter to be content in an eſtate of proſperity, wicked men could be content with that.

Anſw. Anſw. A wicked man cannot have true content in his proſperity,Wicked men are not contented in proſperity.

1. Becauſe he receives nothing but the bare creature, and this without Gods favour and bleſſing in Chriſt is as light bread that ſatisfies not, nor contenteth the appetite.

2. 1Such a man by his preſent enjoyments is inflamed with tormenting deſires after more, 2Ecol. 5.10 He that loveth ſilver p. 314ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſilver, nor he that loveth abundance with encreaſe, Ecc. 4.8. There is one alone, and there is not a ſecond, yea, he hath neither childe nor brother, yet there is no end of all his labour, neither is his eye ſatisfied with riches; but there can be no true content amidſt theſe flames of ſelf-tormenting deſires.

3. The wicked and worldly-minded man though his outward eſtate be proſperous, yet he envieth all that have more then he himſelf, his eye is evil becauſe he thinks God is good, or better to others: he would have a Monopoly of proſperity, and if he had it he careth not though all men beſide him were miſerable; But where envying is there can be no contentment or reſt to that ſoul; for Envy is the fretting of the heart and rottenneſſe of the bones, Pro. 14.30.

But the renewed man is content in his proſperity leſſe or more, The godly content in 1. Proſperity.he looketh on his worldly advantages in one relation to God, both as they are tokens of his fatherly love, and as they are pledges of a better and more enduring ſubſtance; It is not thoſe common gifts but their relation to God that gives him contentment; It is like the great contentment a faithfull wife hath in a gift but of common and ordinary ſubſtance ſent from her loving Husband.

2. The renewed man his proſperity doth not encreaſe his deſires after more of the creature, but after more of God himſelf, in whom alone is eminently to be found all the comfort that is ſcattered and ſprinkled like ſalt here and there on diverſe creatures; He is content with his preſent condition, praieth God to continue it, if it ſo ſeem good in his eyes; But above all he deſires the encreaſe of favour with God.

3. The renewed man in his proſperity communicates to the neceſſities of others, and this breeds him much contentment; He is more content with that which is uſeful to others then of what himſelf poſſeſſeth; their good contents him more then his own goods.

4. He is free from envy that is a worm in the gourd; the more plentiful condition of others doth augment, but no waies diminiſh his contentment, for he rejoyceth and delights in the riches of Gods bounty to others.2. Adverſity.

The ſound beleever is content in his eſtate of adverſity p. 315and low condition; Old Eli when he heard the threatning of a fearfull change in his outward eſtate, 1 Sam. 3.18. ſaid, It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good; he looked to the Soveraign Lord, who rendreth not an account of any of his matters, Job 33.13. Not only is he content and ſubmits to what is revealed, but is prepared to ſubmit to more when God reveals more of his will to afflict him; Let him do this (ſaid Eli) and whatſoever ſeemeth him good; So did Ezechias reſt content with a ſad diſpenſation, 2 King. 20.19. Good is the Word of the Lord (ſaid he to the Prophet) which thou haſt ſpoken; So did David, 2 Sam. 15.26. Behold here am I, let him do unto me as ſeemeth good unto him.

The reaſons and ground of his contentment in his greateſt adverſity are,Reaſons of contentment in adverſity.

1. Becauſe the childe of God makes Gods favour his portion, Pſa. 16.5. Pſa. 73.26. Pſa. 119.57. Thou art my portion O Lord, 1The loving-kindeneſſe of the Lord is better then life; And life is better then means of life; The childe of God can and will rejoyce in this everlaſting portion; Though all things worldly ſhould fail him, he wants not matter of contentment that hath the all-ſufficient God for his everlaſting portion, Hab. 3.16, 17, 18. in a time of great trouble; Although (ſaith he), the Fig-tree ſhall not bloſſome, neither ſhall fruit be in the Vines, the labour of the Olive ſhall fail, and the fields ſhall yeeld no meat, the flock ſhall be cut off from the fold, and there ſhall no herd be in the ſtalls, yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation; As a Merchant adventuring a little portion at Sea, though it miſcarry, yet he rejoyceth in the ſtock he hath at home; So the childe of God, though his outward commodities periſh, yet he rejoyceth in his God, who is the ſtrength of his heart, and portion for ever, Pſa. 73.26.

2. 2Faith in a renewed man looks up to God as his Father in Chriſt, Joh. 16.27. The Father himſelf loveth you, Joh. 20.27. I aſcend to my Father and your Father; The beleever reſts on his Fathers wiſedom who knoweth what is beſt, and on his love who will give to his children what is beſt for them, Mat. 7.11. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more ſhall your heavenly Father which is p. 316in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

3. 3Faith in a renewed man is copulative; It beleeves all the promiſes of greater and leſſer, of ſpiritual and bodily, of eternal and temporal benefits, becauſe God is faithfull in all; and he that doubts of one cals in queſtion the authority of all, being one and the ſame, to wit, the Word of God; Now God hath promiſed, Pſa. 34.9. There is no want to them that fear him, Pſa. 37.3. Truſt in the Lord and do good, ſo ſhalt thou dwell in the Land, and verily thou ſhalt be fed; Faith from an intereſt in Chriſt that great Original gift convinceth the judgement, and perſwades the heart quietly to depend on God for leſſer benefits; by a demonſtrative argument from Gods love, Rom. 8 32. He that ſpared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all, how ſhall he not with him freely give us all things? Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ſeen; Faith makes the happineſſe of heaven to be preſent in the heart of the beleever; He ſees heaven in a map, he gets a view of the promiſed eternal reſt, in an elevation of faith, as Moſes did of the Promiſed Land from the top of Piſgah, Deut. 34.1. This ſight doth ſo affect the heart with quietneſſe and contentment, that it neither faints nor frets under preſent troubles, 2 Cor. 4.16, 18. For which cauſe we faint not, while we look not at the things which are ſeen, but at the things which are not ſeen.

Let us learn in every eſtate to be content, Ʋſe. not only in proſperity but alſo in adverſity; Learn contentment in every eſtate.Shall we receive good at the hands of the Lord, and ſhall we not receive evil? Job 2.10. Neither muſt we limit the holy One of Iſrael in his diſpenſation, by ſaying, We could be content to ſuffer ſo much but no more; It is both folly and preſumption for the Patient to preſcribe to his Phyſician; Let us rather reſolve with the Apoſtle Paul Act. 21.13. I am ready not to be bound only, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem for the Name of the Lord Jeſus; And with the Martyr Ignatius be content to ſuffer one extremity after another, ſo that we may gain Jeſus Chriſt; Remember what would have become of us if our Lord and Surety Jeſus Chriſt hath ſaid ſo, that he was content to pay a part only of our debt, and to drink a part of that bitter cup of Gods wrath; One of ten p. 317thouſand was enough to keep us for ever in that bottomeleſſe priſon; One drop of wrath would be enough to make us for ever miſerable.

Obj. Object. But may not a man lawfully deſire to be delivered out of preſent trouble? and if it be ſo, how can he be ſaid to be content with that eſtate he deſires to be freed from?

Anſw. 1. Anſw. It is againſt nature that any man ſhould have contentment in affliction barely conſidered as affliction; 1for nature cannot be content with any thing hurtfull to it; but a renewed man is content in it as an act of his Fathers will, and as a means of his ſpiritual good; even as a ſick Patient hath no contentment in the bitter potion of medicine, as it is ſimply a bitter potion; but yet he is content with it as an order from his skilful Phyſitian, and as a means of his better health.

2. He may both deſire and alſo uſe the lawful means to be freed; 2Ezechias both praied and alſo applied the Fig to the boyl, 2 King. 20. But our deſires muſt be ever with a ſubmiſſion to Gods will; As our Lord contented with his Fathers will praied, If it be poſſible let this cup paſſe from me, nevertheleſſe not as I will but as thou wilt; Impatient and maſterful deſires of deliverance in a time of trouble cannot conſiſt with true contentment, but humble and ſubmitting deſires conſiſt very well with it; To God the ſole Authour of true contentment, Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt, be all praiſe, Amen.

The ſecond act of the compoſure of his Spirit in all conditions of life is manifeſted in his ſolid and equal carriage, I know both how to be abaſed and how to abound.

The ſound beleever is not carried here and there like a willow with the contrary windes of proſperity and adverſity, Doct. The ſound beleever in all eſtates is unmoveable.but he remains unmoved as an Oak; he is not up and down; He is not like churliſh Nabal in his proſperity and jollity deſpiſing his betters, and in his adverſity dejected with puſillanimity, and dead like a ſtone, 1 Sam. 25. But he is of a prudent, ſolid, and equal temper of ſpirit, 1 Cor. 7.30. They that weep as though they weep not, and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyce not: The Children of God will not in a diſſembling way counterfeit p. 318with their tongues and eyes with ſorrow for publick calamities, as cruell Iſhmael the Sonne of Nethaniah did, and yet have malice and revenge boyling in their hearts, Jer. 41.6. Neither will they as the Phariſees disfigure their faces when there is no ſorrow in their hearts, Matth. 6. But they carry the variety of their condition in ſuch a myſtery of moderation, that beholders cannot reade their condition in their countenance or outward behaviour; This is that Chriſtian moderation which the Apoſtle requires Phil. 4.5. Let your moderation be known to all men; when we ſo moderate our affections in all occurrences, that they exceed not; Our joy in proſperity we moderate by the grace of humility, Our ſorrow in adverſity by Chriſtian Fortitude and Faith in God, Pſa. 27.19. I had fainted, unleſſe I had beleeved, to ſee the goodneſſe of God in the Land of the living; In the midſt of all their worldly troubles their heart rejoyceth in God, and in the midſt of outward wants, they enjoy the allſufficient God; This inward joy moderates their outward griefs, 2 Cor. 6.10. As ſorrowfull, yet alwaies rejoycing; as having nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things; for a beleever enjoys God who is all in all to him.

The Reaſons of this Doctrine, Reaſons of a Chriſtians equal carriage in all conditions.That a ſound beleever is of a ſolid and equal carriage in all conditions, are;

1. Becauſe God puts his fear in the hearts of his own children. Jer. 32.40. and fear to offend God by abuſe of proſperity keeps the heart humble and ſtable; 1he conſiders that a plentifull condition hath been a ſnare to many, and therefore he rejoyceth in trembling; he walks ſoftly and circumſpectly like a man in the midſt of ſnares: ſo alſo in adverſity the fear of God moderates his grief, that it exceeds not to impatience and unbelief; he feareth the diſpleaſure of God, according to that, Heb. 10.38. If any man draw back (to wit, by unbelief,) my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him.

2. 2Faith keeps the heart in a ſolid and equal temper: in a time of worldly proſperity faith looks to things eternal reſerved in heaven for us; this makes us have humble thought; of thoſe flying ſhadowes of worldly pleaſures, in compariſon of that ſubſtance of glory that endures for ever: faith alſo p. 319in adverſity quiets and ſettles our ſpirits, when we beleeve that our light afflictions which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. fear and faith are to the ſoul, as ballaſt and ſails to the ſhip; the one keeps it from being overcarried in the top of the wave, and the other from being ſwallowed up in the gulph between the waves: ſo the fear of God keeps the heart of a beleever from being overturned by ſtrong temptations in the top of his proſperity; and aſſurance of faith, like a main ſayl carries the heart through the deeps of afflictions, and keeps it from being overwhelmed.

This Doctrine ſerveth for reprehenſion of two ſorts of people, Ʋſe 1Reproof to ſuch as know not how 1. To abound.

