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§. 61. Of Contentment with things present.
—And be content with such things as ye have.
THis exhortation to Contentedness is added to the former dehortation from covetousness, as a means to prevent or redress that vice. For covetousness argueth a discontent at that which a man hath: and contentedness will keep men from an inordinate desire of more.
This exhortation is not joyned in the Greek to the former dehortation by any copulative, causall, or opposite conjunction; but by a Participle, a 1.1 being content, which maketh it a part of the former sentence, thus, Let your conversation be with∣out c•…•…vetousness, being content with such things as ye have.
The b 1.2 active Verb from whence the passive in this Text is derived, signifieth to suffice, Joh. 14. 8. 2 Cor. 12. 9. This word fitly expresseth the nature of conten∣tedness, which is, to account that which God bestoweth on a man, to be sufficient for him; and thereupon to rest quiet in his mind, not perplexing himself with cares and fears about more.
The passive is oft used in the New Testament in the same sense that it is here, (namely, Luk. 3. 14. 1 Tim. 6. 8.) and translated to be content, upon accounting that which he hath to be sufficient.
There is in the New Testament, and in sundry other Greek Authors, a word c 1.3 compounded of this, and of a Pronoun that signifieth ones self, and it is in gene∣rall used to set out contentment: but it implieth a very great emphasis. For ac∣cording to the notation of the word it signifieth such an one as is of himself and by himself and for himself sufficient. This properly belongs to God alone. Yet is it also attributed both to things and persons. To things, when they are of themselves sufficient for that whereunto they are used, without the addition of any other thing. To persons, when they account that which they have to be sufficient for them, and do not inordinately covet more. Thus the d 1.4 substantive is used, and translated sufficiency, 2 Cor. 9. 8▪ and contentment, 1 Tim. 6. 6. And the e 1.5 adjective also translated content: as where the Apostle saith, I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content, Phil. 4. 11.
The things here meant are temporall: such as are needfull for us, and usefull to us, while here we live. They are all comprised under these two words, food, rai∣ment, 1 Tim. 6. 8. and under this one word, bread, Mat. 6. 11. Spirituall blessings may and must be coveted more then temporall.
These temporall blessings are here in the Greek called f 1.6 things present: which are such things as men for the present have and enjoy: They are opposed 1. To such things as men have not; in this respect our English Translators thus interpret the word, such things as ye have. 2. They are opposed to things that may in fu∣ture times be injoyed. About such things men ought not to be solicitous. Take no thought for the morrow, saith Christ, Matth. 6. 34. We must rest content in that portion which God every day bestoweth upon us. These are the things present here meant. Thus much is intended in the fourth Petition of the Lords prayer.