It is the fancy which raiseth the price of things above their real worth. What is the reason one tulip is worth five pounds, ano- ther perhaps not worth one shilling? Fan- cy raiseth the j)rice ; the diff'erence is ra- ther imaginary than real ; so, why it should be better to have thousands than hundreds, is, because men fancy it so ; if we could fancy a lower condition better, as having less care in it, and less account, it would be far more eligible. The water that springs out of the rock, drinks as sweet as if it came out of a golden chalice ; things are as we fancy them. Ever since the fall, the fancy is distempered ; God saw that the imagination of the thoughts of his heart were evil. Gen. vi. 5. Fancy looks through wrong spectacles ; pray that (iod will sanc- tify your fancy ; a lower condition wouhl content, if the mind and fancy were set right. Diogenes preferred his cynical life before Alexander's royalty : he fancied his little cloister best. Fabricius a poor man, yet despised the gold of king Pyrrhus,
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ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
Could we cure a distempered fancy, we mi^ht soon conquer a discontented heart.
Rule 14. Consider how little will svffice nature.
The body is but a small continent, and is easily recruited. Christ hath taught us to pray for our daily bread ; nature is con- tent with a little. Not to thirst, not to starve, is enough, saitli Gregory Nazianzen ; meat and drink are a Christian's riches, saith St. Hierom ; and the apostle saith, '• having food and raiment let us be content." The stomach is sooner filled than the eye ; how quickly would a man be content, if he would study rather to satisfy his hunger than his humour ?
Rule 15. Believe the present condition is best for its.
Flesh and blood is not a competent judge. Surfeiting stomachs are for banqueting stuff, but a man that regards his health, is rather for solid food. Vain men fancy such a condition best and would flourish in their bravery ; whereas a wise Christian hath his will melted into God's will, and thinks it best to be at his finding. God is wise, he knows whether we need food or physic ; and if we could acquiesce in providence, the quarrel would soon be at an end. O wliat a strange creature would man be, if he were what he could wish himself! Be content to be at God's allowance; God knows which is the fittest pasture to put his sheep in ; sometimes a more barren ground doth well, whereas rank pasture may rot. Do I meet with such a cross? God shews me what the world is ; he hath no better way to wean me, than by putting me to a step-mother. Doth God stint me in my allowance? lie is now dieting me. Do I meet with losses ? It is, that God may keep me from being lost. Every cross wind shall at last blow me to the rio-ht port. Did we believe that condition best which God doth parcel out to us, we should cheer- fidly submit, and say, *' the lines are fallen in ])leasant places."
Rule IG. Do not too much indulge the flesh.
We have taken an oath in baptism to forsake the flesh. The flesh is a worse ene- my than the devil, it is a bosom-traitor ; an enemy within is worst. If thei*e were no
devil to tempt, the flesh would be another Eve, to tempt to the forbidden fruit. O take heed of giving way to it ! Whence is all our discontent but from the fleshy part ? The flesh puts us upon the immoderate pursuit of the world ; it consults for ease and plenty, and if it be not satisfied, then discontents begin to arise. O let it not have the reins ! Martyr the flesh ! In spiritual things the flesh is a sluggard, in secular things an horse-leech, crying, " give, give." The flesh is an enemy to suffering it will sooner make a man a courtier, than a martyr. O keep it under ! Put its neck under Christ's yoke, — stretch and nail it to his cross, — never let a Christian look for contentment in his spirit, till there be con- finement in his flesh !
Rule 17. Meditate much on the glory which shall be revealed.
There are great things laid up in heaven. Though it be sad for the present yet let us be content in that it shortly will be better; it is but a while and we shall be with Christ, bathing ourselves in the fountain of love; we shall never complain of wants and inju- ries any more; our cross may be heavy, but one sight of Christ will make us forget all our former sorrows. There are two things should give contentment.
1. That God will make us able to bear our troubles, 1 Cor. x. 13. God, saith Chry- sostom, doth like a lutanist, who will not let the strings of his lute be too slack lest it spoil the music of prayer and repentance ? nor yet too much adversity, " lest the spirit fail before me ; and the souls that I have made," Isa. Ivii. 16.