2. When we have suffered a while, 1 Pet. V. 10., we shall be perfected in glory; the cross shall be our ladder by which we shall climb up to heaven. Be then content, and then the scene will alter ; God will ere long turn our water into wine ; the hope of this is enough to drive away all distempers from the heart. Blessed be God it will be bet- ter : " We have no continuing city here," Heb. xiii., therefore our afflictions cannot continue. A wise niiui looks still to the end; " The end of the just man is peace," Ps, xxxvii. 37. Methinks the smoothness of the end should make amends for the rug- gedness of the way. O eternity, eternity I
ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
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Tliink often of tlie kingdom prei)arcMl. Da- vid was advanced from the field to tlie throne : first 4ie held his shoi)herd's staff', and shortly after the royal scej)tre. God's people may be put to hard services here : but Ciod hath chosen them to be kings, to eit upon the throne with the Lord Jesus. This being weighed in the balance of faith, would be an excellent means to bring the heart to contentment.
Rule 18. Be much in prayer.
The last rule for contentment is, be much in prayer. Beg of God, that he will work our hearts to this blessed frame. " Is any man afflicted, let him pray," James v. 14. : so, is any man discontented ? Let him pray. Prayer gives vent : the opening of a vein lets out bad blood ; when the heart is filled with sorrow and disquiet, prayer lets out the bad blood. The key of prayer oiled with tears, unlocks the heart of all its discon- tents. Prayer is an holy spell, or charm to drive away trouble ; prayer is the unbo- Boming of the soul, the unloading of all our cares in God's breast; and this ushers in sweet contentment. When there is any burden upon our spirits, by opening our mind to a friend we find our hearts finely eased and quieted. It is not our strong re- solutions, but our strong requests to God, which must give the heart ease in trouble ; by prayer the strength of Christ comes into the soul, and where that is, a man is able to go through any condition. Paul could be in every state content ; but that you may not think he was able to do this him- self, he tells you that though he could want and abound, and " do all things ;" yet it was through Christ strengthening him, Phil, iv 13. It is the child that writes, but it is the scrivener guides his hand.
Chap. XV. Use VI. Of Consolation TO THE Contented Christian.
The last use is of comfort, or an encou- raging word to the contented Christian. If there be an heaven upon cai'th thou hast it. O Christian ! thou mayest insult over thy troubles, and, with the leviathan, laugh at the shaking of a spear. Job xli. 7. WHiat shall I say ? Thou art a crown to thy pro-
fession ; thou dost hold it out to all the world, that there is virtue enough in reli- gion to give the soul contentment ; thou shewest the highest of grace. When grace is crowning, it is not so much for us to be content ; but when grace is conflicting, and meets with crosses, temptations, agonies, — now to be content, this is a glorious thing indeed. To a contented Christian, I shall say two things for a farewell.
lurst, God is exceedingly taken with such a frame of heart. God saith of a con- tented Christian, as David once said of Go- liath's sword, " there is none like that, give it me," 1 Sam. xxi. 9. If you would please God, and be men of his heart, be contented God hates a froward spirit.
Secondly^ The contented Christian shall be no loser. What lost Job by his patience? God gave him twice as much as he had be- fore. What lost Abraham by his content- ment? He was content to leave his coun- try at God's call. The Lord makes a cove- nant with him, that he Avould be his God, Gen. xvii. lie changeth his name; no more Abram, but Abraham, the father of many nations. God makes his seed as the stars of heaven ; nay, honours him with this title, " the father of the faithful." Gen. xviii. ] 7 , The Lord makes known his se- crets to him, " shall I hide from Abraham the things that I will do?" God settles a rich inheritance upon him, that land which was a type of heaven, and afterwards trans- lated him to the blessed paradise. God will be sure to reward the contented Chris- tian. As our Saviour said in another case, to Nathaniel, " because I said I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou ? Tliou shalt see greater things than these," Jtthn i. 50. : so I say. Art thou contented (O Christian) with a little? Thou shalt see greater things than these. God will distil the sweet influences of his love into the soul ; he will raise thee up friends ; he will bless the oil in the cruise; and when that is done, he will crown thee with an eternal enjoyment of himself; he will give thee heaven, where tlicu shalt have as much contentment as thy soul can possibly thirst after.
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PRECIOUSNESS OF THE SOUL.
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE SOUL.