SECT. V.

The fifth Argument to Contentment.

THE next argument is-" By contentment a Christian gets a victory over himself.* For a man to be able to rule his own spirit, this, of all others, is the most noble conquest, Prov. xvi. 32. Passion denotes weakness; to be discontented, is suitable to flesh and blood. But to be in every state content; reproached, yet content, imprisoned, yet content: this is above nature; this is some of that holy valour and chivalry which only a divine spirit is able to infuse. In the midst of the affronts of the world, to be patient; and, in the changes of the world, to have the spirit

* There is something in the prospect of victory, calculated to ennoble and inspire the minds of men, although it is oftentimes in wicked and unlawful pursuits; but how much more ennobling and exalting the thought, when by faith, we look to our all conquering and victorious Saviour, who, in that tremendous conflict on the cross spoiled all the principalities and powers of darkness, death, and hell; and made a show of them openly. Reader, remember the power of sin, of death, and hell, are all to be conquered and overcome in our hearts by virtue of the death, the sufferings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the power of his almighty grace; and then, when we come to die, we may say, in the language of holy triumph, O death where is thy sting! O grave where is thy victory! Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. xv. 55.

calmed; this is a conquest worthy indeed of the garland of honour. Holy Job, divested and turned out of all, leaving his scarlot, and embracing the dunghill-a sad catastropheyet he had learned contentment. It is said, He fell upon the ground, and worshipped, Job. i. 20. But the discontented man falls to murmuring, and from murmuring to rebellion. But Job fell down and worshipped. He adored God's justice and holiness-behold the strength of grace! Here was an humble submission, yet a noble conquest; he got the victory over himself. It is no great matter for a man to yield to his own passions; this is easy and natural; but to content himself in denying of himself, this is sacred and divine.

SECT. VI.

The sixth Argument to Contentment.

THE sixth great argument to work the heart to contentment, is the consideration that all God's providences, how cross or trying soever, shall do a believer good: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, Rom. viii. 28. Not only all good things, but all evil things, work for good; and shall we be discontented at that which works for our good.

What if sickness, poverty, reproach, losses

and crosses, do unite and muster their forces against us? All shall work for good; our maladies shall be our medicines; and shall we repine at that which shall undoubtedly do us good? Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness, Psal. cxii. 4. Affliction may be baptized, Marah; it. is bitter, but physical. Because this is so full of comfort, and may be a most excellent remedy against discontent, I shall a little expatiate.

QUEST. It will be enquired how the evils of affliction work for good?

ANSW. Several ways.

1. They are disciplinary: they teach us. The Psalmist, having very elegantly described the Church's trouble, (Psal. 74.) prefixeth this title to the Psalm-"MASCHIL," which signifies a Psalm-giving instruction; that which seals up instruction, works for good. God puts us sometimes under the black rod, but it is a rod of discipline-Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it, Micah, ix. 9. God makes our adversity our university: affliction is a preacher-Blow the trumpet in Tekoah, Jer. 6. 1. The trumpet was to preach to the people, as appears, verse 6. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem! Sometimes God speaks to the minister, to lift up his voice like a trumpet; (Isai. lviii. 1.) and here he speaks to the trumpet, to lift up its voice like a minisAfflictions teach us

ter.

1. Humility. When we become prosperous and proud-corrections are God's corro

sives or powerful medicines, to eat out the proud flesh. Jesus Christ is a lily of the vallies; (Cant. ii. 1.) he dwells in an humble heart. God brings us into the valley of tears that he may bring us into the valley of humility-Remembering my affliction, the wormwood and the gall; my soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me, Lam. iii. 19, 20. When men are grown high, God hath no better way with them than to brew them a cup of wormwood. Afflictions are compared to thorns, Hos. ii. 8. God's thorns are to prick the bladder of pride. Suppose a man runs at another with a sword to kill him, and accidentally strikes on a festering sore, this may do him good, by discharging that which causes pain, and thus God's corrections, tend to work out the pride of the heart, and make us humble and contented.

2. Afflictions teach us repentance-Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised: I repented; and, after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh, &c. Jer. xxxi. 18, 19. Repentance is the precious fruit that grows upon the Cross. When the fire is put under the still, the water drops from the roses. Fiery afflictions make the waters of repentance drop and distil from the eyes; and is here any cause of discontent?

3. Afflictions teach us to pray better They poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them, Isai. xxvi. 16. Before,

they would say a prayer; now, they poured out a prayer. Jonah was asleep in the ship, but awake and at prayer in the whale's belly. When God puts under the fire-brands of affliction, our hearts then boil over the more. God loves to have his children possessed with a spirit of prayer. Never did David, the sweet singer of Israel, tune his harp more melodiously; never did he pray better, than when he was upon the waters. Thus afflictions make us patient; and shall we be discontented at that which is for our good?

2. Afflictions are to try us, Psal. Ixvi. 10, 11. Gold is not the worse for being tried, or corn for being fanned. Affliction is the touchstone of sincerity; it tries what metal we are made of.* Afflictions is God's fan and his sieve. It is good that men be known. Some serve God for a livery: they are like the fisherman, that makes use of the net only to catch the fish; so they go a fishing with the net of religion only to catch preferment.

* "Tis certainly true, that no afflictions, while we are under them, are joyous, but grievous; and it is as certain, that persecutions and afflictions, when sanctified, do yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness, to those who are exercised with them, and when we look at them, as the fruit of God's love to our souls, we can with the Apostle, call them light afflictions of a moment, working out for us a far more exalted state in glory. O, let us make it our constant and earnest prayer to God, that he may give us supporting grace, under every fiery trial, and that we may learn obedience to his holy will, by all the sufferings of this present life, and patiently wait for that reward, which he has promised, to all who endure to the end.