content of liis heart, es'ery one lisns out Ins trouDle, and here even tne stamme»'int5 tongue speaks too freely and tluentiy. if we have not what we desir*', God shall not have a good look from us, but presently we are sick of discontent, ana readv to d\e out of an humour. If God will not forgive the people of Israel for their lusts, thev bid him take their lives; they must have quails to their manna. Ahab, thoujih a kingf — and one would think his crown-lands liad been sufficient for him — yet is sullen and discontented for Naboth's vineyard. Jonah though a good man and a propliet, yet ready to die in a pet, Jon. iv. 8. And because God killed his gourd, kill me too, saith he. Rachel, " give me children, or I die ," she had many blessings, if she could have seen them, but wanted this contentation. God will supply our wants, but must he satisfy our lusts too? Many are discontented for a very trifle ; another hath a better dress, a richer jewel, a newer fashion. Nero, not content with his empire, was troubled that the musician had more skill in playing than he. How fantastic are some, that pine away in discontent for the want of those things, which if they had, would but render them more ridiculous !
Chap. X. Use HI. A Suasive to Con- tentment.
It exhorts us to labour for contentation ; this is that which doth beautify and be- spangle a Christian, and as a spiritual em- broidery, doth set him off in the eyes of the world.
Ob J. But methinks I hear some bitterly complaining^ and saying to me, Alas ! how is it possible to be contented ? " Tke Lord hath made my chain heavy" Lam. iii. 7. ' He hath cast me into a very sad condition.*
Ans. There is no sin, but labours either to hide itself under some mask ; or, if it cannot be concealed, then to vindicate it- self by some apology. This sin of discon- tent I find very witty in its apologies, which I shall first discover, and then m.ike a re- ply. We must lay it down as a rule, that discontent is a sin ; so that all the pre- tences, and apologies wherewith it labours to justify itself, are but the painting and dressing of a strumpet.
ART OF DIVINE COXTENTMEXT.
C9l
The first apolog^y wliicli discontent makes is tins ; I have lost a cliild. Paulina, upon the loss of her children, was so possessed wit!) a spirit of sadness, that she had like to have entombed herself in her own dis- cojitent ; our love to relations is oftentimes more than our love to religion.
Reply 1. We must be content, not only when God gives mercies, but when he Uikes away. If we must " in every thing give thanks," 1 Thess. v. 18. Then in nothing be discontented.
lU'ply 2. Perhaps God hath taken away the cistern, that he may give you the more of the spring ; he hath darkened the star- litrht, that vou may have more sun-light, (iod intends you shall have more of him- self, 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 pure and sweet.
Reply 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 hath lent him to her. Mercies are not entailed upon us, but lent; what a man lends he may call for again when he ])leases. God hath put out a child to thee a while to nurse ; wilt thou be displeased if he take his child home again ? O be not discontented that a mercy is taken a- way from you, but rather be thankful that it was lent you so long.
Reply 4. Suppose your child to be taken from you, cither 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 away from the evil to come," Isa. Ivii. 1., and placed in his centre of felicity. This lower region is full of gross and hurtful vai>ours ; how happy are those who are mounted into the celestial orbs ! the righteous are taken away, — in the original it is, he is gathered; a wicked child 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.