1. Of ſuch as know not how to abound; How many are there that cannot carry the cup of proſperity even? their pride is intollerable; they truſt in their wealth, and boaſt themſelves in the multitude of their riches, Pſal. 49.6. Some abuſe their proſperity to riot and exceſſe, feeding themſelves without fear of God that covereth their table, Jude v. 12. Jam. 5.5. weep ye rich men, ye have lived in pleaſure on the earth and been wanton; this is the worſt ſort of ingratitude, to render to our God evil for his goodneſſe, like Jeſhurun that waxed fat and kicked againſt his feeder, Deut. 32.15. Some make not a right uſe of their plenty for a ſupply to the indigent; Jam. 5.2, 3. How lye rich men, your gold and ſilver is kankered, and the ruſt of them ſhall be a witneſſe againſt you. Some ſaucily deſpiſe thoſe that are in adverſity, like Nabal in a feſtivall day, 1 Sam. 25.10. Who is David? there be many ſervants that now adayes break away from their maſters, &c. they will give evil words, but do no good works. And others are inſolent oppreſſors of the poor: Prov. 22.7. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is ſervant to the lender; he abuſeth that to make it a burden, which ſhould be an eaſe and relief: The mercies of the wicked are cruel, Prov. 12.10.

2. Of ſuch as know not how to be abaſed, 2. To be abaſed.but miſcarry in á day of adverſity: ſome are ſtupid and ſenſeleſſe of the Lords viſitation. Iſa. 42.25. He hath poured upon Iſrael the fury of his anger, and the ſtrength of battell, and it hath ſet him on fire p. 320round about, and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. Some are in the other extream, they faint in the day of adverſity; if riches decreaſe they droop, like thin feathered fowls in a rainy day; if at any time they be blaſted in their reputation, they become pale and heartleſſe, as if they could not live but in the popular air: Some turn impatient, murmur and blaſpheme God in the courſe of his providence; ſo did the people of Iſrael in the wilderneſſe, Exod. 16.2, 3. They murmured and ſaid, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we ſat by the fleſh-pots, and when we did eat bread to the full, for ye have brought us forth into this wilderneſſe, to kill this whole aſſembly with hunger. Others become deſperate, and blaſpheme God in his truth and mercy, as wicked Jehoram, 2 King. 6.33. Behold this evil is of the Lord (ſaid he) what ſhould I wait for the Lord any longer? And ſuch as are deſperate of Gods help uſe unlawfull means for relief, as Ahaziah, 2 King. 1.

Therefore I would offer ſome conſiderations as ſo many baſes to balance unſtable ſouls, Conſiderations to ballaſt unſtable ſouls.that they be not too much lifted up with proſperity, nor too farre dejected with adverſity.

Firſt, 1Againſt temptations in proſperity, thou who art ingrateful to God, and doſt not by humble thankfullneſſe acknowledge God thy benefactor; conſider this provokes jod to ſend a change in thy eſtate. Hoſ. 2.8, 9. She did not know what I gave her corn, wine and oyl, and multiplied her ſilve… and gold, and therefore will I return and take away my corn… the time thereof, and my wine in the ſeaſon thereof.

Secondly, 2Thou who art proud and boaſteſt in thy riches, conſider that pride and vain boaſting is the moth of proſperity; it is a ſwelling in the high wall, whoſe breaking cometh ſuddenly at an inſtant. Iſa. 30.13. Pride in proſperity is an evident prognoſtick of a fall and change. Dan. 4.31. While the word of pride and boaſting in his proſperity was in the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar, there fell a voice from Heaven, ſaying, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is ſpoken, the Kingdom is departed from thee; here was a ſudden and great change: he that was lifted up above the ordinary condition of men in p. 321plenty and honour is brought down ſo low that he runs mad and wilde amongſt the beaſts of the Field, and eateth graſſe as oxen.

3. Thou who abuſeſt thy plenty to riot and exceſſe, 3conſider thy ſurfet and repletion will turn to a conſumption, and bring a change, Prov. 23.20. Be not amongst wine-bibbers, among riotous eaters of fleſh, for the drunkard and the glutton will will come to poverty, and drouſineſſe ſhall clothe a man with ragges.

4. 4Thou that art unmercifull to the poor in the day of thy proſperity, conſider this provokes God to bring a change on thy eſtate, Prov. 11.24. There is that ſcattereth and yet encreaſeth, and there is that withholdeth more then is meet, but it tendeth to poverty; The rich Glutton gave not a crum, and in hell he got not a drop of water to cool his tongue.

5. Thou that in thy proſperity miſ-knoweſt thy ſelf, 5and deſpiſeſt the poor in his adverſity, thou ſinneſt againſt God, who only of rich and free bounty hath made the difference between thy condition and his, Prov. 14.31. He that deſpiſeth his neighbour ſinneth, but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

6. 6Thou that in thy proſperity abuſeſt thy power to the oppreſſion of the poor, and addeſt affliction to the afflicted, thou reproachedſt God his maker, who entitles himſelf the defender and judge of the poor and indigent, Pſa. 72.4. Thou provokeſt God to deliver up thy eſtate into the hands of the ſpoiler, Iſa. 33.1. Wo to thee that ſpoileſt, and thou waſt not ſpoiled; and dealeſt treacherouſly, and they dealt not treacherouſly with thee; when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoil thou ſhalt be ſpoiled.

Next I would offer theſe conſiderations both to direct and uphold a weak ſpirit in the day of adverſity.

1. Thou that art ſenſeleſſe of Gods viſitation, 1conſider that of Prov. 3.11. Heb. 12.5. Job 5.17. Deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord, ſleight it not, but take notice of it; This froward ſenſeleſneſſe provokes God to encreaſe thy troubles, Lev. 26.18. As the Phyſician doth cure a Lethargy by caſting the Patient into a Fever, and by this means doth quicken his ſenſes, ſo the Lord doth cure this ſpiritual Lethargy many p. 322times by ſome ſharper and more corroſive affliction that toucheth them to the quick.

2. 2Thou that fainteſt in a time of adverſity conſider that of Pro. 24.10. If thou faint in the day of adverſity thy ſtrength is ſmall: This fainting is an evidence of a puſillanimous and weak ſpirit; Againſt this ſoul-fainting the only cordiall is faith in God and his gracious promiſes. Pſa. 27.14. I had fainted, unleſſe I had beleeved to ſee the goodneſſe of God in the Land of the Living. Pſa. 43.5. O my Soul, why art thou diſquieted within me? hope in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him; By faith as the ſaving Organ the ſweet ſmell of Gods mercies is carried into the heart, and revives it, Pſa. 138.7. Though I walk in the midſt of trouble thou wilt revive me.

3. 3Thou that art impatient and ſecretly in thy heart murmureſt againſt the good Providence of God, conſider in time thy fretting impatience doth more diſquiet thy ſoul then the croſſe it ſelf can: by patience thou poſſeſſeſt thy ſoul, Luke 21.19. but by impatience thou diſpoſſeſſeſt thy ſelf of that dominion thou ſhouldeſt have over thy thoughts, ſpeeches and actions; it ſo diſtracts thee that thou knoweſt not what thou thinkeſt, ſpeakeſt, or doeſt; By thy impatience thou provokeſt God to encreaſe and continue thy croſſe; Thou art as the Fowl in the Net, the more thy impatient ſpirit doth flutter, thou art the more intangled. Num. 11. when the people complained, It diſpleaſed the Lord, and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, Num. 14.34. Becauſe the people murmured at the difficulties in their journey to the promiſed reſt, the Lord lengthened their troubles forty years; whereas if they had been patient and obedient, they had got an expected end in fourty daies; Impatience puts men to much pains which might be ſaved if in patience they would ſubmit to Gods providence in a time of great difficulties; Conſider it is a fearfull thing in the time of thy impatience to get thy deſire of eaſe and delivery ſatisfied, at ſuch a time it is far better to want it then to have it; It is a feeding for the ſlaughter, Num. 11.33. The people were impatient for want of fleſh, God gave it to them, But while the fleſh was in their mouth, the wrath of the Lord was kindled; It is far p. 323better to live in want then to be conſumed in thy abundance.

4. 4Thou who in a deſperate unbelief caſts away all hope of deliverance in a time of great trouble, Conſider thou blaſphemeſt God in his power, as if our God were not able to deliver thee; Thou ſaiſt as Iſrael did in their unbeleef, Can the Lord prepare a Table in the Wilderneſſe? Pſa. 78.19. Such Unbelief in a time of a great and common calamity may provoke God to ſeclude thee from the comfort of the common deliverance; That unbeleeving Lord who blaſphemed God in his power, was trod down in the gate, and was not partaker of the common benefit, 2 King. 7.19, 20.

5. 5Thou that uſeſt unlawfull means to be freed of thy trouble, conſider in time ſuch means provoke to more wrath; Ahaziah his conſulting with wizards in the time of his ſickneſſe brought him to his death, 2 King. 1. The Jews did perſecute the Prince of life, thinking thereby to preſerve their place and nation, Joh. 11.48. but ſuch a means brought upon them deſolation and deſtruction, Mat. 23.37, 38.

This Doctrine ſerveth for a ſeaſonable warning to the children of God who are ſubject to the like paſſions within, Ʋſe 2 Directions how to behave our ſelves in all eſtates. 1. In proſperityand to the like temptations from without, how they ſhould carry themſelves in an equable tenour both in proſperity and adverſity.

In thy day of proſperity,

1. Be thankefull to thy God, Deut. 8.10. 1When thou haſt eaten and art full, then thou ſhalt bleſſe the Lord thy God for the good Land which he hath given thee; So did good Jacob, Gen. 32.10. I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the mercies which thou haſt ſhewed unto thy Servant, For with my ſtaff I paſſed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands; Remember that wrath was upon good Ezechias for his ingratitude, 2 Chron. 32.25.

2. Walk humbly with thy God, 2remembring thou haſt nothing but what thou haſt received; It is the Lord who of rich and free bounty makes thee to differ from the poor; Remember, the rich and poor meet together, Pro. 22.2. they are alike in their birth, both come naked out of the womb, p. 324and alike at their death, they return naked to the womb of the earth, the difference only is for a moment of time; Remember Ezechias his pride in his treaſures provoked God to give them to the ſpoiler, 2 King. 20.17.

3. 3Walk in charity toward them that want the good things of the world; Remember as this is the day of thy receiving, ſo there will be a day of reckoning when thy Lord will ſay, Give me an account of thy Stewardſhip; Profeſſion of love to God without this is but hypocriſie, 1 Joh. 3.17. Whoſo hath this worlds good, and ſeeth his brother hath need, and ſhutteth up his bowels of compaſſion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? yea, thy outward performances of publique worſhip and ſolemn humiliation by faſting is abomination before the Lord without this labour of love, Iſa. 58.6, 7. The Lord requires that thou deal thy bread to the hungry, &c. If God ſend a change, the remembrance of thy mercifull dealing with the poor will comfort thy heart in adverſity; Auguſtine.It was Jobs comfort in his ſaddeſt hour, Job 31.16, 17. &c. Auguſtine ſaith well, God made the rich man that he might help the poor, and he made the poor man that he might try the rich.

4. 4In thy abundance moderate thy affections; Let not thy deſire, joy and delight dwell on things worldly, Phil. 3.20. Let your converſation be in heaven; The Merchant though he trade in a forreign Countrey for a time, and be never ſo well entertained there, yet his more frequent thoughts and ſtronger affections are on his own Countrey and the comforts there: here thou art a ſojourner: Amidſt all thy tranſient pleaſures here let thy minde and heart be ſet upon the things that are above, Col. 3.2.

