The Pleas of a Discontented Heart

In the first place, Says one that is discontented, It is not discontentment, it is the sense of my condition, I hope you would have me sensible of my condition: perhaps when God takes away a friend or some other comfort they are inordinately sorrowful, and wringing their hands as if they were undone, and let anyone but speak to them, (say they) Would you not have me sensible of my affliction? And thus many would hide their sinful murmuring under God's hand with this pretense, that it is but sensibleness of their affliction.

To that I answer, First, there is no sense of any affliction that will hinder the sense of God's mercies, nay the more we are sensible of our afflictions if it be in a gracious manner, the more sensible we will be of God's mercy, but you are so sensible of your affliction as it takes away the sense of all your mercies. Oh this is sinful discontent, this is not to be sensible of your condition as God would have you, but it is to be sensible in a wicked way, you go beyond your bounds. By this rule you may come to know when your sorrows and troubles for your afflictions go beyond the bounds. We may be sorrowful when God afflicts, but Oh! that I might know when my sorrow goes beyond the bounds of it. Truly you may know it by this, does the sense of your afflictions take away the sense of your mercies? If it does then it goes beyond the bounds.

Secondly, If it were but a bare sense of an affliction it would not hinder you in the duties of your condition, the right sense of our afflictions will never hinder us in the performance of the duties of our condition. But you are so sensible of your affliction as you are made unfit for the performance of the duties of the condition that God has put you in, surely it is more than mere sense of your affliction.

Thirdly, If it were but mere sense of your affliction, yet then you could in this your condition bless God for the mercies that others have, but your discontentedness usually breeds envy at it. When anyone is discontented with their condition, they have an envious spirit at the conditions of those that are delivered from what afflictions they bear, certainly then it is turned to be sour and naught, when you are so sensible of your afflictions, and insensible of mercies as you are unfit for the duties of your condition, and envious at others that are not afflicted as you are.

First, a discontented person says: "It is not discontent — I am simply feeling the weight of my condition. Surely you want me to be aware of my affliction?" Perhaps when God takes away a friend or some other comfort, such people are overwhelmed with grief, wringing their hands as if they are ruined. If anyone speaks to them, they say: "Would you have me be unaware of my affliction?" Many people hide their sinful murmuring under this pretense — claiming it is merely sensitivity to their situation.

To that I answer: first, no genuine sense of affliction will block out the sense of God's mercies. In fact, the more truly and graciously we feel our afflictions, the more we will also feel God's mercies. But your sensitivity to affliction has swallowed up all awareness of your mercies. That is sinful discontent — not the godly awareness God intends, but something that has gone beyond its proper limits. Here is how you can know when your sorrow over affliction has exceeded its proper bounds: does the weight of your affliction take away your sense of God's mercies? If it does, you have gone too far.

Second, if it were merely a genuine sense of affliction, it would not prevent you from carrying out the duties of your calling. A true awareness of affliction never hinders us from doing what God has placed us here to do. But your sense of affliction has made you unfit for the duties of your calling. That is more than simple sensitivity to your situation.

Third, if it were only a genuine sense of affliction, you would still be able to bless God for the mercies others enjoy. But discontent usually breeds envy toward those who do not share your afflictions. When you are so overwhelmed by your own afflictions and so blind to your mercies that you are unfit for duty and envious of those not afflicted as you are — that is something sour and sinful, not merely sensitivity.