Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

464 O f the meanes to obtntne eontentntion, chi eft wants ment. Now it rentaineth that I allo (hew how this content a. ,fcontentation, don may be obtained, or elfe the difficulty were but onely is ""113 1° re- changed, and not remoued ; as if the 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 haue it. The firif and principali meanes of attaining vino contentation, is wholly to re(gne our (clues ouer CO the good will and pleafure ofGod,fubmitting our willes vnto his 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 and blood, yet may we eafily learne it, if we know, and knowing belecue; fira that the Lord vpon whom we wholly rely isinfinic in wifdome, and therefore knoweth much better what is good and profitable for vs, ef- peciallyfor the eternal fauing ofour fouls,th we our felues; for if the child takech no care forhimfelf, but reflethconten- ted with that prouifion & allowance which his louing father allotteth to him,becaufe 14e knoweth that his fathers difcre- cion exceedeth his;and ifbeing fick,we be contentto receiue vpon the Phyfitibsword,not only thole thingswhicly af- feEt,butcuenbittterpils and vnplcafing potions, which we loath & abhor,becaufe we know,his skil exceeding ours, he is much better able to dire i vs for the recouery ofourhealth: then how much rather fhould we lay afide care, and rely vp- on the allowance of our heauenlyFather? how much rather fhould wetruif this fpiritualPh fition,whofeskillandfaith- fulnes neuer failed? We in our foolifh appetite delire world- ly honors,but he in his wifdome deniech them, becaufe he knoweth they are but windiemeats, which wouldnot nou- rifh our foules,but puffe vs vp with pride; we affe& worldly riches, but he withholdeth 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 vpon carnali pleafures, but he 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 our bodily al- fo :and therefore why fhould we not be contented to want thelè things, which if they would notbring more hurt then good,