To the Christian Reader
A word spoken in due season, how good is it? As God gives to his creatures their meat in season; so his faithful stewards provide for his household their portion of meat in due season. And as it is with corporal food, the season adds much both to the value and usefulness of it; in like manner it is with food spiritual. In this regard, the brokenness of these times (wherein the bosoms of most people are filled with disquiets, and their mouths with murmurings) may well render this Treatise the more acceptable. The seas are not so stormy (though never more troublesome than at this day) as men's spirits are tempestuous, tossed to and fro with discontents. And now the Lord (who makes every thing beautiful in his time) has most opportunely put into your hand a profitable discourse to calm unquiet hearts. Adam in Paradise dashed upon the rock of discontent (which some divines conceive was his first sin.) This with many instances more in Scripture, together with our own sad experience, does both speak our danger and call for caution. Now godliness is the only sovereign antidote against this spreading disease; and God's grace alone (being settled and exercised in the heart) can cause steadiness in stormy times. Whereas, contentment arises either from the fruition of all comforts, or from not desiring some which we have not. True piety does put a Christian into such a condition: Hereby we both possess God, and are taught how to improve him who is the only satisfying, everlasting portion of his people. Herein Christ (though poor in this world) greatly rejoiced. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a goodly heritage: upon this account also Jacob said, I have enough; or, (as it is in the Original) I have all. God the Father, and Christ his Son had sweet satisfaction in each other when there was no other being; therefore such who possess and improve God through Christ, cannot possibly be dissatisfied. The Almighty is the God of all grace, of all comfort, and of salvations; in which respects, neither deficiencies or disappointments, losses or crosses can cause disquieting discontents in that bosom where faith is commander in chief. The Prophet Habakkuk rejoiced in the God of his salvation, when the pestilence went before him, and burning coals came forth of his feet; and when he supposed all creature-succors both for delight & necessity to be quite removed. This, this is the life which Christians should endeavor, and may attain by the vigorous regular actings of precious faith. This is the gain of contentment, which comes in by godliness, when providences are black and likely to be bloody; now, The just shall live by his faith. That speech of learned Mr. Gataker is weighty, and well worth the marking, A contented mind argues a religious heart, and a discontented mind argues an irreligious heart. And that worthy divine Mr. Greenham was bold to say, They never felt God's love, or tasted forgiveness of sins, who are discontented. This likewise was a holy breathing of reverend Doctor Hall in his Meditations, I have somewhat of the best things, I will with thankfulness enjoy them, and will want the rest with contentment. By attaining and maintaining this frame of heart, we might have much of heaven on this side heaven. Holy contentment makes them truly rich, whom the oppressing world makes very poor. Hereby our sweetest morsels shall be well seasoned, and our bitterest potions well sweetened. Had we learned to enjoy contentment in Jehovah, who is immutable and all-sufficient, this heavenly frame of spirit should never perish or change in the midst of the most amazing alterations in Church and State, with which his Majesty is pleased to exercise us; whereas because we live alone upon sublunaries, therefore we are apt with Nabal to die upon the nest through dejectedness, upon the approach of imagined dangers. When God sees cause to cut us short of many creature-accommodations, faith will moderate our desires after them, assuring the soul that nothing is withdrawn, or withheld, which might be really advantageous; and doubtless it is a great piece of happiness upon earth, not to long after that which the Lord is pleased to deny. Indeed men act rather like heathens than Christians, when they fret upon some particular inferior disappointments, notwithstanding God's liberality laid forth upon them in many other respects. As Alexander the Monarch of the world was discontented because ivy would not grow in his gardens at Babylon. Diogenes the Cynic was herein more wise, who finding a mouse in his satchel, said, he saw that himself was not so poor, but some were glad of his leavings. Oh how might we (if we had hearts to improve higher providences) rock our peevish spirits quiet by much stronger arguments! let us men lay before our eyes the practices of pious men recorded in Scripture for our imitation, as Jacob, Agur, Paul, &c. and let us charge home upon our consciences, divine exhortations backed with strong reasons, and encouraged with sweet promises. It was the grave counsel of holy Greenham; Having food and clothing, take the rest as a surplus. Are we not less than the least of God's mercies? Is not God our bountiful benefactor? Why then do we not rest contented with his liberal allowance? Oh let us chide our wrangling spirits, and encourage confidence with contentment in God, as blessed David did. My pen has outrun my purpose when I undertook this preface; but I will no longer (good Reader) detain you in the porch, wherein I have designed to quicken and to prepare you to the more fruitful improvement of this seasonable, useful Treatise; wherein the Author has exercised to good purpose, both the Christian graces, and ministerial gifts with which God has enriched him. Herein the doctrine of Christian contentment is clearly illustrated, and profitably applied; the special cases (wherein through change of providences discontents are most commonly occasioned,) are particularized, and preservatives applied to secure the soul. Although some other worthy divines have been helpful by their discourses upon this subject; yet there is much of peculiar use in this Treatise. The Apostle tells us that some manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with. Your soul-profit is propounded as the Author's end in publishing this piece, and that this end may be accomplished, is the unfeigned desire, and hearty prayer of him who is,
Your servant in, and for Christ, Simeon [reconstructed: Ash] May 3, 1653.
