Sermon 11

Philippians 4:11. For I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.

Now we are coming to the close of this point of Contentment that Jesus Christ does teach those that are in his school. We have opened the point to you, and showed you wherein the art, and skill, and mystery of Christian contentment lies. And diverse things in the way of application rebuking the want of this. And the last day I finished that point of showing the several reasonings of a murmuring and discontented heart. I shall now (as being desirous to make an end) leave what was said, and proceed to what remains. There are only these two things for the working of your hearts to this grace of Christian contentment.

First, the propounding of several considerations for the contenting of the heart in any afflicted condition.

Secondly, the propounding of directions what should be done for the working of our hearts to this.

Philippians 4:11 — "For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content."

We are now approaching the close of this study on contentment — the contentment that Christ teaches those who are enrolled in His school. We have opened up the subject and shown you where the art, skill, and mystery of Christian contentment lies. We have applied it in various ways, rebuking the lack of it. In our last session we finished examining the various reasonings of a murmuring and discontented heart. Now, eager to bring this to a conclusion, I will leave what has been said and move on to what remains. There are two things left that will help work your hearts toward this grace of Christian contentment.

First, a set of considerations for settling the heart in any afflicted condition.

Second, a set of practical directions for what should be done to work our hearts toward contentment.