a Christian; and, as a spiritual embroidery, doth set him off in the eyes of the world.

OBJECT. But methinks I hear some bitterly complaining, and saying to me-"Alas! how is it possible to be contented! the Lord hath made my chain heavy," (Lam. iii. 7.) "he hath cast me into a very sad condition."

ANSW. There is no sin but labours either to hide itself under some mask; or, if it cannot be concealed, then to vindicate itself by some apology. This sin of discontent I find very witty in it's apologies; which I shall first discover, and then make a reply. We must lay it down for a rule, that Discontent is a sinso that all the pretences and apologies wherewith it labours to justify itself, are but the production of satan's temptations.

SECT. I.

The first Apology that Discontent makes-answered.

THE first apology which Discontent makes is this-" I have lost a child." Paulina, upon the loss of her children, was so possessed with a spirit of sadness, that she had like to have entombed herself in her own discontent. Our love to relations is oftentimes more than our love to religion.

ANSW. I. We must be content, not only when God gives mercies, but when he taketh

them away. If we must in every thing give thanks, (1 Thes. v. 18.) then in nothing be discontented.

2. Perhaps God has taken away the cistern, that he may give you the more of the spring; he hath darkened the star-light, that you may have more sun-light. God intends you shall have more of himself; and is not he better than ten sons? Look not so much upon a temporal loss, as a spiritual gain: the comforts of the world run dregs; those which come out of the granary of the Promise, are purer and sweeter.

3. Your child was not given, but lent. I have, saith Hannah, lent my son to the Lord, 1 Sam. i. 28. She lent him! the Lord had but lent him to her. Mercies are not entailed upon us, but lent: what a man lends, he may call for it again when he pleases. God hath put out a child to thee awhile to nurse; wilt thou be displeased if he takes his child home again? O be not discontented that a mercy is taken away from you, but rather be thankful that it was lent you so long.

4. Suppose your child was taken from you, either he was good or bad. If he was rebellious, you have not so much parted with a child as a burden; you grieve for that which might have been a greater grief to you. If he was religious, then remember, he is taken from the evil to come, (Isaiah, lvii. 1.) and placed in his centre of felicity. This lower region being full of gross and hurtful vapours, how

happy are those who are mounted into the celestial orbs! The righteous is taken away— in the original it is, he is gathered; a wicked child dying is cut off, but the pious child is gathered. Even as we see men gather flowers, and candy them, and preserve them by them; so hath God gathered thy child as a sweet flower, that he may candy it with glory, and preserve it by him for ever. Why then should a Christian be discontented? Why should he weep excessively? Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me; but weep for yourselves, Luke, xxiii. 28. So, could we hear our children speaking to us out of heaven, they would say "Weep not for us who are happy; we lie upon a soft pillow, even in the bosom of Christ: the Prince of Peace is embracing us, and kissing us with the kisses of his lips. Be not troubled at our preferment: weep not for us, but weep for yourselves, who are in a sinful, sorrowful world. You are in the valley of tears, but we are on the mountains of spices: we are gotten to our harbour, but you are still tossing upon the waves of inconstancy," O Christian! be not discontented that thou hast parted with such a child, but rather rejoice that thou hadst such a child to part with; break forth into thankfulness. What an honour is it to a parent to beget such a child, that while he lives, increaseth the joy of the glorified angels: and, when he dies, increaseth the number of the glorified saints! Luke, xv. 10.

away one of your

5. If God hath taken children, he hath left you more; he might have stripped you of all. He took away all

Job's comforts, his estate, his children: and, indeed, his wife was left but as a cross. Satan made a bow of this rib, as Chrysostom speaks, and shot a temptation by her at Job, thinking to have shot him to the heart-Curse God, and die, saith she, Job, ii. 9. But Job had upon him the breast-plate of integrity; and, though his children were taken away, yet not his graces; still he is content, still he blessed God. O think how many mercies you still enjoy! yet our base hearts are more discontented at one loss, than thankful for an hundred mercies.

God hath plucked one bunch of grapes from you; but how many precious clusters are left behind ?

ОВЈЕСТ. "But it was my only child, the staff of my age, the seed of my comfort, and the only blossom out of which the honour of an ancient family did grow."

ANSW. 1. God hath promised you-if you belong to him—a name better than of sons and daughters, Isaiah, lvi. 5. Is he dead that should have been the monument to have kept up the name of a family? God hath given you a new name; he hath written your name in the book of life. Behold your spiritual heraldry; here is a name that cannot be cut off. 2. Hath God taken away thy only child? He hath given thee his only Son: this is a

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happy exchange. What needs he complain of losses, that hath Christ? He is his Father's brightness, (Heb. i. 3.) his riches, (Col. ii. 9.) his delight, Psal. xlii. 1.' Is there enough in Christ to delight the heart of God? and is there not enough in him to ravish us with holy delight? He is wisdom to teach us, righteousness to acquit us, sanctification to adorn us; he is that royal and princely gift; he is the bread of angels, Psal. Ixxviii. 25. the joy and triumph of saints; he is all in all. Why, then, art thou discontented? Though thy child be lost, yet thou hast him for whom all things are loss.

3. And, lastly, let us blush to think that Nature should seem to outstrip Grace. Pulvillus, an Heathen, when he was about to consecrate a temple to Jupiter, and news was brought to him of the death of his son, would not desist from his enterprise; but, with much composure of mind, gave order for decent burial.

SECT. II.

The second Apology answered.

THE second apology that Discontent makes, is—“I have a great part of my estate melted away, and trading begins to fail."

God is pleased sometimes to bring his children very low, and cut them short in their es