Why then should a Christian be discontent- ed ? Why should Ite 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 mountain of spices ; we have 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 glo- rified angels, Luke xx. 10., and when he dies increaseth the number of the glorified saints.
Reply 5. If God hath taken away one ot your children, he hath left you more, he might have spripped you of all. He took away Job's comforts, his estate, his chil- dren ; 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 him shot to the heart ; " curse God and die ;" but Job had upon him the breast-plate of inte- grity ; and though his children were taken away, yet not his graces; still he is eon- tent, still he blesseth God. O think how many mercies you still enjoy ; yet your base hearts arc more discontented at one loss, than thankful for an hundred mercies ! (lod hath ))lucked one bunch of grapes from you ; but how many precious clusters are left behind ?
Ob J. But if was mt/ only child. — the staff of my agf", — the »eed of my comfort, — and the only blossom out of which my ancient family did grow.
Ans. 1. God hath promisee/ you — if vou belong to him — " a name netter ttian ot' sons and daughters," Isa. Ivi. 5. Is he dead that should have been the monument
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to liave kept up the name of a family .'' God liath given you a new name, he hath written your name in tlie book of life ; be- hold your spiritual heraldry ; here is a name that cannot be cut off.
A. 2. Ilath God taken away thy only child ? He hath given thee his only Son : this is a happy exchange. What needs he complain of losses, that hath Chi-ist ? He is his Father's brightness, Heb. i. 3. His riches, Col. ii. 9. His delight, Ps. 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 ac- quit us, — sanctification to adorn us, — he is that royal and princely gift, — he is the bread of angels, — the joy and triumpli of saints, — he is all in all. Col. iii. 10. Why then art thou discontented? Though thy child be lost, yet thou hast him for whom all things are loss.
Heply 7. Let us blush to think that na- ture should outstrip grace. Pulvillus, an heathen, when he was about to consecrate a temple to Jupiter, and news was brought him of the death of his son, would not de- sist from his enterprize, but with much composure of mind gave order for decent burial.
The second apology that discontent makes, is, I have a great part of my estate strange- ly melted away, and trading begins to fail. God is pleased sometimes to bring his chil- dren very low, and cut them short in their estate ; it fares with them as with that wi- dow, who had nothing in her house, " save a pot of oil," 2 Kings iv. 2. But be content. Heply 1. God hath taken away your e- state, but not your portion. This is a sa- cred paradox, honour and estate are no jiart of a Christian's jointure ; they are rather luxuries than essentials, and are extrinsical and foreign ; therefore the loss of those cannot denominate a man miserable, still the portion remains ; " the Lord is my por- tion, saith my soul," Lam, iii. 2i. Suppose one were worth a million ot money, and he should chance to lose a pin off his sleeve, this is no part of his estate, nor can we say he is undone ; the loss of sublunary com- forts is not so much to a Christian's portion, as the loss of a pin is to a million. " These