5. 5Of thy worldly commodities make a ſpirituall uſe; as the skilful Chymiſt extracts ſubtil ſpirits out of the groſſeſt Minerals, ſo the ſpiritual man draweth a ſpiritual uſe out of things earthly; Out of any ſweetneſſe he taſtes in the creatures his appetite is inlarged toward that full joy and pleaſures for ever at the right hand of God; as a profane worldling in a Church-meeting many times hath earthly thoughts, ſo the ſpiritual man even in his civill meetings, in the midſt of his earthly pleaſures is a heavenly-minded man, He looks p. 325through the creatures to heaven, He can at once look both to the earth and to the third heaven; From earthly objects his heart is raiſed to things heavenly, and after ſuch thoughts he returns to the uſe of the creature with great moderation; as a man refreſhed already with more excellent delicates then the creatures can afford.

In the day of adverſity carry thy ſelf alſo in an equal way, 2. In adverſity.I know alſo (ſaith our Apoſtle) how to be abaſed.

1. Be not regardleſſe of thy Croſſe, Heb. 12.5. 1It is the Lords viſitation, and thou muſt take notice of him when he viſits thee; humble thy ſelf before him, with Ephraim bemoan thy ſelf, Jer. 31.18. accept the puniſhment of thy ſin, and juſtifie the Lord in all his diſpenſations, Lev. 26.41. and ſeek to God by praier for comfort. Iſa. 26.16. They poured out a praier when thy chaſtening was upon them.

2. Be not faint-hearted; 2this is another extremity whereunto the dear children of God are ſubject in time of oppreſſing troubles; Good Baruch fainted in his ſighing in a time of adverſity and diſ-appointment of his hopes, Jer. 45.3. Jonah fainted in a time of great perplexity, Jonah 2.7. Prepare cordials againſt this fainting; As men ſubject to fainting in the body carry alwaies about with them ſome preſervatives, lay up ſtore of the precious promiſes with faith to them in thy underſtanding, and with love to them in thy heart; The taſte of this bread of life will keep thee from fainting; Carry Chriſt and his Croſſe in thine heart, and the ſmell of his Croſſe, and the ſweet fruits of it will keep thine heart from fainting; If at any time thou faint, then with Jonah Jon. 2.7. Remember the Lord and his former kindeneſſes; He is unchangeable in his love, He loveth to the end, Joh. 13.1. The meditation on former experience, and on the unchangeableneſſe of his love is a Reſtorative to a fainting ſoul.

3. In thy adverſity be patient. Jam. 1.4. 3Let Patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and intire, wanting nothing; It is not perfect in any man in a perfection of degrees, but in the purpoſe of their will and affection of their hearts; The godly ſhould be willing in all things preſent or to come to ſubmit to the good will of God; Patience is joyned to p. 326hope as the Cable to the Anchor, 1 Theſ. 1.3. Patience of hope. As in a ſtreſſe of weather, the more the Cable is lengthened there is the leſſe agitation of the Ship, ſo in a time of trouble, the more our patience is encreaſed the commotion of our ſpirit is the leſſe: It is true, the dear children of God may have their own fits of impatiency, as Moſes at Meribah: Job had his, Job 3. Jeremiah, Jer. 15.10. and Jonah had a ſore fit, Jon. 4.8. It is better for me to die then to live, His fit groweth worſe verſ. 9. I do well to be angry even unto death; Yet his merciful Father takes not Jonah away in this fit, but ſpared him, and gave him grace to out-live this fit by repentance; The children of God recover themſelves by repentance, and in an holy indignation revenge themſelves upon themſelves for their former diſtemper; So David recovered from his fit of impatiency rebukes himſelf, Pſa. 73.22. I was as a beaſt before thee.

4. 4Caſt not away thy confidence but walk by faith; In a time of trouble the Juſt ſhall live by faith, Hab. 2.4. The children of God in times of great and long troubles are ſubject to fits of unbelief, Judg. 6.13. Gideon ſaid, O my Lord, if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us? Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt, but now the Lord hath forſaken us; And David Pſa. 116.11. I ſaid in my haſte All men are lyars, Pſa. 31.22. I ſaid in my haſte I am cut off from before thine eyes. Notwithſtanding ſpecial promiſes of God to the contrary, yet he had his own fit of diſtruſtfull fear to be cut off by the hand of Saul; Againſt ſuch fits guard thy heart with ſubmiſſion to his divine wiſedom in the training up of his own children, He ſcourgeth every Son whom he receiveth, Heb. 12.6. Conſider his gracious wiſedom ordering thy afflictions for thy ſouls good, Heb. 12.13. He chaſtiſeth us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holineſſe: But when thou haſt ſuch a fit of unbelief, and canſt not beleeve that the Lord in love chaſtiſeth thee, but puniſheth thee in anger; Remember the daies of old when the Lord heard thy praiers, and thou hadſt a ſweet return of peace to thy ſoul; In the experience of this ſay thou to thy heart as Sampſons Mother ſaid to her Husband Manoah, Judg. 13.23. If the Lord were pleaſed to p. 327kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands. Look into thy own heart, and if thou in a time of great trouble fear to offend him, and deſire to obey, thou maiſt and ſhouldſt reſt on him as thy God. Iſa. 5.10. Who is amongſt you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, that walketh in darkneſſe and hath no light? let him reſt in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Though thou ſee not any appearance of deliverance, yet reſt on the power of God, ſubmit to his will and uſe no unlawful means for thy own delivery; So did the three children Dan. 3.17. Our God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand: but if not, Be it known unto thee, O King, we will not ſerve thy Gods.

The third particular to be conſidered, is the way how the Apoſtle attained this contentation of minde in all eſtates of life; I have learned (ſaith he) and I am inſtructed, in the original it is, I am inſtructed in a myſtery or ſecret.

The myſtery and ſecret of contentment in whatſoever eſtate, Doct. The myſtery of contentment is taught only in the School of Chriſt. It is not taught from principles of nature.is taught only in the School of Jeſus Chriſt; The truth of this Doctrine will appear if we conſider 1. how it is not taught, 2. how it is taught.

It is not taught from any principles of corrupt nature, becauſe this being alike in all the children of Adam muſt be uniform in its operations, and ſo all men ſhould be taught this contentment, but the contrary is ſeen in many male-contents and murmurers under their preſent condition in the world: Corrupt nature frets at every thing diſpleaſing to fleſh and bloud, until it be healed by the grace of regeneration; But where this ſecret fretting is, there can be no true contentment.

Neither can it be taught by the moral precept of Natural men: It is true, heathen men, Nor by morall precepts of natural men.ſpecially the Stoick Philoſophers have ſpoken ſomewhat to this purpoſe, yet they did not teach men to be content in whatſoever eſtate; They did commend that horrid ſinne of ſelf-murther in the caſe of diſ-contentment; They compared mans life to a banquet, that he might willingly leave when once he were full, and to a ſtage-play that he might leave when once he were wearied; And Seneca p. 328cals ſuch a death a gate to liberty; This is not to teach contentment in every eſtate; As they failed fouly in their precepts, ſo in their practiſe of contentment; It is true, ſome heathens appeared content in their ſober and courſe diet of living: Fabricius that Noble Romane Senator was content to feed upon his diſh of Roots, and he anſwered to theſe Legats, who would have corrupted him with vaſt Sums of gold to betray his own Countrey, that a man who was content to feed on Roots needed not their gold: yet they were not content in every eſtate; they could not endure diſgrace in the world, for their honour was their Idol; Lucretia and Cato of Ʋtica could not bear their diſgrace with any contentment, but made away themſelves in their violent fits of diſcontentment: Auguſtine.And Auguſt. lib. 1. de Civit. Dei cap. 20. ſaith well, That it is but a weak ſpirit that cannot comport with the want of health in the body, or with the want of the applauſe of the people.

Next the truth of this Doctrine appeareth, It is taught 1. By the Wordif we conſider poſitively how this myſtery of contentment is taught; It is taught in the School of Chriſt. 1. By the Word of God. 2. By the example of Chriſt. 3. By the Spirit of Chriſt.

1. Is is taught by the Word of God; It is called the word of Patience, becauſe it commands us to be patient, Rev. 3.10. Becauſe thou haſt kept the word of my patience (ſaith the Angel of the Covenant to the Church of Philadelphia) I will alſo keep thee from the hour of Temptation, &c. It is taught by the word of precept which commandeth us to be godly, and where godlineſſe is, it hath with it contentment, 1 Tim. 6.6. Godlineſſe with contentment is great gain; That is, godlineſſe which hath alwaies with it contentment is great gain, 1 Tim. 6.8. Having food and raiment let us be therewith content, Heb. 13.5. Be content with ſuch things as ye have; It is taught by the word of threatning, 1 Cor. 10. Neither murmure ye as ſome of them alſo murmured, and were deſtroyed of the deſtroyer; he threatens them from the fearfull deſtruction that fell upon murmurers againſt the Lords diſpenſation, Jude ep. 15, 16, 17. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly p. 329among them of all their ungodly deeds, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him; Theſe are murmurers, complainers; It is taught fully by the word of Promiſe, Heb. 13.5. Be content with ſuch things as ye have, for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee; Our Lord in his gracious promiſes holdeth forth to us the grounds of contentment in our loweſt eſtate.

1. He promiſeth proviſion in time of want, Pſa. 34.10. 1. Promiſe of Proviſion a ground of contentment in time of want.The young Lions ſhall lack and ſuffer hunger, but they that ſeek the Lord ſhall not want any good thing: Hath it not been ſeen in a time of great ſcarcity, that many old oppreſſors who ſometimes have been like fierce Lions roaring after their prey on the poor, and like the evening wolves, in the end have been brought into great miſery, when they that fear the Lord have been furniſhed daily with a comfortable ſupply out of the ſtorehouſe of divine Providence; Eliah in time of that great famine in Samaria was better furniſhed then the Princes of Samaria.

2. The Lord promiſeth both protection and proviſion, 2. Promiſe of Protection a ground of contentment in a time of danger.ſo that a man well guarded by the Almighty God needs not eat his bread with quaking but with chearfulneſſe, Iſa. 33.15, 16. He that walketh righteouſly and ſpeaketh uprightly, he ſhall dwell on high, his place of defence ſhall be the mountains of rocks, bread ſhall be given him and his waters ſhall be ſure. And may not a man be well content that hath Gods Word to aſſure him of a daily maintenance and protection.

3. The Lord promiſeth comfort in troubles, 2 Cor. 7.6. 3. Promiſe of Comfort, a ground of contentment in a time of mourning.He is a God that comforteth thoſe that are caſt down, 2 Cor. 1.3. The God of all comfort; Is not this a ſolid ground of contentment to have ſuch a comforter in our troubles? He is near to us in all our troubles, a preſent help in trouble, Pſa. 46.1.2. He is an alſufficient comforter us in all our troubles; The God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulations, 2 Cor. 1.3, 4. His comfortable preſence goeth along with them in all their tribulations, he was with Joſeph in the pit and in the priſon; with Jacob in his purſuit by Eſau, and in his purſuit by Laban; with Moſes in the River, in Midian, and p. 330in his great troubles and dangers from the peoples murmuring in the wilderneſs; This word of promiſe was the ground of Davids comfort and contentment in a world of troubles, Pſa. 119.50. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy Word hath quickened me.

4. 4. Promiſe of Counſel in time of perplexity.His word of promiſe to give us counſell in difficulties is a ground of contentment and reſt to our hearts in all our perplexities, Jam. 1.5. If any man lack wiſedom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it ſhall be given him; The Apoſtle ſpeaks of wiſedom and prudence in a time of trial, which requires we ſhould be wiſe as Serpents and alſo ſimple as Doves; Ye ſee Pauls prudence in dividing his Perſecutors, Act. 23.6. in his diſcreet Preface to Felix, Act. 24.10, 11. and Agrippa, Act. 26.2, 3. to conciliate attention and favour to his juſt cauſe in a time of triall, and alſo in his diſcreet compellation to the governour, Act. 26.25 I am not mad, Moſt Noble Feſtus; to convince his Judge of the ſoberneſs of his ſpirit in the maintenance of perſecuted truth.

