THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. CHRISTIAN READER, Having seriously considered the great dishonour done to Almighty God, as well as the prejudice which doth arise to our own selves, by the sin of discontent-a catholic and epidemical sin-it did at first put me upon the study of this subject. Nor is it inconsistent to handle this next in order to the Christian Charter. I shewed you before the great things which a believer hath in reversion-Things to come are his. And here behold a Christian's holy and gracious deportment in this life, which discovers itself in nothing more eminently than in Contentment. Discontent is to the soul, as a disease to the body; it puts out of temper, and doth much hinder it's regular and sublime motions heaven-ward. Discontent is hereditary; and no doubt but it is much augmented by the many sad eclipses and changes that have fallen out of late in the body politic; yet thy disease is not to be pleaded for, because natural; but to be resisted, because sinful. That which should make us out of love with this sullen distemper, is the contemplating the beautiful Queen of Contentment. For my part, I know not any ornament in religion that doth bespangle a Christian, or glitter in the eye of God and man, than this of contentment; nor, certainly, is there any thing wherein all the Christian virtues do work more harmoniously, or shine more transparently, than in this orb Every grace doth act it's part here, and help to keep the soul in it's proper frame. This is the true philosopher's stone, which turns all into gold-this is the curious enamel and embroidery of the heart, which makes Christ's spouse all glorious within. How should every Christian be ambitious to wear such a sparkling diamond? If there be a blessed life before we come at heaven, it is the contented life. And why not contented? Why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen? Gen. iv. 6. Man, of all creatures, hath the least cause to be discontented. Canst thou deserve any thing from God? Doth he owe thee any thing? What, if the scene turn, and God puts thee under the black-rod? Whereas he useth a rod, he might use a scorpion; he might as well damn thee, as whip thee. Why, then, art thou so querulous? Why dost thou give way to this irrational and unthankful sin of discontent? The good Lord humble his own people from nourishing such a viper in their breast, as doth not only cut out the bowels of their comfort, but spits venom in the face of God himself. Oh, Christian! who art overspread with this fretting leprosy, thou carriest the man of sin about thee; for thou settest thyself above God, as if thou wert wiser than he, and wouldst saucily prescribe him what condition is best for thee. O this devil of discontent! which whomsoever it possesseth, it makes his heart a little hell. I know there will not be perfect contentment here in this life. Perfect pleasure is only at God's right hand; yet we may begin here to tune our instrument, before we play the sweet lesson of contentment exactly in heaven. I should be glad if this little piece might be like Moses' casting the tree into the waters, (Exod. xv. 25.) to make the uncouth bitter condition of life more sweet and pleasant to drink of. I have once more adventured into public. This piece I acknowledge to be but a home-spun one; some better hand might have made a more curious draught: but, having preached upon the subject, I was earnestly solicited by some of my hearers to publish it; and although it is not dressed in that rich attire of eloquence as it might, yet I am not about poetry or oratory, but divinity. Nor is this intended for fancy, but practice. If I may herein do any service, or cast but a mite into the treasury of the Church's grace, I have my desire. The end of our living is to live to God, and to lift up his name in the world. The Lord add an effectual blessing to this work, and fasten it as a nail in a sure place. He of his mercy make it as spiritual physic, to purge the ill-humour of discontent out of our hearts, that so a crown of honour may be set upon the head of Religion, and the crystal streams of Joy and Peace may ever run in our souls-Which is the prayer of him who is desirous to be a faithful orator for thee at the Throne of Grace. SIMEON ASHE. From my Study, at St. Stephen's, TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. A WORD spoken in due season, how good is it! Prov. xv. 23. As God giveth to his creatures their meat in season, (Psal. civ. 27.) so his faithful stewards provide for his household their portion of meat in due season. Luke xii. 42. And as it is with corporal food, the season addeth much both to the value and usefulness thereof: in like manner it is with food spiritual. In this regard, the brokenness of these times-wherein the bosoms of most people are filled with disquietude, and their mouths with murmurings-may well render this Treatise more acceptable. The seas are not so stormy as men's spirits are tempestuous, tossed to and fro with discontent, Eccles. iii. 11. And now the Lord, who maketh every thing beautiful in his time, hath most seasonably put into thy hand a profitable discourse to calm unquiet hearts. Adam, in Paradise, dashed upon the rock of discontentwhich some divines conceive was his first sin. |