contentment keeps the heart from fainting. In the autumn, when the fruit and leaves are blown off, still there is sap in the root : when there is an autumn upon our external felicity, the leaves of our estate drop off, still there is the sap of contentment in the heart ; and a Christian hath life inwardly, when his outward comforts do not blossom. The contented heart is nev^er out of heart. Contentation is a golden shield, that doth beat back discouragements. Humility is like the lead to the net which keeps the soul down when it is rising through pas- sion ; and contentment is like the cork which keeps the heart up when it is sink-^ ing through discouragements. Content- ment is the great under-prop ; it is like the beam which bears whatever weight is laid upon it; nay, it is like a rock that breaks the waves. It is strange to observe the eame affliction lying upon two men, how differently they carry themselves under it. Tlie contented Christian is like Samson, that carried away the gates of the city upon his back, Jud. xvi. 3., he can go away with his cross cheerfully, and makes nothing of it; the other is like Issachar, couching down under his burden. Gen. xlix. 14. The reason is, the one is content, and that breeds courage : the other discontented, and that breeds fainting. Discontent swells the grief, and grief breaks the heart. When this sacred sinew of contentment begins to shrink, we go limping under our afflictions ; we know not what burdens God may exer- cise us witli ; let us therefore preserve con- tentment ; as is our contentment, such will be our courage. David with his five stones and his sling defied Goliah, and overcame him. Get but contentment into the slinsr of your heart; and with this sacred stone you may both defy the world and conquer it; you may break those afflictions, which else would break you.
btli Excellency. Contentment prevents many sins and tentations.
Firsf^ It prevents many sins. Where there wants contentment, there wants no sin ; discontentedness with our condition is a sin that doth not go alone, but is like the first link of the chain which draws all the o- ther links along with it. In particular, there are two sins which contentation prevents :
(1.) Impatience. Discontent and impa- tience are two twins : " this evil is of the Lord, why should I wait on the Lord any longer ?" 2 Kings vi. 33. As if God were so lied, that he must give us the mercy just when we desire it. Impatience is no small sin ; as will appear if you consider whence it ariseth. — \st, It is for want of faith. Faith gives a right notion of God ; it is an intelligent grace ; it believes that God's wisdom tempers, and his love swoetens all ingredients ; this works patience : " Shall I not drink the cup which my Father hath given me ?" Impatience is the daughter of infidelity. If a patient have an ill opinion of the physician, and conceits that he comes to poison him, he will take none of his re- ceipts. When we have a prejudice against God, and conceit that he comes to kill us, and undo us, then we storm and cry out, like a foolish man — it is Cln-ysostom's simile — that cries out. Away with the plaster ! though it be in order to a cure ; is it not better that the plaster smart a little, than the wound fester and rankle ? — 2^/, Impa- tience is for want of love to God. We will bear his reproofs whom we love not only patiently, but thankfully, " Love thinketh no evil," 1 Cor. xiii. .'3. It puts the fairest, and most candid gloss upon the actions of a friend, ' Love covers evil.' If it wave possible for God in the least manner to err — which were blasphemy to think — love would cover that error ; love takes every thing in the best sense, it makes us bear any stroke, " It endureth all things," 1 Cor. xiii. 7. Had we love to God, we should have patience. 3g^, Impatience is for want of humility. An impatient man was never humbled under the burden of sin ; he that studies his sins, — the numberless number of them, — hoAV they are twisted together, and sadly accented, — is patient and saith, " I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him," Mic. vii. 9. The greater noise drowns the les- ser ; when the sea roars the rivers are still ; he that lets his thoughts expatiate about sin, is both silent and amazed, he wonders it is no worse with him. How great then is this sin of impatience ! And how excel-» lent is contentation, which is a supersedeas or counterpoise against this sin ? The c
ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
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