5. 5. Promiſe of Strength a ground of contentment under difficulties and preſſures.The Lord in his Word promiſeth ſtrength to uphold beleevers under heavy preſſures and burthens. Iſaiah 42.10. I will ſtrengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs; and 1 Cor. 10.13. He will with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it; Our high Prieſt is full of compaſſion, he doth not as the Phariſees who laid on heavy burdens, and would not touch them with one, of their fingers; but as God laid a heavy burden on Moſes to go and ſpeak to Pharaoh in a matter ſo diſpleaſing unto him, he did ſuſtain him under the burthen, Exod. 4.12. Go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou ſhalt ſay. The Lord laid a heavy burthen upon Jeremiah to go and ſpeak againſt a rebellious people, but withall he furniſhed him with ſtrength to bear the burthen, Jer. 1.8. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee; So the Lord laid a heavy burthen on Paul to preach the Word in the City of Corinth wherein abounded all ſort of iniquity, 1 Cor. 6.10. yet the Lord promiſeth him ſtrength to bear the burthen, Act. 18.9, 10. Be not afraid, but ſpeak and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man ſhall ſet on thee to hurt thee; Is p. 331not this promiſe of ſtrength a ſolid ground of contentation to reſt on under our burthens?

6. 6 The promiſe of a wiſe providence ordering all for good is a ground of contentment.The promiſe of a wiſe and gracious providence ordering all things for good to them that love God is a ſure ground of contentment to the children of God in their loweſt condition; Though they know not the good of the bitter cup of affliction, yet they ſhall know it, Rom. 8.28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpoſe: Joſephs priſon by Gods good providence was a ſtep to his liberty; There God made his acquaintance with the Butler, who made him known to Pharaoh, that ſent for him and preferred him in Egypt; Moſes in his Infancy was caſt into the River, God orders it for good; He is drawn out of the waters by Pharaohs daughter, nouriſhed by her for her own Son, and well bred in all the wiſedom of the Egyptians: and alwaies it is for their ſpiritual good; The Lord brings ſweet to their ſouls out of that which is bitter to the body; The rod of Aſhur is ordered by God for humbling his people of Iſrael, Iſa. 20.12. The furnace of Babylon is ordered of God to be a means for purging his people and making them as choice gold for his Treaſure, Iſa. 27.9. By this therefore ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his ſinne; This ſhould teach the children of God contentment in their greateſt afflictions; They know not whether they ſhall turn to their temporall good, but they may know certainly they ſhall be ordered and carried on for their ſpiritual good.

7. Laſtly, 7. Promiſe of a comfortable iſſue a ground of contentment.The gracious promiſe of a comfortable iſſue to all our troubles is a ground of contentment; Aſſurance of a ſafe harbour to the Seafaring men, of a fruitfull harveſt to the Husbandman, and of a triumphal Crown to the Souldier, are grounds of contentment to them in all their labours and difficulties; So the full aſſurance of hope we have of that port of eternal ſalvation, of that harveſt of full joy, and of that Crown of immortal glory, is, and ſhall be a ground of contentment in tempeſtuous times, in our ſeed time of tears, in our warfare againſt terrours within and fightings without; Faithfull is he who hath promiſed, Pſal. 34.19. Many are the p. 332afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Joh. 16.20. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, that ye ſhall weep and lament, but the world ſhall rejoyce; and ye ſhall be ſorrowfull, but your ſorrow ſhall be turned into joy; As in the time of affliction thou findeſt this true in thy experience which thy Lord foretold; ſo it is ground contentment in ſuch a time that thy Lord hath foretold alſo of a comfortable iſſue; The ſick Patient in the time of his pain while the medicine is a working, being forewarned of it by the Phyſitian, hath ſome contentment and comfort in the hope of the good of it in his after health foretold him alſo by his Phyſitian; So thou maiſt be aſſured as thou findeſt the experience of ſorrow by thy Lord, ſo thou ſhalt alſo finde the experience of joy; for the ſame faithful Lord hath foretold both.

2. 2. By the example of Chriſt.We learn contentment and ſubmiſſion of ſpirit from our Lord Jeſus Chriſt who in his loweſt condition reſted content with his Fathers will, Samaria refuſed to entertain him; James and John was highly diſcontent, and breathed nothing but fire againſt Samaria, yet our meek Lord rebuked them and ſaid. Ye know not what manner of ſpirit ye are of, Luke 9.53, 54, 55. In thy bodily wants learn contentment from him; when he was hungry and none miniſtred unto him; The devil tempted him to diſcontent and murmuring, Mat. 4.3. If thou be the Son of God, command that theſe ſtones be made bread; Our Lord anſwered, It is written, man ſhould not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; He that at firſt by his powerful word gave life to the creature, can, if it ſo pleaſe him, by that word preſerve life; When ſuch means fail, yet learn from thy Lord to ſubmit to the will of God, and to truſt in his power that is not limited to ordinary means; In his thirſt they gave him gall; whereas others at their death got wine to make them forget their pain, yet he was content, he did not complain of them to God, but in great calmneſſe of ſpirit and eminency of love praied to the Father for them, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing; He renders wine for their gall: yea, though all thy life time thou ſhouldſt live in poverty, yet look to Chriſt and be content, for he was poor in his p. 333birth, poor in his life, and at his death he was ſtript of his garments.

2. When thou ſuffereſt in thy Name, 2learn contentment from his example, 1 Pet. 2.21. Chriſt alſo ſuffered for us, leaving us an example that we ſhould follow his ſteps, who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he ſuffered he threatned not, but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly; When in ſpeaking the truth thou art contradicted by proud and contentious men, who call thee ignorant, or a lyar, be patient, and look to thy Lord who was the way, the verity, and the life; yet was a ſign of contradiction, Luk. 2.34. And when thy heart begins through diſcontent at the hard ſpeeches of the world againſt thee to faint within thee, then conſider thy Lord that endured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelf, leſt ye be wearied and faint in your mindes, Heb. 12.3. When thou art traduced by malicious detracters, be patient and content; look to thy Lord who was without all ſpot and blame, and yet was traduced, as a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber, a friend of Publicans and ſinners, Mat. 11.19. a deceiver of the people, Joh. 7.12. Mat. 27.63 and a complier with that arch malignant ſpirit, Mat. 12.24. The Servant ſhould be content when he is no worſe, yea, not ſo evil entreated as his Lord and Maſter; when thou art affronted and mocked to thy face by inſolent enemies inſulting on thy miſery, be content and look to thy Lord who was as a ſheep dumb before her ſhearer, he was affronted with a Scepter of reed put into his hand, with a tormenting crown of thorns on his head; they mocked him by bowing the knee, wagging the head; and upbraided him with cruell mockings, Luk. 23.5. when thou ſuffereſt injury in thy perſon at the hands of cruell and inſolent men, yet be content and ſubmit to the will of God, who takes off the collar of reſtraint from their tongues and hands; Look to thy Lord blinde-folded, ſpitted on, buffeted, ſcourged, and crucified between two theeves; If they do theſe things in a green tree, what ſhall be done in the dry? Luk. 23.31.3. By the Spirit of Chriſt; by 1. Inlightning.

3. We learn this leſſon of contentment by the Spirit of Chriſt, who teacheth us by enlightening the underſtanding p. 334with faith to perceive and diſcern the unſearchable riches of Chriſt; Then as this ſight makes the beleever have low thoughts of the beſt things in this preſent world, and to count them but loſſe and dung in compariſon of the excellent knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. So it makes him reſt content in all his ſufferings, and to think them light in compariſon of that glory hid with Chriſt in God, which will be revealed to us at the ſecond coming of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 8.18. I reckon (ſaith the Apoſtle) that the ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us.

2. 2. By ſealing.The Spirit of Chriſt worketh this contentment in us by Obſignation and Sealing us after we have beleeved; Eph. 1.13, 24. In whom alſo after ye have beleeved, ye were ſealed with that holy Spirit of promiſe, which is the earnest of our Inheritance until the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion, unto the praiſe of his glory; The Spirit ſeals to the beleever two great priviledges.

1. 1His Adoption, Rom. 8.16. The Spirit beareth witneſſe to our ſpirits that we are the children of God.

2. 1The other is our right in Chriſt to the heavenly inheritance and our future poſſeſſion; the aſſurance of our adoption makes us content to drink of the cup of affliction given to us by our heavenly Father, and in a like, though no waies equal frame of a ſubmiſſe ſpirit, we ſay as our Lord the beloved Son of the Father ſaid both for ſatisfaction in our behalf, and for an example of ſubmiſſion to us, Job. 18.11. Shall I not drink of the cup which my Father hath given me to drink? The aſſurance of our Inheritance makes us content in this time of our minority to be under the rod: ſome earneſt penny in hand of a great bargain covenanted by a faithful party, makes men content with a ſmall portion for a time in the ſure expectation of perfecting the full bargain; So the aſſurance the children of God have by the Spirit of Chriſt of their full redemption and deliverance from all their troubles, maketh them in all their troubles, to rejoyce in hope of the glory of God, Rom. 5.3.

3. 3. By comforting.The Spirit worketh this contentment in the children of p. 335God by comforting them and giving them ſome firſt-fruits of eternal life, Rom. 8.23. Such are, the ſenſe of Gods love ſhed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit, Rom. 5.5. Peace in the conſcience and the joy of the holy Ghoſt: 1 Theſ. 1.6. Having received the Word in much affliction with joy in the holy Ghoſt: Theſe are like the ſweet refreſhing Grapes in the Land of Canaan, whereof Joſhua and Caleb brought ſome cluſters to make the people content with preſent troubles in the wilderneſſe, and to encourage them to go to the place of their reſt where every thing grew in great plenty for their full refreſhment and ſatisfaction; The ſenſe of Gods love makes the childe of God content in his loweſt eſtate; Mephiboſheth the Son of Jonathan was unjuſtly ſlandered by Zibah, and raſhly diveſted of all his goods by David, yet was he ſo affected with joy for the Kings ſafe return to dwell in his own houſe, that he could in calmneſſe of ſpirit diſpenſe with his own private loſſes, 2 Sam. 19.30. Mephiboſheth ſaid unto the King, Yea, let Zibah take all, foraſmuch as my Lord the King is come again in peace into his own houſe; So a Beleever is content to ſuffer contumelies and injuries at all hands, when the Lord dwels in his ſoul and gives him peace; the ſweetneſſe of his love expels the bitterneſſe and gall of our afflictions; It is as wine to the heavy heart, Pro. 31.7. He forgets his poverty, and remembers his miſery no more; David was ſo affected with the ſenſe of Gods goodneſſe in giving him peace and reſt from his enemies, that he was content to forgive private injuries, 2 Sam. 19.22. Shall there any man be put to death this day in Iſrael, for do not I know that I am King this day of Iſrael? So the ſenſe of peace with God in Jeſus Chriſt the peace-maker, makes the children of God content and obedient to the will of God, Eph. 4, 32. Forgiving one another, even as God for Christs ſake hath forgiven you.

4. 4. By ſtrengthening.The Spirit worketh our hearts to contentment by ſtrengthning us to bear the burthen of affliction; It is the Apoſtles prayer to God for the Epheſians, Eph. 3.16. That God would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be ſtrengthened with might by his ſpirit in the inner man; and here it is ſaid, I am able through Chriſt ſtrengthning me to do all things; p. 336whereof in the ſtrength of his grace we ſhall ſpeak hereafter.

