SECT. XVIII.

RULE 18.

Be much in Prayer.

THE last rule for contentment is-Be much in Prayer. Beg of God, that he will work our hearts to this blessed frame. Is any man afflicted? let him pray, Jam. v. 13. So, is any man discontented? let him pray. Prayer gives vent. The opening of a vein lets out the bad blood: when the heart is filled with sorrow and disquiet, prayer gives ease to the mind. The key of prayer, oiled with tears, unlocks the heart of all its discontents. Prayer is an holy spell or charm, to drive away trouble; prayer is the unbosoming of the soul, the unloading of all our cares on God's breast; and this ushers in sweet contentment. When there is any burden upon our spirits, by opening our mind to a friend, we find our heart greatly eased and quieted. It is not our strong resolutions, but our strong requests, to God, which must give the heart ease in trouble. By prayer, the strength of Christ is brought into the soul; and where that is, a man is able to go through any condition. Paul could be in every state content: but, that you may not think he was able to do this of himself, he tells you, that though he

could want and abound, and do all things, yet it was through Christ strengthening him, Phil. iv. 13. It is the child that writes, but it is the scrivener guides his hand. St. Paul arrived at the hardest duty in religion, viz. contentment; but the Spirit was his pilot, and Christ his strength; and this strength was ushered in by holy prayer. Prayer is a powerful orator. Prayer is an orator with God, and a preventative against sin. The best way is to pray

down discontent. What Luther saith of concupiscence, I may say of discontent; prayer is a sacred leech, to suck out the venom and swelling of this passion. Prayer composeth the heart, and brings it into tune. Hath God deprived you of many comforts? Bless God that he left you the spirit of

prayer.

SECT. XV.

USE 6.

Comfort to the contented Christian.

THE last Use is of comfort, or an encouraging word to the contented Christian. If there be an heaven upon earth, thou hast it. O Christian! thou mayest insult over thy troubles; and, with the Leviathan, laugh at the shaking of the spear, Job, xli. 29. What shall I say? Thou art a crown to thy pro

fession: thou dost hold it out to all the world, that there is virtue enough in religion to give the soul contentment. Thou showest height of grace. When grace is crowning, it is not so much for us to be content; but when grace is conflicting, and meets with crosses and losses, temptations and pains, now to be content-this is a glorious thing indeed!

To a contented Christian I shall say two things for a farewell

First, God is exceedingly taken with such a frame of heart. God saith of a contented Christian, as David once said of Goliah's sword-There is none like that; give it me, 1 Sam. xxi. 9. If you would please God, and be men of his heart, be contented. It is said, that Rebecca made Isaac savoury meat, such as her husband loved; would you give to God that which he loves, bring him that of contentment. The musician hath many lessons to play, but he hath one above all the rest; there are many lessons of holy music that delights God; the lesson of repentance, humility, and patience. But this lesson of contentment is the sweetest lesson that a believer can play. But God hates a forward spirit.

Secondly, the contented Christian shall be no loser. What lost Job by his patience? God gave him three times as much as he had before. What lost Abraham by his contentment? He was content to leave his country

at God's call; the Lord makes a covenant with him, that he would be his God for ever, Gen. xvii. He changeth his name; thou shalt no more be called Abram, but Abraham, the Father of many nations. God makes his seed as the stars of heaven; nay, honours him with this title The Father of the Faithful, Gen. xviii. 17. The Lord makes known his secrets to him-Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I will do? Ged settles a rich inheritance upon him; that land which was a type of heaven, and afterwards translated him into the blessed Paradise. God will be sure to reward the contented Christian. As our Saviour said in another case to Nathaniel -Because I said I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these, John, i. 50. So I say-Art thou contented, O Christian! with a little? Thou shalt see greater things than these: God will distil the sweet influences of his love into thy soul; he will raise thee up friends he will bless the oil in the cruise; and, when that is done, he will crown thee with an eternal enjoyment of himself; he will give thee heaven, where thou shalt have as much contentment as thy soul can possibly thirst after.

Lastly, For the comfort and encouragement of all true Christians, I would recommend the following useful and important instructions, on the great blessings and advantages derived from Christian communion and church fellowship.

THE highest and sweetest of all human fellowship, out of heaven, is the fellowship of a gospel church formed after the model of the Holy Scriptures: the ordinances of God's house, and the means of grace in general, are calculated to draw the hearts of a multitude to one centre; where, being all attracted by one object, and all attentive to one subject, all informed from one fountain of light, all supplied from one fountain of mercy and grace, and all filled with delight from one fountain of everlasting and infinite love, their hearts and sentiments coalesce at once, and they become, though many, as it were but one. On this

account, a name and a place in God's house is said to be better than the dearest and most honourable fruits of mere natural life, sons and daughters;' because the enjoyments and true honours arising from fellowship with the people of God are superior to those which spring from any other branch of social life on earth.

If this be true, how highly unlovely is it for any Christian, who deserves that honourable name, to make light of that divinely constituted relation! The Scripture speaks of believers being added to the church daily, and explains this in another place, by the following unequivocal and expressive sentence: They first gave themselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.' Their uniting