Set s. CXXXVI. tort/der'd, as our Example. z 3 5 (3.) Another Virtue for which there is great Occafion in Humane Life, and for which our Lord was very remarkable, was his Contentednefs in a mean änd poor Condition, and filch was his Condition to the very lowed Degree. He was deftitute of the ordinaryConveniencies and neceffary Supports of Life he lived generally upon the Kindnefs and Charity of others, and when that failed, and he wanted ordinary Supports, as he often did, he was maintained by Miracle : And yet in this mean and neceflitous Condition, he had a con- fiant Evennefs and Serenity of Mind ; he had no anxious Care and Solitude upon him, what hefhouldeat, and what he fhould drink, or wherewithal hefhauld be cloath- ed ; he never murmured at'the unequal Providence of God, never utter'd one difcontented, or envious Word at the Plenty and Profperity of others ; he ra- ther pitied the Misfortune of rich and great Men; who were expofe4 to fo many Temptations, that it Was very hardfor them, in his Opinion, to be fared; but he enjoyed himfelf,, and ferved God, and went about doing Good, and depended upon the Providence of God for his daily Food; and if at any time that was wanting, he tells his Difciples that He had Meat to ear, which they knew not of ; for it was his Meat and Drink to do the Will of his Father. By all that appears in the Hiftory of his Life, (and we are lure that it is true) noMan was ever poorer, and yet no Man ever more contented than he was ; which is not only an Example of Contentednefs to thofe, whom the Providence of God bath placed in the Extremity of Meannefs and Want, but a much fironger and more forcible Argument of Contentment in every Condition. For Difcontent is not only the Portion of the Poor, but of thofe who have a Competency, becauCe they have not Plenty ; and many Times of thofe who have Plenty and Abundance, becauCe they are wanton and foolifh, and know not what they would have ; fo that our Saviour, by giving an Example of Contentment to thofe of the pooreft and meaneft Condition, Bath given it much more to thofe who are in better Circumfrances. Anarrow Fortune is Riches, in comps- rifon of none; a Competency is Plenty, compared with Poverty, and the Want of the ordinary Accommodations of Life. If the Son of God fubmitted to the lowed and pooreft Condition, and bore it with fo much Evennefs and Tran- quillity of Mind ; well may we, if God call us to it. If he that was Heir of all Things, was deftitute of all Things, and well contented to be fo (hall we mur- mur and repine, if we be in the fame Circumftances? If this Example be of anyForce, (as it is certainly of the greateft) should the Providence of God fee fit to reduce us to the lowed Condition of Want, we have no Reafon for Dif- content; but if he afford us a Competency, we have no Colour and Pretence for it, unlefs we think our (elves better than the Son of God, and can claim a greater Right to the Poffeffions and Enjoyments of this World, thanbe that made it. Before this Example, we might have thought that Poverty and Meannefs bad been a Sign of God's Hatred and Difpleafure, or at lead an Argument of refs Love and Regard : But now that we fee him, whom God loved infinitely better than any Man in the World, to have been one of the pooreft Men that- ever lived ; this is a Demonftrarion, that a Man may be entirely beloved of God, though he be in the pooreft and molt dehitute Condition; for in filch a Condition he thought fit to place his Beloved Son, in whom he was well pleafed. And if Poverty be confident with the higheft Degreeof God's Love and Favour, we may bear it contentedly ; and if there be any Reafon for Contentment even in Poverty ; to be difcontented in any Condition thatas above ir, is fhameful and intolerable. Of loch Force is this Example of our Lord, to banifh Dif content front any Condition we are liable to in this World. (k.) And raft Virtue I (hall inlance in, and for the Exercife whereof there is very great and frequent Occafion in Humane Life, is Patience under Sufferings, and fuch a perfe& Refignation of our (elves to the Will of God, that what- ever pleafeth 1dm thould pleafè us, how diftaftful and grievous fever it be. And of this Virtue our ßleffed Saviour was the greateft Example that ever wa's; his wholeLife, from his Birth to his Death, was made up ofPerfecution andPa- H h 2 tience,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=