This Doctrine ſerveth for Admonition, Ʋſe 1 In the day of thy proſperity, Seek not contentment in earthly things.neither ſeek nor place thy contentment in things worldly: Contentment is not learned in the ſchool of the creature; the moſt pleaſant roſes have their own pricks: Riches are accompanied with thorny cares: Royal Crowns are tinned with fears and jealouſies: Pleaſures are deceitfull, and have an hook under the bait; when thy conſcience awakes with terrour for unjuſt purchaſe of them; or though the purchaſes be lawfull, yet if thine heart ſmite thee for ingratitude to God in the poſſeſſion of them, for abuſing of them to pride, riot and exceſſe, and for not uſing of them to the relief of the poor; thou ſhalt have no contentment in them, but the poſſeſſion of them in unrighteouſneſs or ingratitude, and the miſimploying or not imploying of them to a good uſe, will augment thy diſcontentment, and in a ſad experience thou wilt be forced to ſay, they are comforters of no value: When Belſhazzars conſcience was awaked with the ſight of the hand writing on the wall; all his plenty of wine, and other cordials of that kind, all his magnificence, and the ſmooth ſpeeches of his Queen and Princes could neither quiet his ſpirit, nor faſten his joynts: In thy adverſity and troubled eſtate, ſeek not contentment or eaſe to thy ſpirit from worldly divertiſements; theſe are but as Davids playing on the Harp to Saul at the time of his great diſtemper, 1 Sam. 16.33. But the evil ſpirit returned again: Such poor means may for a time divert thy thoughts, but cure not the diſeaſe and diſtemper of thy unquiet ſpirit; they are as a cup of cold water to an hydropick man, which refreſheth him for a moment, but encreaſeth his thirſt and pain.

2. Ʋſe 2 It ſerveth for a ground of Exhortation, to ſtir us up to go to the ſchool of Jeſus Chaiſt, Go to the School of Chriſt to learn contentment.that in all our troubles we may learn this neceſſary and profitable leſſon of ſolid contentment: Some enclining to a Conſumption are eaſily induced to the ſtudy of Medicine to prevent the ſymptomes of that diſtemper: diſcontentment is a frettig conſumption of the ſpirit, and it is hereditary to us from our firſt parents, in whoſe p. 337aggregate ſinne (to ſpeak ſo) diſcontentment with their preſent condition was an ingredient.

1. 1This inward contentment makes us pleaſing to God who is highly diſpleaſed with male-contents at his Providence; Nehemiah was ſore afraid when the King perceived him ſad, Becauſe he knew Kings are jealous of diſcontented perſons, Neh. 2.2. much more is the King of Kings diſpleaſed with them who fret at his diſpenſations, who in the right of his ſupream dominion may do what he pleaſeth, and as a righteous Judge is ever holy and righteous in all his procedings towards the children of men.

2. 2It will make thee ſocial and pleaſing to all men with whom thou haſt thy converſation in the world, thou canſt condole with them in their adverſity and rejoyce with them in their proſperity, but the diſcontented ſpirit is ſullen and ſurly either when evil befals himſelf or good to his neighbour.

3. 3This inward contentment is to thee an earnest of that abſolute contentment in heaven, and on the contrary fretting diſcontentment, unleſſe it be broken off by repentance, is no other but the beginning of the worm that dieth not.

As ye have ſhewn us how that profitable leſſon of contentment is taught, Helps to the practiſe of Contentment.ſhew us alſo ſome helps for furthering us in the practiſe of it.

1. Break off thy ſins by repentance, and be reconciled to God; 1An out-law purſued from place to place eats his bread with much quaking and fear; So a ſoul purſued by God in wrath cannot have any content in the things he enjoys in the time of his life, and hath leſſe contentment in things worldly at the hour of death; As a condemned perſon hath no contentment in the beſt entertainment given to him a little before the time of publick execution of the ſentence; whereas a man reconciled and abſolved is well content with any morſell; So a wicked impenitent perſon at his death hath no contentment with all his worldly advantages; But if thou be reconciled to God, thy contentment in thy proſperity is multiplied, for then thou lookeſt upon the good things of this world as pledges of better things; and this ſuper-addition to them of a new relation multiplies thy contentment; and at death thy p. 338contentment is encreaſed, as that of a Pilgrim at the border of his own Countrey, and Seafaring man at the entrance of the harbour.

2. 2Receive Chriſt to dwell in thy heart by faith, and then nothing can come amiſſe that comes with Chriſt; we make ſtrangers welcome to our houſe, who come along with a dear Friend; No affliction is ſo ſtrange but it will be made welcome with Chriſt; Not only are beleevers content with it, but glory in it; As couragious Souldiers to be employed in hard ſervice; So did the Apoſtles when they were ignominiouſly beaten, Act. 6.41. Paul and Silas did ſing in the dungeon, Act. 16.14. it was Pauls gloriation, Gal. 6.17. that he bare in his body the marks of the Lord Jeſus; he eſteemed them marks of favour and honour put upon him by his Lord; he gloried in them as a valiant Souldier in the cicatrice of his wounds; Our Lord brings with him peace to the ſoul where he dwels; Peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and peace to the conſcience which is the Eccho and reſound of our peace made in heaven with God; This peace is the health of the ſoul, and as a man in bodily health can well comport with courſe diet for a time, whereas a ſickly man frets and cankers at better entertainment; So a man that hath peace with God and with his own conſcience, can comport with the bread of adverſity and water of affliction; But the man that hath not this peace hath a fretting of ſpirit in the midſt of his plenty; while there is laughter in his mouth there is much ſorrow in his heart.

3. 3Labour to be holy in all manner of converſation, for holineſſe hath the promiſes of this life and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. The precious promiſes of God are the common places out of which faith draweth ſeveral arguments of contentment for all our ſeveral wants bodily or ſpiritual; Out of the bounty of providence the godly man gets ſupply for his outward condition, and out of the Fulneſſe of Chriſt he receives for his inward man grace for grace.

Laſtly, 4Moderate thy deſires after things worldly; Impatient deſires to have, breed much diſcontentment for diſappointment, and immoderate deſires ſtill to enjoy what we p. 339once have, breeds us much diſcontentment at our loſſes; Rachels impotent deſires of poſterity, bred her ſo much diſcontent with the want of children: Therefore the Apoſtle exhorts, Heb. 13.5. Let your converſation be without covetouſneſſe, and be content with ſuch things as ye have; Covetouſneſſe is like Hagar, there is no peace in the houſe to Sarah till ſhe be caſt out, ſo there is no quietneſſe nor contentment to our ſpirits until covetouſneſſe be mortified; Moderate therefore your deſires after the things of this world, and the greater ſhall be your contentment both in your abundance and in your wants; Covet the beſt things even the Kingdom of God and his righteouſneſſe, and things worldly ſhall be added to you; Ye cannot exceed here in your deſires after things heavenly, but your enjoyment in heaven will exceed all your deſires, for it cannot enter into the heart to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him; To this God, Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, be all praiſe, honour and glory now and for ever, Amen.

Now followeth the fourth and laſt particular to be conſidered in the words, to wit, The fourth particular.the ſole and only author of all his ability and ſtrength for doing and ſuffering the good will of God: I can do all things (ſaith he) through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me. Before I raiſe the Doctrine, the words would be cleared:

1. What is meant by this ſtrength.

2. Next, Wherefore it is called the ſtrength of Chriſt. And

3. How it is ſaid he can do all things through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth him.

Firſt, By ſtrength is not meant that infinite power, 1. What is meant by ſtrength.wherein Chriſt is equal with the Father; that mighty power by which in a ſoveraign and authoritative way he wrought miracles. Luk. 9.73. They were all amazed at the mighty power of God; by which he ſubdued all things, and will raiſe the dead. Phi. 3.21, Who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to ſubdue all things. This ſtrength is eſſential to the Sonne of God, and incommunicable to the creatures; the mighty one of Iſrael puts forth this ſtrength toward the defence and protection p. 340of his own children in time of danger, but puts it not in them; as a ſtrong man will uſe his ſtrength for the defence of them that are weak, but puts not his ſtrength within them: But by ſtrength is here meant an ability created and infuſed into the heart of a beleever, whereby he is enabled in ſuch perfection, as is accepted of God in Chriſt, for doing and ſuffering the will of God: It is a ſtrength from Chriſt in them, as the Original imports, foreign it is a ſtrength in the innerman, but from his Spirit. Eph. 3.16. ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit.

Secondly, 2. Why it is called the ſtrength of Chriſt.It is called the ſtrength of Chriſt: 1. Becauſe Chriſt hath procured this ſtrength to us by his merit and interceſſion. Joh. 14.16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another comforter, 1that he may abide with you for ever: Our Lords departing out of the world by the death of the Croſſe, was the cauſe procuring to us the comfort and ſtrength of of the Spirit. Joh. 16.17. If I go not away the comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart I will ſend him unto you. 2. 2Becauſe Chriſt is the efficient cauſe, and worker of this ſtrength in us. 1 Tim. 1.12. I thank Chriſt Jeſus our Lord who hath enabled me; it is the ſame word which is uſed here; 2 Tim. 2.1. Be ſtrong in the grace that is in Chriſt Jeſus, or by Chriſt Jeſus, as the Prepoſition is frequently uſed; as Mat. 5.34. it is rendred by the Heaven. Matth. 23.20, 21, 22. where it is five times ſo uſed. Rom. 12.21. Overcome evil by good: ſo foreign is the ſame with foreign, by Chriſt, who by the efficiency of his Spirit applieth to us the ſtrength of grace procured by the merit of his death.

Thirdly, 3. How a man by the ſtrength of Chriſt is able to do all things.As to the third thing to be cleared, How a man is able through the ſtrength of Chriſt to do all things, thoſe of the Romane Church underſtand it thus; That a renewed man by the grace and ſtrength he receives from Chriſt, is able to keep the whole Law perfectly and abſolutely in all points and degrees of legal perfection: to this purpoſe is that peremptory aſſertion of the Council of Trent. Seſſ. 6. Gan. 18. But the Scripture tells us, it was Gods purpoſe to ſave man, not by his own inherent righteouſneſſe though wrought in him by Chriſt, but by the righteouſneſſe of a Mediator. 2 Cor. p. 3415.31. He hath made him to be ſinne for us who knew no ſinne, that we might be made the righteouſneſſe of God in him: If it were poſſible for a renewed man to keep the Law, then might he be juſtified and ſaved by the Law; but no man is juſtified by the Law. Acts 13.38. Be it known unto you, that thorow this man is preached unto you forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and by him all that beleeve are juſtified from all things from which ye could not be juſtified by the Law of Moſes. Gal. 2.21. If righteouſneſſe be by the Law, then Chriſt hath died in vain. But in a ſound ſenſe the words may be taken three wayes.

1. By way of reſtriction to the particulars ſpoken of ver. 11, 112. I can do all theſe things, to wit, I can abound, I can be abaſed, &c. and yet be content. Thus the generall (all things) is reſtrained. 1 Cor. 9.22. I am made all things to all men, which muſt be reſtrained to the particulars ſpoken of, to wit, his provident condeſcenſion to all things indifferent to men of divers conditions.

