464 O f themeanes to obtntneeontentntion, chieft wants ment. Now it rentaineth that I allo (hew how this contenta. ,fcontentation, don maybe obtained, or elfe the difficultywere but onely is ""113 1° re- changed, andnot remoued ; as ifthe Pityfition fhould tell vs fe:hec ofet that filch a potion would cure vs, but neuer teach vs how to God, make it, or where to haueit. The firif and principali meanes of attaining vino contentation, is wholly to re(gne our (clues ouer CO the goodwill and pleafure ofGod,fubmitting our willes vntohis will,and Paying with our Sauiour Chriff, )dSiih.t6.39. not my rota, but thine be done : the which howfoeuer it be an hard lcffon to ficlh andblood, yet may weeafily learne it, if we know, and knowing belecue; fira that the Lordvpon whomwe wholly rely isinfinic in wifdome, and therefore knoweth muchbetter what is goodand profitable for vs, ef- peciallyfor the eternalfauing ofour fouls,th we our felues; for ifthe child takech no care forhimfelf, but reflethconten- ted with thatprouifion& allowance whichhis louing father allotteth to him,becaufe 14e knoweth thathis fathers difcre- cion exceedeth his;and ifbeingfick,we be contentto receiue vpon thePhyfitibsword,not only thole thingswhicly af- feEt,butcuenbittterpils and vnplcafingpotions, which we loath& abhor,becaufe we know,hisskil exceeding ours, he is much betterable todire i vsfor the recouery ofourhealth: then howmuch rather fhould we lay afide care, and rely vp- on theallowance ofour heauenlyFather? how much rather fhould wetruif thisfpiritualPh fition,whofeskillandfaith- fulnes neuer failed? We in ourfoolifh appetitedelireworld- ly honors,but he in his wifdome deniech them, becaufe he knoweth theyarebut windiemeats, which wouldnot nou- rifh our foules,but puffe vs vp with pride; weaffe&worldly riches, but hewithholdeth them,becaufe he well feeth they would be a meanes to make vs poore in grace, and as vnfit to enter into the (franc and low gate ofheauen, as the Carrell into the needleseye; we dote vponcarnali pleafures, buthe withholdeth them from vs,becaufe he knoweth that our li- corous and greedie appetites would eafily furfet ofrhem,and folofe our fpirituall health and firength,ifnot ourbodily al- fo :and therefore why fhould wenot be contented to want thelè things, which if they wouldnotbringmore hurt then good,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=