454 Ofthe excellencyofcontent.went,& the means to obtain it. Rom.,' .;, bulation,as the Apofllefpeaketh. An example whereof we haue in himfclle, who had attained vnto fuck a meafüre of this.fpiritual contentation, that it was able to bearehimout, Philip.ç,n.1 Z. in all outwardeffates and conditions. I haue learned (faith he) in whatfoeuerftate Iam to be content, and Ican be abated, and 1can abound; emeryWhere in all things /amtoilrudled,both to be fulland tobe huní rie,and toabound, and to bane want: I amable todo all things through thehelpe ofChr,ft that (treng_ theneth me. Andifwe haue this fpirituall contentment inour hearts, then the Lord will notlet vs want thiscontentment, which the Apohle had in refpeElofoutward things : for fo Pfalmc tjó. he faith, that if his people would haue hearkened votohie voice, andwalkedin ht; waies, thenwouldhe bauefedthem with thefat ofwheate, andwithhonie out oftheroc!a would he haue fuficed them. And theWife man telleth vs, that it is the blefling of God onely that maketh rich, and allo giueth with riches, Prou.ao,a:, comfortand contentation : thebleJJing of the Lord (faith he) makethrich,& he dothaddenoforrowet with it. whithblefling they alone hauePure interefl inwho are indued with Gods grace and holy Spirit : for well may thofe who are ruled withcarnali concupifcence be rich in their outward eflate, but they can neuer be rich in their mind with inward con- &îay r7.ao. I. tent; for thewicked (as the Prophet faith) are like the raging feu that cannot reit,rehofewaters call vpmire anddirt; and the voiceofGodhath plainly Paid it, that there is nopeacevnto shim. But as for thofe inwhole heart thepeace ofGodsholy Spirit dwelleth, they haue thefe outward things with con- tent,orcontent without them; the Lord fupplying their ex- ternall defedìs witha fuffïcientmeafure ofpatience, comfort and tranquillitie ofmind, andhauinggodlinelfe he allo ma- keth vs contentwith thatwe haue,whether it be muchor lir- tie, fomethingor nothing. §,Säí.2. The which inward contentation ofmind, grounding it 'pat fßtritnall felfe vponGods prouidence and promifes, is in it owne na- contentment flue moliexcellent,and beingcompared is much to be pre- mathexceedeb ferred before anycontentment, which the confluenceofall Intl tonteattnenr worldlybenefits can votovs fornotwith(landin all sn y bring tbtngs, thefewemay (as bath beenChewed) be inwardly poore, in the
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