2. They may be underſtood By way of reduplication; 2all the good things I am able to do, I can do them by Chriſt who ſtrengtheneth me. The like phraſe we have, Joh. 1.9. Chriſt enlightneth every man that cometh into the world; that is, every one that is enlightned, is enlightned by him; for there be many that never were enlightned with that ſpeciall illumination of faith: So it is ſaid, 1 Tim. 4.10. God is the Saviour of all men, ſpecially of thoſe that beleeve, that is, all men who are ſaved and preſerved, either by a generall providence from temporall miſery, or beleevers that are ſaved in a ſpeciall manner by a Mediator from eternall miſery, they are all ſaved by God; and in another ſenſe it cannot be underſtood: for many are not preſerved from bodily and temporall evils, and farre more are not ſaved and preſerved from eternall miſery; for the ſpeciall ſalvation is only of beleevers, and all men have not faith, 2 Theſ. 3.2.

3. 3A man renewed is able to do all things in a righteouſneſſe and perfection Evangelical, ſo far forth as God pardons his ſinnes, accepts in Chriſt his weak endeavours, and covers the imperfections of his beſt performances with the perfect righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and ſo he walks anſwerable to the Goſpel p. 342that requires truth and ſincerity in our obedience, he is able through grace to walk without offence in his outward converſation; in his purpoſe of heart he is willing to live honeſtly, Heb. 13.18. and endeavours to keep a conſcience void of offence toward God and man, Acts 24.16. But to do all things in a legal perfection he cannot, becauſe ſuch a perfection is only to be ſought in Chriſt the mediator, who was made of God unto us righteouſneſſe in the Covenant of Grace.

The ſtrength of a beleever, Doct. both for doing and ſuffering the good will of God, A beleevers ſtrength is from the Lord Jeſus.is from the Lord Jeſus. Phil. 1.29. Ʋnto you it is given in the behalf of Chriſt, not only to beleeve in him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. Our ſtrength alſo for doing is from the Lord Jeſus, Joh. 15.4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it ſelf, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me: Without ſap from the root the branch cannot bring forth fruit, ſo without influence of ſtrength from Chriſt we cannot bring forth the fruits of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. Joh. 15.5. He that abideth in me and I in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing: Our Lord ſpeaks to men renewed, his holy Apoſtles, that without him they have no ability or ſtrength to do any thing: Phil. 1.11. Being filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, which are by Jeſus Chriſt unto the glory and praiſe of God. Our fruits and works of righteouſneſſe are wrought by us through the Spirit and ſtrength of Chriſt, and are accepted of God through the merit of Chriſt, in whom alone, both our perſons, Eph. 1.6. and ſervices are accepted, 1 Pet. 2.5.

As the ſtrength of a beleever for doing is from Chriſt, ſo alſo for ſuffering and for bearing every burden God in his good providence layes on him; Our ſtrength to ſtand out againſt the violence of temptations from within us, is all from Chriſt. 2 Cor. 12.9. The Lord ſaid unto me (ſaith Paul in the day of temptation) My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſſe; as the ſtrength of the foundation is made manifeſt by ſupporting all the ſtones built upon it; ſo the ſtrength of Chriſt is declared to be a perfect ſtrength in upholding all the living ſtones built upon him; though the tempeſtuous windes of temptation may p. 343ſhake them, yet are they ſupported by the ſtrength of that precious corner ſtone laid in Zion, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: So our ſtrength to ſtand out againſt the aſſaults of temptations from without, is all from Jeſus Chriſt. 2 Tim. 4.16.17. At my firſt anſwer no man ſtood with me, but all men forſook me: notwithſtanding the Lord ſtood with me and ſtrengthened me: Here was a ſore triall; Paul is brought before Nero or his Officers, fierce and cruell perſecutors of the Chriſtian faith, like Lyons roaring after their prey, yet that which grieved him moſt was this, all men forſook him: this opened the mouths of perſecutors, to reproach him with a ſingularity of pride and wilfullneſſe, that would ſtand to his own opinion when all men were aſhamed of that way; It wounded his zealous ſpirit, to ſee the Sonne of God and the Goſpel diſgraced by their fearfull defection at the time they ſhould chiefly have given a countenance and teſtimony to the truth: he was not a little grieved to ſee the levity of fair profeſſors: at firſt when he came to Rome, they flockt out to him as farre as Appii forum, Acts 27.15. but in a day of trial they all forſook him; notwithſtanding the Lord who will not fail nor forſake, ſtood with him and ſtrengthened him to ſtand out againſt this ſore triall; when no man did own him nor his cauſe, yet God did own both; Not only are the children of God ſtrengthened through Chriſt to bear afflictions, but to overcome in all their ſufferings, Rom. 8.35, 36, 37. We are accounted as ſheep for the ſlaughter; Nay, In all theſe we are more then conquerors through him that loved us; Faith in Chriſt made them ſtrong and couragious, and not to ſuccumb to the temptation for fear of death; by conſtant ſuffering to the death they were more then conquerors; Sometimes by their ſufferings they have even conquered the hearts of Perſecutors to the love of the truth; Pauls ſufferings were active on the hearts of ſome of Caeſars houſhold, Phil. 1.13. Tertullian.Tertullian In his Apologetick for the Chriſtians ſaith, that the more exquiſite and cruell the torments were againſt Chriſtians, in regard of their courage and conſtancy, it proves the greater allurement to beholders for embracing the Chriſtian faith; yea, though they have not conquered the hearts of their enemies, p. 344yet they overcame their conſciences by the force of truth and ſtrength in ſuffering, and rendred them ſelf-condemned.

The truth of this Doctrine doth alſo appear from theſe Reaſons. Reaſons.

1. From the myſticall Ʋnion between Chriſt and Beleevers; As the members of his body have influence of life from him their head in the beginning of Sanctification; So in the courſe of it they have influence of ſtrength and vigour for doing duties; as the ointment was firſt poured on Aarons head, and from thence ran down to the skirts of his garments; So together with the other graces of the Spirit the gift of ſtrength was in a large meaſure given to Chriſt the head of his Church, and Of his Fulneſſe we receive grace for grace; Of him we get not only the life of grace, together with a renewed power and ſtrength for doing, but alſo we receive ſtrength in doing; Not only he giveth an ability for walking in his wayes, but ſtrengthens us in the act it ſelf of obeying his will. Ezek. 11.19, 20. I will put a new ſpirit within you, and I will give them an heart of fleſh, that they may walk in my ſtatutes: Not only in the Covenant of grace is promiſed ability and power to do, but alſo actual ſtrength in doing and exerciſing that power. Ezek. 36.27. I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes: for doing acts of moral fortitude and valour, there is not only required courage of ſpirit and reſolution to ſtand againſt difficulties and peril, but alſo actual courage and ſtrength in the encountring with the ſame; without this men of couragious ſpirits ſuccumb in conflicts. Pſal 76.5. The ſtout-hearted are ſpoyled, they have ſlept their ſleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands: much more in our wraſtlings not only againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities, againſt powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpiritual wickedneſſe in high places, Epheſ. 6.12. is required both Chriſtian ability and courage of ſpirit, and alſo actual ſtrength from Chriſt our head, that we may in the evil day ſtand firm in the faith: This ſtrength is derived to all the members of his myſtical body from Chriſt their head by his Spirit; the union is by the ſpirit which is the bond proceeding p. 345from Chriſt toward us, and worketh faith, whereby his members are united to him. 1 Cor. 6.19. He that is joyned to the Lord is one ſpirit: In like manner our Communion with Chriſt and his ſtrength is by the Spirit, who communicates ſtrength to us. Epheſ. 3.16. Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

2. 2The truth of this doctrine is evident from Chriſts inhabitation in beleevers by his ſpirit. Joh. 6.56. He that eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him: The Spirit of Chriſt dwelleth in the beleevers heart, as his ſanctuary wherein he is worſhipped and found; and the beleever dwelleth in him as his ſouls delight and reſt: now it is certain that the Spirit of Chriſt will defend and protect the ſoul where he dwelleth, that though the beleever be oft times moleſted with temptations, yet is he many times preſerved from the bondage and power of the temptation. The Angels that lodged with Lot, Gen. 19. defended him againſt the violence of thoſe vile men of Sodom; ſo it is the Angel of the Covenant, Jeſus Chriſt, who defends by his ſtrength the beleever, againſt the ſore and violent temptations from his own corruption and the world; It is the Spirit of Chriſt that ſtrengthens beleevers to ſtand firm in the love and profeſſion of the truth againſt crafty or violent ſeducers. 1 Joh. 4.4. Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them, becauſe greater (that is mightier) is he that is in you, then he that is in the world.

3. 3It is evident from that intereſt and propriety Chriſt hath to beleevers, as his redeemed ones, purchaſed by the price of his blood; he will by his ſtrength deſend his own ſubjects: It is the honour of a mighty King and Lord, to help and defend his ſubjects from their enemies; thus God is glorified in his power and ſtrength, when he upholds his weak and afflicted ſervants in a day of trial. Iſa. 25.3, 4. Therefore ſhall the ſtrong people glorifie thee, the City of the terrible nations ſhall fear thee, for thou haſt been a ſtrength to the poor, a ſtrength to the needy in his diſtreſſe, when the blaſt of the terrible ones is as aſtorm againſt the wall: the skilfullneſſe of the builder, and p. 346the ſtrength of the wall is beſt ſeen, when the houſe ſtands firm againſt a great ſtorm; ſo the glory of the Lord in ſtrengthening his weak children, is moſt conſpicuous in a tempeſtuous time: From this ground of right and property, the Lord encourageth his people againſt fears and troubles. Iſa. 41.14. Fear not thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Iſrael, I will help thee ſaith the Lord and thy redeemer the holy one of Iſrael. Iſa. 43.1. Fear not O Iſrael, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine: upon this ground it is that beleevers run to God in time of trouble for comfort and ſtrength. Pſal. 119.94. I am thine, ſave me: Dan. 9.18. Behold our deſolations, and the City that is called by thy name.

Laſtly, 4It is evident from our intereſt alſo in Chriſt; the beleever is eſpouſed to him as an husband, 2 Cor. 11.2. As the wife hath intereſt and communion in her husbands goods, ſo have we in the gifts of our Lord and husband Jeſus Chriſt; he is made of God unto us, wiſdom and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification and redemption: Elkanah a kind husband, comforted and encouraged Hannah in the day of her great trouble and reproach, 1 Sam. 1.8. ſo the Lord Jeſus comforteth and encourageth beleevers in a time of trouble. David by power and ſtrength reſcued his wives that were carried away by his enemies, 1 Sam. 30.18. So our Lord and husband recovereth beleevers out of the ſnare of temptation, by renewing in them the acts of repentance, and ſtrengthening them to break aſunder the cords of iniquity; thus he recovered Peter with a look of power piercing into his heart; he reſcueth alſo his oppreſſed ſervants out of the hands of oppreſſors: Iſa. 54.4, 5. Fear not for thou ſhalt not be aſhamed, for thy maker is thine huſband; the Lord of hoſts is his Name.

Qu. Means by which the Spirit ſtrengthens.It is true, the Spirit of Chriſt is the worker of our ſtrength, both for doing and alſo in doing; but by what means doth the Spirit ſtrengthen us to withſtand outward and inward temptations?

Anſ. 1. 1By ſtrengthening our faith in the Promiſes; the ſtronger our faith is, we have the more ſtrength and courage p. 347to ſtand againſt temptations: It was a great trial for Abraham to forſake his own Countrey and kinsfolks, and to go he knew not whither; yet being ſtrong in the faith, he overcame the temptations of many difficulties and diſcouragements: faith to the promiſe of a better inheritance ſtrengthened his heart againſt all difficulties. Heb. 11.8. The offering up of his ſonne Iſaac was a great trial; many temptations had he from fleſh and blood to the contrary, yet his faith to the promiſe ſtrengthened him againſt them; for he beleeved that God was able to raiſe up his ſonne Iſaac from the dead, Heb. 11.17.19. As in the natural body ſtrength is conveyed from the head to the ſeveral members by the nerves, ſo ſtrength is derived from Chriſt our head to all his members by faith.

