A Thirteenth Plea

There's one Plea more that may be named, and that is this, say some, Though I confess my affliction is somewhat hard, and I feel some trouble within me, yet I thank God I break not out in discontented ways to the dishonour of God, I keep in although I have much ado with my own heart.

Oh! do not satisfy yourselves with that, for the distempers of your hearts, and their sinful workings are as words before God. My soul be silent to God: That we spoke of in the beginning of the opening of this Scripture, it is not enough for your tongue to be silent; but your soul must be silent, there may be a sullen discontentedness of heart as well as a discontentedness manifested in words. And if you do not mortify that inward sullenness, if you are afflicted a little more it will break forth at last.

And thus the Lord I hope has met with the chief reasonings and Pleas for our discontent in our conditions. I beseech you in the Name of God consider these things, and because they do concern your own hearts, you may so much the better remember them. I had thought to have made a little entrance into the next head, and that is some way of helping you to this grace of Contentment. It is a most excellent grace, of admirable use as you have heard, and the contrary is very sinful and vile.

There is one more plea worth naming: "Though I admit my affliction is somewhat hard and I feel real trouble within, I thank God I have not broken out into discontented behavior that dishonors Him — I keep it inside, even though I struggle greatly with my own heart."

Do not be satisfied with that — the disordered workings of your heart are as words before God. We said at the outset when opening this Scripture: it is not enough for your tongue to be silent — your soul must be silent. There can be a sullen discontent of heart just as sinful as discontent expressed in words. And if you do not put that inward sullenness to death, a little more affliction will cause it to break out in the open.

With this, I trust the Lord has addressed the chief reasonings and pleas that a discontented heart offers for its condition. I urge you in the name of God to take these things seriously. Because they concern your own hearts, you may remember them all the more readily. I had intended to make a brief start on the next topic — some practical ways of helping you attain the grace of contentment. It is a most excellent grace, of tremendous benefit as you have heard, and its opposite is deeply sinful and wretched.