signifies self-sufficiency. A Christian hath that from within that is able to support him ; that strength of faith, and good hope through grace, as bears up his heart in the deficiency of outward comforts. The philosophers of old, when their estates were gone, yet could take contentment in the goods of the mind, learning and vir- tue ; and shall not a believer much more in the graces of the Spirit, that rich enamel and embroidery of the soul ? Say with thy- self, " if friends leave me, if riches take wings, yet I have that within which com- forts me, viz. an heavenly treasure ; when the blossoms of my estate are blown oflF, still there is the sap of contentment in the root of my heart; I have still an interest in God, and that interest cannot be broken off." O never place your felicity in these dull and beggarly things here below !
Rule 10. Let us often compare our condition.
Quest. How should I compare ?
Ans. Make this five-fold comparison.
Comparison \st. Let us compare our con- dition and our desert together ; if we have not what we desire, we have more than we deserve. For our mercies we have deserv- ed less ; for our afflictions, we have deserv- ed more. ^
First, In regard of our mercies, we have deserved less. What can we deserve ? Can man be profitable to the Almighty? We live upon free grace. Alexander gave a great gift to one of his subjects ; the man being much taken with it, " This," saith he, " is more than I am worthy of." " I do not give thee this," saith the king, " be- cause thou art worthy of it, but I give a gift like Alexander." Whatever we have is not merit, but bounty ; the least bit of bread is more than God owes us; we can bring faggots to our own burning, but not one flower to the garland of our salvation ; he that hath the least mercy, will die in God's debt.
Secondly, In regard of our afflictions, we have deserved more. " Th.ou hast punish- ed us less than our iniquities deserve," Ezra ix. 13. Is our condition sad ? We have de- served it should be worse. Hath God taken away our estate from us ? He might have taken away Christ from us. Hath he thrown us into prison ? he might have thrown us
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into licll ; lie miglit as well damn us, as wliip us; this should make us contented.
Comparison 2d. Let us compare our con- dition with others ; and this will make us content. We look at them w ho are above us, let us look at them who are below us ; we see one in his silks, another in his sack- cloth ; one hath the waters of a full cup wrung out to him, another is mingling his drink with tears ; how many pale faces do we behold, whom not sickness, but want bath brought into a consumption ! Think of this, and be content. It is worse with them, who perhaps deserve better than we, and are higher in God's favour. Am I in prison ? Was not Daniel in a worse place, viz. the lion's den ? Do I live in a mean cottaffe ? Look on them who are banished from their houses. We read of the primi- tive saints, " that they wandered in sheep's skins and goats' skins, of whom the world was not worthy," Heb. xi. 37, 38. Hast thou a gentle fit of an ague ? Look on them who are tormented with the stone and gout, &c. Others of God's children have had greater afflictions, and have borne them better than we. Daniel fed upon pulse and drank water, yet was fairer than they who ate of the king's portion, Dan. i. 15. Some Christians who have been in a lower condi- tion, that have fed upon pulse and water, have looked better, viz. been more patient and contented than we who enjoy abun- dance. Do others rejoice in affliction, and do we repine ? Can they take up their cross and walk cheerfully under it, and do we under a lighter cross murmur ?
Comparison Sd. Let us compare our con- dition with Christ's upon earth. What a poor, mean condition was he pleased to be in for us ? He was contented with any thing. " For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor," 2 Cor. viii. 9. He could have brou<rht down an house from heaven with him, or challenged the high places of the earth, but he was contented to be in the wine-pross, that we might be in the wine-cellar, and to live poor that we might be rich ; the manger was his cradle, the cobwebs his canopy ; he who is now ])reparing mansions for us in heaven, had none for himself on earth,
* he had no where to lay his head.' Christ came in forma pauperis ; who, " being in the form of God, took upon him the form of a servant," Phil. ii. 7. We read not of of any sums of money he had ; when he wanted money, he was fain to work a mi- racle for it, Mat. xvii. 27. Jesus Christ was in a low condition, he was never high, but when he was lifted up upon the cross, and that was his humility : he was content to live poor, and die cursed. O compare your condition with Christ's !
Comparison Ath. Let us compare our con- dition with what it was once, and this will make us content.