Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

47$ Of the manes to obtàinecontentatioa. and cheerefulneffe fuller heere want, that there we may haue fulneffe; miferie that we may find boy; pouerty that we may be inriched with there treafures; and ignominie and con- tempt, that wemay receiue this crowne of glory. And this argument ofeomfort and contentation our Sauiour Chrifl vfeth : for hauing perfuaded his difciples to relie on Gods tuk. ».;s. prouidence without carking care, and promifed that ifthey would feeke firfl Gods kingdome and righteoufneffe, they fhould haue allo worldly neceffaries fupplied unto them ; be- eattfe they werelike to haue force finali difcouragementby their fhort allowance of thefe derfied benefits, hee willeth themnot to fare for al this, becaufe it was their fathers plea- lure to glue them a kingdome. 4,Se17.12 The next meanes to attaine vnto contentation; is to line Thea.meaner an holy and chriflian life, walking in the wales of Gods of contentment command ements,in fincerityand vprigheneffe of heart; for io !elide a fini godlrneffcmuft enrich vs,before we can be content with godtylife. that wee haue : firfl God mil dwellwithvsby his fpirit,be t.Tun.r,.t fore wee can be content to forbeare the worlds companie. Our hearts mil befilled with better things,beforewee can be willing to part with worfe;they mußt bee inriched with heauenly treafures, before wee will leaue immoderate fee, king ofearthly trafh ; they muff be indeed with knowledge, faith, affiance, hope, loueand the refl of Gods fandlifying graces,before they can lightly efleeme of honours, riches, and earthly delights : for hauing anaturallappetite and hun- gring defires, either they mufbeefilled and fatisfiedwith that which is good, or elfe they will with vnfatiabie longing affeél andcourtworldlyvanities; like the flomacke, which vnleffeitbefuflicedwithwholefome food, will fucke in the wind,though being full ofit it is not fatisfied, but rather tor- mented. Againe, if wee haue any true contentment we Inuit haue itin the Lord,as bath been fhewed;but there is no con- tentment tobe had in God without godlineffe t for howfb- euerthe Lord be infinite in wifedorne,pow er, goodnes,loue, . and truth, yet we cannotcomfortablie apply any ofal this to our felues,for our vfe & benefit neither in truth do they at al appettainevnto vs, vnleífc we performe fuch conditions as God