2. The Lord ſtrengthens us againſt temptations, 2by putting his fear in our hearts: It is ſaid 2 Chron 23.19. Jehojadah ſet porters at the gates of the houſe of the Lord, that none who was unclean ſhould enter; ſo the fear of God is a ſtrong porter to hold out temptations from forcing our will: It reſtrains from ſecret ſinnes; How can I do this (ſaid Joſeph) and ſinne againſt God? from wronging our neigbour though no creature ſhould know it. Lev. 19.14. Thou ſhalt not curſe the deaf, nor put a ſtumbling block before the blinde, but ſhalt fear thy God: It ſtrengthens to reſiſt temptations, though no creature would or durſt controll us; Nohemiah was a governour of great power and authority, and might without controlment have been chargeable to the people, as the former governours had been, but ſo did not he, becauſe of the fear of God, Neh. 5.15. Ob. But fear weakens the heart, and how can the heart be ſtrengthened by it? Anſ. It is true, a faithleſſe fear weakens the heart in an hour of temptation, ſo that it yeelds; Pilat's fear to diſpleaſe Caeſar, made him a weak Judge in yeelding to the importunate cries of a miſled multitude, and for fear of man to condemn the innocent Sonne of God; but the godly and awfull fear of God, ſtrengthens the ſpirit of a man that he ſtands out againſt the temptation of humane and worldly fear. Exod. 1.17. The midwives p. 348feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them.

3. 3The Lord ſtrengthens us by the ſenſe of his love in our hearts, and by our love to himſelf. 2 Tim. 1.7. God hath not given us the ſpirit of fear, but the ſpirit of power, of love and of a ſound minde. The ſpirit of power and of love ſtabliſheth the heart againſt temptations: The ſenſe of the love of Chriſt in carrying our ſorrowes on the Croſſe, is a cordial to ſtrengthen our hearts againſt the bitterneſſe of the cup of affliction; Shall not we taſte of the cup whereof our Lord drank the drugg to the bottom? the ſenſe of his love in ſuffering for us, ſtrengthens our hearts cheerfully to ſuffer what is his good will; the Lord ſtrengthens us againſt temptations and difficulties, by kindling in our hearts love to himſelf; Jacob's love to Rachel ſtrengthened and encouraged him againſt the heat of the day and cold of the night; ſo our love to Chriſt will ſtrengthen us againſt all temptations and diſcouragements; his love covereth the multitude of our infirmities, and therefore many waters ſhould not quench our love to him.

4. 4The Lord ſtrengthens the members of his myſtical body, by a lively hope and aſſurance of victory in and over all temptations and enemies. Gen. 3.15. The ſeed of the woman ſhall bruiſe the head of the Serpent; as our Lord did this in his own perſon, ſo by his Spirit he doth it in his members. Rom. 16.20. The God of peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your feet ſhortly: Aſſured hope of victory is a powerfull mean to ſtrengthen the heart in the day of conflict; hope is the Anchor that ſtabliſheth our hearts amidſt all the waves of afflictions, againſt outward temptations in the world from cruel oppreſſors. Jer. 31.16, 17. Thus ſaith the Lord, refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy work ſhall be rewarded ſaith the Lord, and they ſhall come again from the land of the enemies, and there is hope in thine end ſaith the Lord, that thy children ſhall come again to their own border: hope ſtrengthens the heart in time of fainting under preſent great troubles. 2 Cor. 4.17, 18. and it ſtrengthens the p. 349heart againſt the inward diſquietneſſe of ſpirit. Pſal. 43.5. Why art thou diſquieted within me, O my ſoul; hope in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him.

This Doctrine ſerveth for Admonition to the children of God, Ʋſe 1 Depend not on thine own ſtrengtht in the prrformance of any duty.Seeing all our ſtrength for doing and ſuffering cometh from Jeſus Chriſt our head; Go never to any commanded duty or againſt any temptation in the confidence of thy own ſtrength; It is not enough thou haſt an ability given thee of God for acting, but thou muſt alſo have actuall ſtrength in the acting: Though the ſeeds of grace be ſown in the heart at our regeneration, yet the fruits are not brought forth for Gods glory and our comfort, until the Lord blow upon the ſeed-bed planted by his own hand, Can. 4.16. Blow upon my Garden (ſaith the Spouſe) that the Spices thereof may flow out; Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat of his pleaſant fruits; as fire under the aſhes giveth out no light until it be blown upon; ſo grace received doth not exert it ſelf in any gracious act except the Lord blow on it; In all thy encounters with temptations do as David did in his going out againſt Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.45. I come againſt thee in the Name of the Lord; It was Peters fault that he was confident in his own ſtrength, that though all men ſhall be offended becauſe of thee, yet will I never be offended, ſaid he, Mat. 26.33. but in the hour of temptation his own ſtrength failed him, Mat. 26.74.

Obj. Three cauſes why the children of God ſuccumb in one temptation and ſtand in another.What maketh the ſtrength of Gods children to abate in the hour of temptation, that at one time they reſiſt great temptations, and at another time they ſuccumb to leſſer temptations; Peter at the voice of a ſilly Damoſell denieth his Lord, but at another time before the Councill of Prieſts and Rulers confeſſeth him, notwithſtanding all their threatnings. Act. 4.

Anſw. There be three Cauſes ſpecially of this abatement.

1. A too deep ſenſe of the evil feared in the creature, 1or a vehement deſire of the apparent good in the creature; Exceſſe p. 350of fear benums and oppreſſeth the ſpirits of men that it is not active to withſtand the temptation, but becomes dull and paſſive to cloſe with the temptation; Abrahams fear weakened his ſtrength of ſpirit, and made him diſſemble twice in the court of Egypt and Gerar; Davids fear weakened his courage, and made him diſſemble and counterfeit himſelf mad before Achiſh King of Gath, 1 Sam. 23.13. And the vehement deſire of good in the creature doth ſo exhauſt the ſpirit that it becomes weak to reſiſt the temptations, Rachels vehement deſire after poſterity expoſed her to the temptations of diſcontentment with her own husband, and of envy at her ſiſters condition.

2. 2Vain confidence of our own wit, and dexterity to uſe and manage grace received, provokes God to ſuſpend his aſſiſting grace, and the ſupply of his Spirit for ſtrengthening us in the act, as is evident in Peters weakneſſe and yeelding to the temptation in the denial of his Lord.

3. 3Neglect of the means makes our ſtrength to abate; Praier is a ſpeciall means whereby we implore ſtrength from God in an hour of temptation, Mat. 26.41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; When Moſes held up his hands, Iſrael prevailed, and when he let down his hands Amalek prevailed, Exo. 17.11. So when we become negligent of praier, our corruption prevails, and we ſuccumb to the temptation; Neglect of praier is the obſtructing of our intelligence and correſpondence with heaven from whence only cometh our help in the hour of temptation; For our adverſary the devil takes the opportunity to aſſail us when he perceives there is no entercourſe between us and the Captain of our ſalvation, by praier from us, and by ſupply of the ſpirit from him; Neglect of hearing and reading the Word makes our ſtrength to abate; The Word is the Sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6. and the man who hath no care to hide Gods Word in his heart is like a naked Souldier without his weapons expoſed to the fury and violence of every temptation; The Word of God is both the ſeed of the new life, and the milk, whereby it is entertained, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. when the children p. 351of God become negligent of hearing and reading the Word of God, they fall into a conſumption of their ſpiritual vigour and ſtrength, like young children growing weak, and pining away by their abſtinence from the breaſt.

It ſerveth for a ground of Exhortation; Ʋſe 2 Seeing all our ſtrength lieth in our head the Lord Jeſus, Go to Chriſt for ſtrength in new duties an new temptations.Let us he ſtirred up to go to him for renewed ſtrength in new duties and in new temptations, and that upon theſe motives.

1. Becauſe it is not in mans power to direct his ſteps in his bodily motion, Jer. 10.23. 1farre leſſe in his ſpiritual courſe toward heaven, which requires a more ſpeciall help, and therefore with the Apoſtle 2 Theſ. 2.17. we ſhould pray that the Lord would ſtabliſh us in every good word and work.

2. 2There is a neceſſity of a new ſupply of ſtrength for every new act, becauſe our underſtandings wax dimme, and therefore have need of a new touch of that eye-ſalve ſpoken of, Rev. 3.17. as proſpective glaſſes are wiped, whenever of new we make uſe of them; So when ever we go to hear or reade the Word we have great need that the dimneſſe caſt up by our foul affections may be wiped away; and to pray with David, Pſa. 119.27. Make me to underſtand the way of thy precepts: Our will and affections though ſometime in former duties they be bended and fixed, yet like the paces of a clock in a ſhort time they runne out, and therefore in new duties we have need of renewed ſtrength to get our ſtragling affections retired, bended upward and ſet on God and our duty.

Obj. Means to be uſed to obtain new ſtrength.What means ſhall we uſe for attaining ſtrength in an hour of temptation.

Anſ. 1. Be humble under the ſenſe of thy own weakneſſe, 1for God giveth this grace of ſtrength to the humble; when a man is proud of his own ſtrength the Lord in juſtice deſerts him, and then both himſelf and others ſees how weak the bottom is whereon he ſtands.

p. 3522. 2Be not ſo much affected with the ſenſe either of temptation or of thy own weakneſſe, as with faith into the ſtrength of Chriſt; By faith we draw ſtrength from Chriſt; Faith in the Inviſible God did ſtrengthen Moſes to overcome his temptation from preſent and viſible fears, Hebr. 11.27. Faith in Chriſt and hope of the rich recompence of reward ſtrengthened. Moſes to bear the reproach of Chriſt, Heb. 11.26.

3. 3Praier is a ſpeciall means to obtain ſtrength from God, Pſa. 138.3. In the day when I cried thou anſweredſt me, and strengthnedſt me with ſtrength in my ſoul; the Lord gave unto him a return of his praier by putting ſtrength and courage in his ſoul to ſtand in the hour of temptation, 2 Cor. 12.9. Paul praied again and again, God heard him and perfected his ſtrength in his weakneſſe; Go to God for ſtrength in the beginning of a Temptation. When Peter began to ſink then he began to cry unto the Lord; The Diſciples in the lake did not awake our Lord before the Ship was full of waves; Delay to run to God for ſtrength in the beginning of a temptation makes it ſtronger and us weaker.

Here is ground of comfort and encouragement to a beleever trembling under the ſenſe of his own weakneſſe, Ʋſe 3 Comforts againſt our wickedneſſe & the ſtrength of temptations.and under the fear of ſtrong and violent temptations; Comfort thy ſelf with theſe following conſiderations.

1. Conſider, thy Lord and head Jeſus Chriſt hath an infinite ſtrength; 1As he is of the ſame infinite eſſence with the Father, ſo he is of infinite ſtrength with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt our Lord is called the Almighty, Rev. 1.8. & 15.3. Out of this infinite ſtrength thy Lord is able to furniſh thee in a time of triall with proportionable ſtrength againſt all the aſſaults of the devil on all hands; As thy adverſary renews his force, ſo thy Lord can and will renew ſtrength, 2 Corinth. 1.5. As the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4.16. For which cauſe we faint not, but though cur outward man periſh yet the inward man is renewed day by day: Though affections may weaken the outward man, yet the p. 353inner man groweth in ſtrength from day to day by a continued influence from Chriſt his head; As our Lord is of an infinite ſo of an everlaſting ſtrength; He is Jehovah our righteouſneſſe, Jer. 23.6. and In the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength, Iſa. 26.4. his ſtrength is not as Sampſons which departed for a time, but as he liveth for ever, ſo his ſtrength endures for ever. Iſa. 40.28. Haſt thou not known, hast thou not heard that the everlaſting God the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary? Though thou faint and weary oftentimes under thy burthen, yet comfort thy ſelf in this, thy Lord faints not, he wearieth not to bear thee up with arms of everlaſting ſtrength, he can ſtrengthen thee by his ſpirit in the inward man, not only to patience for a time, but alſo to all long-ſuffering with joyfulneſſe, Col. 1.11.

