Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

454 Of the excellency ofcontent.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 beare him out, Philip.ç,n.1 Z. in all outward effates and conditions. I haue learned (faith he) in whatfoeuerftate I am to be content, and I can be abated, and 1 can abound; emery Where in all things /am toil rudled,both to be full and to be huní rie,and to abound, and to bane want: I am able to do all things through the helpe of Chr,ft that (treng_ theneth me. And ifwe haue this fpirituall contentment in our hearts, then the Lord will not let vs want this contentment, which the Apohle had in refpeElofoutward things : for fo Pfalmc tjó. he faith, that if his people would haue hearkened voto hie voice, and walkedin ht; waies, then wouldhe baue fed them with the fat ofwheate, andwith honie out ofthe roc! 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:, comfort and contentation : the bleJJing of the Lord (faith he) makethrich,& he dot haddenoforrowet with it . whit hblefling they alone haue Pure interefl in who are indued with Gods grace and holy Spirit : for well may thofe who are ruled with carnali 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 the wicked (as the Prophet faith) are like the raging feu that cannot reit,rehofewaters call vp mire and dirt; and the voice of God hath plainly Paid it, that there is no peacevnto shim. But as for thofe in whole heart the peace ofGods holy Spirit dwelleth, they haue thefe outward things with con- tent, or content without them; the Lord fupplying their ex- ternall defedìs with a fuffïcientmeafure of patience, comfort and tranquillitie of mind, and hauing godlinelfe he allo ma- keth vs content with that we haue,whether it be much or lir- tie, fomething or nothing. §,Säí.2. The which inward contentation ofmind, grounding it 'pat fßtritnall felfe vpon Gods prouidence and promifes, is in it owne na- contentment flue mo liexcellent,and being compared is much to be pre - mathexceedeb ferred before any contentment, which the confluence ofall Intl tonteattnenr worldly benefits can voto vs fornotwith(landin all sn y bring tbtngs, thefe wemay (as bath been Chewed) be inwardly poore, in the