he doth not o ly say, * Just is the Lord in all that hath befallen me,' but ' Good is the Lord.' This is to be contented. A sullen melancholy is hateful. It is said, " God loveth a cheerful giver," 2 Cor. ix. 7., aye, and God loves a cheerful liver. We are bid in scripture, " not to be careful," but we are not bid not to be cheerful. He that is contented with his condition, doth not abate of his spiritual joy ; and indeed he hath that within him which is the ground of cheerfulness ; he carries a pardon sealed in his heart, Mat. ix. 2.
Character 3d. A contented spirit is a thankful spirit. This is a degree above the other; " In every thing giving thanks,'* 1 Thess. v. 18. A gracious heart spies mer- cy in every condition, therefore hath his heart screwed vip to thankfulness; others will bless God for prosperity, he blesseth him for affliction. Tlius he reasons with himself: Am I in want? God sees it better for me to want than to abound ; God is now dieting of me, he sees it better for my spiritual health sometimes to be kept fast- ing ; therefore he doth not only submit but is thankful. The malcontent is ever com- plaining of his condition; the contented spirit is ever giving thanks. O what height of grace is this ! A contented heart is a temple where the praises of God are sung forth, not a sepulchre wherein they are bu- ried. A contented Christian in the greatest straits hath his heart enlarged and dilated in thankfulness; lie oft contemplates God's love in election ; he sees that he is a mo- nument of mercy, therefore desires to be a pattern of praise. There is always gratu- latory music in a contented soul ; the Spirit of grace works in the heart like new wine, which under the heaviest pressures of sor- row will have a vent open for thankfulness this is to be content.
Character 4th. He that is content, no condition comes amiss to him ; so it is in the text, " in whatever state I am." A contented Christian can turn himself to any thing; either want or abound. The people of Israel knew neither how to abound, nor yet how to want ; when they were in want they murmured ; " Can God prepare a table in the wilderness ?" and when thcv ate, and were filled, then they lifted up the heel.
ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.'
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Paul knew liow to manage every state ; he could be either a note higher or lower ; he was, in this sense, an universalist, he could do any thing that God would have him ; if he were in prosperity, he knew how to be thankful ; if in adversity, he knew how to be patient ; he was neither lifted up with the one, nor cast down with the other. He could carry a greater sail, or lesser. Thus a contented Christian knows how to turn himself to any condition. We have those who can be contented in some condition, but not in every estate : they can be con- tent in a wealthy estate, when they have the streams of milk and honey ; while God's candle shines upon their head, now they are content, but if the wind turn and be a- gainst them, now they are discontented. While they have a silver crutch to lean up- on, they are contented ; but if God breaks this crutch, now they are discontented. But Paul had learned in every estate to carry himself with an equanimity of mind. Others could be content with their afflic- tion, so God would give them leave to pick and choose. They could be content to bear such a cross ; they could better endure sickness than poverty, or bear loss of estate than loss of children ; if they might have such a man's cross they could be content. A contented Christian doth not go to choose his cross, but leaves God to choose for him ; he is content both for the kind and the du- ration. A contented spirit saith, '• Let God apply what medicine he pleaseth, and let it lie on as long as it will ; I know when it hath done its cure, and eaten the venom of sin out of my heart, God will take it off again." In a word, a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the autho- rity of the word, desires to be wholly at God's disposal, and is willing to live in that sphere and climate where God has set liira : And if at any time he hath been an instru- ment of doing noble and brave service in the public, he knows he is but a rational tool, a servant to authority, and is content to return to his former condition of life. Cincinnatus, after he had done worthil)', and purchased to himself great fame in his dictatorship, did notwithstanding afterwards voluntarily return to till and manure his four acres of ground : thus should it be
with Christians, professing godliness with contentment, having served Mars, daring to offend Jupiter ; lest otherwise they dis- cover only to the world a brutish valour, being so untamed and liead-strong, that when they had conquered others, yet they ai*e not able to rule their own spirits.