Chapter 13: Thoughtful Finds Contentment

Showing how Thoughtful meeting with his dear friend Contentment, finding now nothing wanting in order to the making his life sweet and comfortable here, and eternally happy hereafter, fell to singing Allelujahs, hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God and the Lamb.

Thoughtful Christian, for so now we must call him, notwithstanding all the high and unutterable blessings, riches and honor he had arrived at by his late embracing True Godliness, remained very sad and melancholy, being attended with many desponding cogitations, by perceiving not only the great distresses and troubles which his wife and children were likely to meet with in this world, but also what sad, unsettled and unhappy days he was fallen into, and of the abounding evils and horrible blasphemies which stared him in the face wherever he came; together with the low and deplorable condition the Church of Christ and true religion was in, in this dismal hour, which Godliness perceiving, told him of one Contentment, whom he saw he had not yet found; and that if he could but obtain that favor to persuade him to dwell with him, his mind would remain sweetly settled and composed, and that he would enjoy all calmness and serenity of soul imaginable, being delivered from all anxious thoughts about all present and future events of things, and undergo all crosses and harshest accidents with equanimity and acquiescence of spirit, wholly submitting to, and being fully satisfied with the divine disposal. Now this glorious, noble and renowned Prince Contentment had been it seems traveling from place to place like a poor pilgrim, as True Godliness had done, seeking a fit resting place, but could find none; for he had been to visit Riches, but no dwelling there; and Poverty also, but found no lodging there; with Youth he could find no abode, and Old Age was a stranger to him; Pleasure could give him no entertainment; Honors were forced to say, I know him not; he was not lodged in the prince's palace, nor in the peasant's cottage; the unmarried sought him, but could not find him, and the married wished for him, but there was no abiding for him neither; for none of all these states and simple conditions of men could yield perfect peace, content and serenity of mind; but Thoughtful hearing Godliness speaking of him, that he was used to dwell with him, or where he took up his lodging, sent presently his old friend Consideration to seek out for him, and by the providence of God it was not long before he found him; yet for the information of my thinking reader, I shall show the way how Consideration, by the assistance of Faith, met with him, and brought him home to his dear master, Thoughtful Christian; and fixed companion, namely.

First, Consideration led him forth to ponder upon the divine attributes, providences and promises of God, he caused him to consult infinite power, wisdom, omniscience, holiness, mercy, goodness, truth and faithfulness, etc.

Secondly, he also stirred him up to seek for Contentment by pondering upon his present state and condition. What, says he, has God done for you? You were in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity, and God has brought you out, and yet not content! You were a child of wrath, and now are a child of God, yet not content! Have you God for your God, Christ for your Savior, the Holy Spirit for your Comforter, and yet not content! Indeed, does God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, dwell with you, and yet not content! Have you received True Godliness's glorious retinue into your house, to abide with you, to enrich you, strengthen you, to comfort you, and make your life sweet to you — and yet not content! Are your sins pardoned, your soul justified, have you union and communion with the Father and Son, and yet not content! Is your name written in the Book of Life? Shall you dwell with God and Christ forever? Is Heaven your inheritance? Are you an heir of a crown and kingdom, that fades not away, and yet not content! Indeed, let me tell you all these things, and many more are absolutely yours with Contentment. Come, are you willing to possess them, to make them your own, and to enjoy them forever, yes or no? If you would be sure of them, then get Contentment to dwell with you; for godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). It does not say godliness without contentment, but with contentment. It is this glorious Prince it appears, who puts you into the sure possession of all true happiness, and yet not content!

Thirdly, ponder, says Consideration, upon the excellency of contentment; for a saint never looks like himself, acts like himself, acts like a person of such rank and quality, a person who has received so many glorious and excellent graces and privileges, but when in all conditions he is therewith contented.

Fourthly, ponder, says Consideration, upon the evils of discontent; oh what dishonor does it bring to God! what reproach to True Godliness? and what great wrong to your own soul!

Fifthly, it is below your Christian relation, says Consideration, to be discontent: it was the speech of Jonadab to Amon, why are you, being a king's son, lean from day to day? But that was (as one observes) for a wicked cause; he saw his spirit was troubled, for otherwise he was fat enough. It is below your relation to God, who is your portion, your shield, your sanctuary, your Father. David thought it no small matter to be a son-in-law to an earthly king; and are you the King's son of Heaven and Earth, and yet not content? It is below your relation to Jesus Christ: what, are you the spouse of Christ, a member of Christ, the brother and friend of Christ, an heir with Christ, and yet not content? It is below your relation to the Holy Ghost; is he your comforter, guide, witness, strength, and are you not content? It is below your relation to the holy angels, who are your guard, your attendance, your friends, your watchmen; have you millions of those glorious spirits to minister to you, to fight for you, keep you in all your ways, and yet not content? It is below your relation to the saints and heavenly family; are you brought home then to sit down with them, to partake of all the sacred privileges of God's house with them, and to have a share in all their prayers, and yet not content? It is below the high and sovereign dignity you are raised to; are you born from above, a prince, a favorite of Heaven, an heir of both worlds, and yet not content?

Sixthly, it is below those graces, divine helps and endowments you have received. Are you in the covenant of grace? Has God tied and bound himself by promises and holy oath to help you, uphold you, and keep you from falling, and yet not content? Is your eternal estate secured, are you made sure of Heaven and yet discontented?

Lastly, consider, all your afflictions, troubles and sorrows are nothing in comparison of what other saints have met with, indeed, to those Jesus Christ met with himself for your sake, and are you not content? Besides, are they not less than your sins deserve; and yet not content? Indeed, and all those hard things you meet with God will cause to work for your good; and yet not content? All the bitter things you are ever likely to meet with, will be in this world nothing but sweet hereafter and yet not content? All your troubles will be soon gone, they are but for a moment; besides, they are intermingled with much sweet; and yet not content? Indeed, and all your sorrows will be turned into joy, and all tears will be wiped from your eyes, and yet not content? No sooner had Consideration laid all these things and many others of like nature before him, but lo, to his eternal joy, Contentment came in, and was immediately gloriously welcomed by Godliness's heavenly retinue; yes, it cannot be imagined what rejoicing now there was in poor Thoughtful's house; it would do also one's heart good to see how the scattered powers of the enemy were forced to fly into holes. Apollyon himself was obliged to pull in his horn. Despond was vanquished, cursed Disquiet and Murmur could find no more place in his house — oh, this to him was the day of days!

Upon this, perceiving glorious Content with triumph was entered into his house, to dwell with the rest of True Godliness's heavenly retinue, and that there was now nothing wanting to make his life comfortable here, and happy hereafter, he fell to singing sweet hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God.