Chapter 8: Use 1 — The Comfort of a Contented Life

Use 1. It shows us how a Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven upon earth, be the times what they will; namely, by Christian contentment; the comfort of life does not stand [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], in having much; it is Christ's maxim, Man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he does possess; but it is in being contented. Is not the bee as well contented with feeding on the dew, or sucking from a flower, as the ox that grazes on the mountains? Contentment lies within a man, in the heart: and the way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our mind quiet. The contented man (says Seneca) is the happy man; discontent is a fretting humor, which dries the brains, wastes the spirits, corrodes and eats out the comfort of life: discontent makes a man that he does not enjoy what he does possess. A drop or two of vinegar will sour a whole glass of wine. Let a man have the affluence and confluence of worldly comforts, a drop or two of discontent will embitter and poison all. Comfort depends upon contentment; Jacob went halting when the sinew upon the hollow of his thigh shrank: so, when the sinew of contentment begins to shrink, we go halting in our comforts. Contentment is as necessary to keep the life comfortable, as oil is necessary to keep the lamp burning; the clouds of discontent do often drop the showers of tears. Would we have comfort in our lives? We may have it if we will. A Christian may carve out what condition he will to himself. Why do you complain of your troubles? It is not trouble that troubles, but discontent; it is not the water without the ship, but the water that gets within the leak which drowns it; it is not outward affliction that can make the life of a Christian sad; a contented mind would sail above these waters, but when there's a leak of discontent open, and trouble gets into the heart, then it is disquieted and sinks. Do therefore as the mariners, pump the water out, and stop this spiritual leak in your soul, and no trouble can hurt you.