CHAP. VII.

Reasons pressing to Holy Contentment.

HAVING opened the nature of contentment, I come next to lay down some reasons or arguments to contentment, which may preponderate with us.

The first is, God's precept. It is charged upon us as a duty. Be content with such things as you have, Heb. xiii. 5. The same God who hath bid us believe, hath bid us be content; if we obey not, we run ourselves into a state of discontent. God's word is a sufficient warrant; it hath authority in it, and must be a sacred spell to discontent. Be it so was enough among Pythagoras' scholars-Be it enacted, is the royal style. God's words must be the star that guides, and his will the weight that moves our obedience. His word is a law, and hath majesty enough in it to captivate us into obedience: our hearts must not be more unquiet than the raging sea, which at his word is stilled, Matt. viii. 26.

2. The second reason enforcing contentment is, God's Promise; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, (Heb. xviii. 5.) where God hath engaged himself under hand and seal for our necessary provisions. If a king should say to one of his subjects, I will take care for thee, as long as I have any crown revenues thou shalt be pro

vided for; if thou art in danger I will secure thee; if in want I will supply thee; would not that subject be content?* Behold, God hath here made a promise to the believer, and, as it were, entered into bond for his security. I will never leave thee. Shall not this charm the devil of discontent? Leave thy fatherless children with me, I will preserve them alive, Jerm. xlix. 11. Methinks I see the godly man on his death-bed, much discontented, and hear him complaining what will become

of my wife and children when I am dead and gone. They may come to poverty. God saith, trouble not thyself: be content; I will take care of thy children, and let thy widow trust in me. God hath made a promise to us that he will not leave us, and hath entailed the promise upon our wife and children; and will not this satisfy? True faith will take God's single bond without calling for witnesses.

3. Be content; because our condition in life is according to the will of God, and he sits at the helm of all his providences, to make them subservient to his own glory and the good of mankind.

Let a Christian often think with himself,

*The many exceeding great and precious promises God has left upon record in Holy Writ, for the comfort and encouragement of all that put their trust in him, are as firm and sure as the pillars of heaven, and as lasting as the throne of God. Reader, meditate often on the promises of God. They are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus.

who hath placed me here, whether I am in a higher state or lower; not chance or fortune, as the poor blind heathens imagined. No: it is the all wise God, that hath, by his providence, fixed me in this orb; and we ought to be content in that situation, where he has placed us. Say not such a one hath occasioned this to me. Look not too much at the under wheel. We read in Ezekiel, (i. 16,) of a wheel within a wheel. God's providence is the cause of the turning of the wheels, and his divine influence is the inner wheel that moves all the rest.

God has a design in all his providences, to make all things work together for good to them that love him. Say then, with David, I was silent because thou Lord didst it, Psalm xxxix. 9. God hath set us in our station, and he hath done it in wisdom, and this should be a counterpoise against our discontent. We fancy such a condition in life good for us; whereas, if we were our own carvers, we should often cut the worst piece. Lot being put to his choice, did choose Sodom, Gen. xiii. 10, 11. which soon after was burnt with fire. Rachel was very desirous of children. Give me children, said she, or else I die, Gen. xxx. 1. and it cost her her life in bringing forth a child. Abraham was earnest for Ishmael. O that Ishmael may live before thee, Gen. xvii. 18.

But he had little comfort, either of him or his seed he was born a son of strife; his

hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him. The disciples wept for Christ's leaving the world; they chose his corporeal presence: whereas it was best for them that Christ should be gone, or else the comforter would not come, John xvi. 7. * David desired the life of his child, and he wept and fasted for it; but when he saw it was the will of God to take it, he cries out, in the language of holy submission, I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me, 2 Sam. xii. 23. We often stand in our own light; if we should sort or parcel out our own comforts, we should hit upon the wrong. Is it not well for the child, that the parent should choose for it? Were it left to itself, it would, perhaps, choose a knife to cut its own fingers. A man in a fit calls for wine, which, if he had it, were little better than poison. It is well for the patient that he is at the physician's appointment. The consideration of God's over-ruling providence, in all our concerns in life, should work our hearts to holy contentment. The wise God hath ordered our condition. If he sees it better for us to abound, we shall abound; if he sees it better for us to want, we shall want. Be content to be at

* There is something in the human breast naturally prone to grieve at the loss of relations and friends; but a humble submission to the will of God is a counterpoise against all excessive sorrow, and will enable us to say, with holy Job, the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.

God's disposal. God sees, in his infinite wisdom, the same condition is not convenient for all. That which is good for one may be bad for another. One season of weather will not serve all men's occasions. One needs sunshine, another rain. One condition of life will not fit every man, no more than one suit of apparel will fit every body. Prosperity is not fit for all, nor yet adversity. If one man be brought low, perhaps he can bear it better. He hath a greater portion of grace, more faith and patience, he can gather grapes of thorns, and pick some comforts out of the cross. Every one cannot do this. Another man is seated in an eminent place of dignity. He is fitter for it. Perhaps it is a place requiring more parts and judgment, which every one is not capable of. Perhaps he can use his estate better; he hath a public heart as well as a public place. The all wise God sees that condition to be bad for one which is good for another. Hence it is, he placeth men in different orbs and spheres, some higher, some lower. One man desires health. God sees sickness better for him. God will work health out of sickness, by bringing the body of sin into a consumption. Another man desires liberty. God sees restraint better; for he will work his liberty by restraint. When his feet are bound his heart shall be most enlarged. Did we believe this, it would give check to the sinful disputes and cavils of our hearts. Shall be discontented and murmur at the