2. Conſider the ſtiles he takes to himſelf, 2He is called the rock whereupon beleevers are built and eſtabliſhed, Mat. 16.18. A strong rock to defend; a high rock to which neither the power nor ſubtlety of hell can reach; a living rock furniſhed with all things neceſſary and comfortable to beleevers that in a day of trouble run to him, and abide in him; He is called the Captain of the Hoſts of the Lord, Joſh. 5.14. He hath a directing power over the good Angels to miniſter for thy good, and he hath a reſtraining power over devils and wicked men; He reſtraineth Satan from doing any thing againſt the life of his Servant, Job 2.6. He puts a hook in the noſtriſs of Senacherib, and forceth him to leave the purſuit of his people, Iſa. 37.29. He reſtrained Laban from ſpeaking an evil word to Jacob at the time he intended much miſchief, Gen. 31.24. He reſtrained Abimelech from wronging Sarah, Gen. 20.3. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is called the Captain of our ſalvation, Heb. 2.10. As Souldiers take courage and ſtrength from looking to their Captains leading them on againſt the Enemy, ſo a beleever in a day of temptation looks to Chriſt and gets ſtrength. Pſa. 34.5. They looked unto him, and were lightned, and their faces were not aſhamed, Heb. 12.3. Conſider him that endured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelf, leſt ye be wearied and faint in your mindes: The look of faith p. 354to Chriſt doth ſtrengthen a Beleever with comfort from the merit of his ſufferings, that hath taken away the courſe and wrath which is the ſoul of ſuffering, and alſo doth ſtrengthen a beleever from his example with patience and ſubmiſſion to the will of God; for when he ſuffered he threatned not, but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly, 1 Pet. 2.23. It is a great comfort in all our fightings to conſider we have ſuch a Captain, excellent in conduct; He will not put his new and untrained Souldiers to hard duties at the firſt; when he delivered his people out of Egypt, Exod. 13.17. He led them not through the way of the Land of the Philiſtines, leſt the people ſhould repent when they ſee the warre, and this leader was Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10.9. our skilfull and compaſſionate Captain puts not new converts lately come out of Egypt to hard trials at firſt, but after he hath trained them up in ſome bickerings againſt leſſe temptations, he ſets them out againſt the fierce aſſaults of Satan, the world, and the fleſh; and when the ſore trials come; Praiſe him in his wiſedom that ſent not the greater until he had trained thee up in leſſer trials; And when thou comeſt to the Shock thy Captain will ſend a new ſupply, 2 Sam. 10.11. Joab could ſay to his Brother Abiſhai: If the children of Ammon be too ſtrong for thee, then will I come and help thee; Much more maiſt thou be confident that thy elder brother the Captain of thy ſalvation will help thee againſt thy ſpiritual enemies that are too ſtrong for thee.

3. 3Conſider, Thy Lord as he is able, ſo is he willing to ſtrengthen and help thee; For his promiſe is the revelation of his will, Iſaiah 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, in the Originall it is, They ſhall change their ſtrength; Like Souldiers put on hard ſervice and relieved by others, having order from their Commander in chief; So the Captain of our ſalvation Jeſus Chriſt in time of a ſore conflict ſends forth his Spirit with a freſh ſupply of ſtrength and comfort to the p. 355inner man, Iſaiah 41.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee, I will ſtrengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteouſneſſe, Pſal. 37.24. Though a good man fall, yet ſhall he not be utterly caſt down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand: The Prophet ſpeaketh of falling into temptations, and tels us that it is the Lord that by his ſtrength upholds up that we fall not under the power of temptation; though the temptation make an aſſault upon them, yet they fall not under it.

4. 4Conſider his practice in helping and ſtrengthening his Servants in time of need, 1 Samuel 30.6. David was greatly diſtreſſed, for the people ſpoke of ſtoning him, but David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God; By faith he received courage from God who hath promiſed never to fail nor to forſake; He ſtrengthened his faithfull witneſſe Stephen againſt the malice and perſecution of all his Antagoniſts; They were not able to reſiſt the wiſedom and the ſpirit by which he ſpake; he ſtrengthened Paul in a time when many enemies appeared, but few or no Friends, 2 Tim. 4.17. No man ſtood with me, notwithſtanding the Lord ſtood mith me and ſtrengthened me; To this purpoſe much is ſpoken in the Martyrologies, and records of the ſtrength and courage of bleſſed Martyrs wonderfully ſupported amidſt cruell torments to the aſtoniſhment of tormentors, and the admiration of all beholders; In the third perſecution under the Emperour Hadrian, Fauſtinus and Jobita Citizens of the City of Biria ſuffered with ſo great patience and ſtrength of ſpirit, that one Celicerius at the ſight thereof cried out with theſe words, Verè magnus Deus Chriſtian…rum, Verily great is the God of the Christians: In the eighth Perſecution under Valerianus the bleſſed Martyr Lawrence being laid on a hot grate of Iron, after he had lain for ſome ſpace boyling in the fire, ſupported by an extraordinary ſtrength of ſpirit, he cried out, O Tyrant, this ſide is roſted enough, turn over the other: At the ſight of his patience and courage a Romane Souldier then preſent was converted p. 356to the Chriſtian Faith, and deſired to be baptized of Lawrence; for which he was called before the Judge, was ſcourged and afterward beheaded; Tertullian in his Apology for Chriſtians ſaith, Tertullian.that their patience and courage in ſuffering, which Heathens and Perſecutors called obſtinacy, was a reall and magiſterial inſtruction of many in the Chriſtian faith.

It ſerveth for Inſtruction; Ʋſe 4 As we would have ſtrength from Chriſt in a day of trial, 11. Seek his face and his strength. Pſal. 105.4. Seek ye the Lord and his ſtrength, ſeek his face evermore; ſeek firſt the favour of God, and reconciliation in the blood of the Mediator, then maiſt thou be confident of ſtrength and ſupply in an hour of temptation.

Ob. But doth not the Lord protect even wicked men many times, though they be not reconciled to him?

Anſw. The Lord grants unto them a general protection in a time of outward troubles; as a Judge guarding and protecting a condemned malefactor from the violence of private avengers of blood, until the day he be brought forth to publick execution; but he protects thoſe, with whom he is reconciled, by a ſpecial protection of grace, as a father doth his weak and ſick children, until they be confirmed in health and ſtrength: The Lord protects them ſometimes from falling under the power of a temptation, and at other times if they fall, he reſtores them by repentance, that they lye not and live not under the bondage of temptation.

2. 2As thou wouldſt have ſtrength to ſuſtain thee, when ever God calls thee to a duty though hard to fleſh and blood, Go about it with all diligence, decline it not out of fear of perſonal weakneſſe; if thou meet thy God in the way of obedience to his call, thy God ſhall meet thee with ſtrength at the time of thy greateſt need; Moſes out of fear of weakneſſe at firſt declined that charge to ſpeak unto Pharaoh, yet he no ſooner went about it actively, but God furniſhed him with ſtrength in the diſcharge of it: Stephen did not decline p. 357a diſpute with men of contentious and violent ſpirits when God called him to it, and the Lord filled him with ſuch a ſtrong meaſure of wiſedom that they were not able to anſwer him, Acts 6. according to that promiſe of our Lord, Luke 12.11, 12. When they bring you into Synagogues, unto Magiſtrates and Princes, take ye no thought, how or what ye ſhall anſwer, or what ye ſhall ſay: Our Lord doth not prohibit all premeditation of what we ſhould ſpeak, but only an anxious ſolicitude that perturbs the judgment, and diſables men in a day of trial, when men will truſt nothing to a divine aſſiſtance, unleſſe they be very ſtrong in their ſtudied preparations and defences: It is our beſt courſe to wait on the Lord, who in his own due time will give ſtrength and comfort when our extremity is greateſt; ſome Martyrs have complained heavily to God againſt themſelves, for want of courage in the time of their impriſonment; yet in the day they were taken out to the place of execution, they no ſooner ſaw the fire, but incontinent they cried out with joy, venit, venit, the ſpirit is come, he is come.

Laſtly, Ʋſe 5 It ſerveth for Direction how to carry thy ſelf after that in the Lords ſtrength thou haſt ſtood and withſtood a temptation, Directions to conquerors in any temptations.or after thou haſt done any ſervice acceptable to the Lord,

Firſt, Give all praiſe to the Lord, and ſay with the Church, 1Pſal. 44.3. They got not their land in poſſeſſion by their own ſword, neither did their own arm ſave them, but thy right hand and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, becauſe thou hadſt a favour unto them: Haſt thou at any time reſiſted a ſtrong and violent temptation? bleſſe God who girdeth thee with ſtrength; it may be in theſe ſad times thou maiſt ſay of thy ſelf as Jacob ſaid of his ſonne Joſeph, Gen. 48.23. The archers have ſorely grieved thee, and ſhot at thee, and hated thee, yet praiſe thy Lord who gave ſtrength and courage to thy ſpirit, that thou maiſt ſay alſo from the experience of Gods aſſiſting and ſtrengthening preſence; Thy bow abode in ſtrength, and the arms of thine hand were p. 358made ſtrong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; It may be thou haſt ſtood, when others by all appearance ſtronger then thou have fallen; bleſſe thy God who by his ſtrength only made thee to differ from others in an hour of temptation: The weakneſſe of God is ſtronger then men, 1 Cor. 1.25. Gods ſtrength in his weakneſſe is farre above the ſtrength of moral abilities in men that are counted the able men in this world: It may be at one time thou haſt reſiſted a mighty temptation, when at another time thou haſt fallen fouly under the power of a leſſer; bleſſe God in his ſtrength, who makes thee to differ from thy ſelf, who art by nature weak and ready at all times to be carried about with every wind of temptation.

2. 2After God hath given thee ſome victory over any temptation, be not ſecure, but watch and pray that thou be not led into a new temptation: Satan watches for a new opportunity from thy ſecurity or pride of thy former victory; he departed from the Captain of our ſalvation but for a ſeaſon, Luk. 4. though he had no hope to prevail by his temptations; thou maiſt be ſure though he be repulſed by thee at one time, and put from poſſeſſion, yet thou canſt never put him from obſeſſion and moleſting thee with aſſaults; for he thinks ſo long as his correſpondent thy corruption is within thee, poſſibly he may get entrance and prevail: It was a good and ſeaſonable counſel of the Prophet to the King of Iſrael after his late victory over the Aſſyrians, 1 Kings 20.21, 22. The Prophet came to the King of Iſrael and ſaid unto him, Go, ſtrengthen thy ſelf, and mark, and ſee what thou doſt, for at the return of the year the King of Syria will come up againſt thee: So ſay I; Still ſtrengthen thy ſelf in the Lord, mark and obſerve the approaches of temptation, thy enemy will rally his forces again, and come not only at the return of a new year, but at the return of a day, or a night, yea of an hour. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to preſent p. 359you faultleſſe before the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy; To the only wiſe God our Saviour, be glory and majeſty, dominion and power now and for ever. Amen.