I 9 8 ~he rare Jewel of'CbrijlianContcntmenr. God, or the rule that God bath fet them in his word, and t.hen they are proteCted by God, and they may go about their buftnefs with peace, and nenr be troubled for any thing, but cafi all their c-are upon God, God provides for them; but if rhey will go beyond the pale; if they I'Yill pafs their bounds, then they may expea: to meet with troubles and affitchons, and difconter.t. and- . therefore that.is a fourth direCtion. Walk by rule. ' The Fifth DIRECTION. A Fifth Rule is this, Exerci[t much fAith, th~t ls th~ wAy f~r qontentuln~./Je. After thou haft done with all conudetations that reafm'l may fuggefi to thee, if thou find ell that the~ do flot do i t, Oh then call for the grace offtith,a man may go very far wit h the ufe of reafon alone to help him to Contentment, but when reafon is at a non-pitH, then fet faith at work. It was a fpeech of that Reverend Divine Maller Perkjns that God made fo inflrumental in his time, the life of faith ( faith he) it is a true life indeed, the only life. Exercife faitb not only in that promife that all lhall work. together for good to them that fear God, but likewife exercife faith in God himfelf, as well as in his word iA the Attributes of God~ It was a fpeech of Socr11tes a Hea· · then, ( faith he ) fince God is fo careful for you, w&at need you be careful for any thing your felves; It was a Runge fpeech of a Heathen. Oh Chriltian! if thou hall any faith, iVJ the time ofextremity, think thus, This is the time that God calls for the exercire of faith, what canfi thou do with thy faith if thou can{l not quiet thy heut in difcontent : It was the fpeech ofone Theodojius that had been aKing, and afterwards was brought to fuch a low condition to get his living by being aScbool-ma!ler, one comes. and asks him, What have you got by your Ph1lofophy fro~ PlAto and others? What have I oot {faith he,) I have got th1s, That though my condition be cba~ged from fo high a condition to fo low, yet I have got this, I can be con'tent. So what doeG thou get ~y being a Beleever, a ChriAian; what canG thou do by thy faith ? I can d"l this, I can in <all e!tates cat\ my care upon _God, caa ~y ~urden upon Gor.l, I can commit my vvay to God m ~eace, fa1th eaa
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