A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 63. Of the Grounds of Contentedness.

THe grounds of Contentedness are such as follow:* 1.1

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  1. Knowledge of Gods disposing providence that he ordereth all things in* 1.2 heaven and earth, according to his own will, Psal. 115. 3. & 135. 6. Hence we may safely inferre that our estate, whatsoever it be, great or mean, plentifull or s•…•…anty, quiet or troublesom, is ordered by God. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, Job 1. 21. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things, Isa. 45. 7. Who would not, who should not be content with that estate which God provideth for him?

  Among other Divine properties there are three which are of greatest force to move us to rest content in our present condition.

  • 1. Gods Almighty power.
  • 2. His incomprehensible wisdom.
  • 3. His infinite goodness.

God by his power is able to give any man any thing. If thou wilt thou canst make me clean, saith a leper to Christ, Matth. 8. 2. By his wisdom he discerneth what is fittest for every one. For the same estate is not fit for every one: there∣fore he variously ordereth mens estates, 1 Sam. 2. 7. His goodness moveth him to order all things to good. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, saith the Psal∣mist, Psal. 119. 71. If this mighty God who can settle thee in any estate, in his wisdom see this present estate to be fittest for thee, and in goodness settle thee there∣in, oughtest not thou to be content therewith?

Of contentedness arising from Gods disposing providence, See my Sermon on Matth. 10. 29. Entituled, The extent of Gods providence, §. 11.

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  2. Faith in Gods speciall relation to thee; that he is in particular thy Father:* 1.3 so as thou ma•…•…est say to him, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my sal∣vation, Psal. 89. 26. To be perswaded that the Almighty God, who can do what he will: that the wise God w•…•…o well dis•…•…erneth what is fittest for thee: that the good God who sweetens all the passages of his powerfull and wise providence with his goodness, is in speciall thy Father, cannot but assure thee that he dealeth with thee, as he knoweth to be best for thee▪ He that stedfastly believed this, would not have his estate otherwise ordered then it is. He must needs rest content with the present.

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  Of this speciall application of Gods Fatherhood, See my Explanation of the Lords Prayer, Entituled, A Guide to go to God, §. 12.

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  3. A full conviction of our unworthiness of the least of Gods mercies. This did* 1.4 Iacob acknowledge before God, Gen. 32. 10. This useth to produce two effects which much conduce to contentedness.

  One is thankfulness for whatsoever we have. This made Paul thank Christ Iesus, for that he counted him faithfull, putting him into the Ministry, who was be∣fore a blasph•…•…mer, (1 Tim. 1. 12, 13.) For in another place he saith, I am not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or worthy to be called an Apostle, 1 Cor. 15 9. Thankfulness is a degree above con∣tentedness.

  The other effect is an expectation of Gods continuing to provide what shall be sufficient for the future. For he that is conscious to his own unworthiness, can∣not but acknowledge that whatsoever good he hath is from Gods free grace. There∣upon he is moved to hope and beleeve, that God who for his own grace sake hath begun to do good unto him, will upon the same ground continue so to do: and thereupon he rests contented.

• 4. A deep apprehension of ones desert. He that knows himself cannot be ig∣norant* 1.5 that his desert is extremity of wrath and vengeance; even hell and damna∣tion. In that therefore he is on this side hell, in the land of the living under means of salvation, he is content with any outward estate, though it be never so mean: yea though it be an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 estate, and full of trouble. They who being sorely af∣flicted, duly consider that they had deserved much more then they had endured, with an holy content, and humble patience, thus say, It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not, Lam. 3 22.
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  5. A right application of Gods promises. There is no condition so mean, no* 1.6 estate so troublesom, but that in Gods Word we may •…•…inde some promise to sup∣port us therein.

  About want it is said, There is no want to them that fear God: The young lions do l•…•…ck and suffer •…•…unger: but they that fear the Lord shall not want any good thing, Psal. 34. 9, 10. My God shall supply all your need, Phil. 4. 19.

  About danger thus saith the Lord, When thou passest thorow the waters, I will be with thee; and thorow the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest tho∣row th•…•… fire thou shalt not be burnt: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, Isa. 43. 2.

  About fear of men there is this promise, They that be with us are mo then they that be with them, 2 King. 6. 16. And this, Say to them that are of a fearfull heart, Be strong, fear not, behold, your God will come with ve•…•…geance, even God with a re∣•…•…: he will come and save you, Isa. 35. 4.

  About all sorts of afflictions or temptations it is said, There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: But God is faithfull, who will not suffer you t•…•… be t•…•…mpted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make away to •…•…scape, that you may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10. 13.

  About death we have this glorious insultation put into our mindes and mouths, D•…•…ath is swallowed up in victory: O death where is thy sting? 1 Cor. 15. 54, 55. And they are pronounced blessed who die in the Lord, &c. Rev. 14. 13.

  Of a particular application of Gods promises, See more in Dom•…•…st▪ duties, on Eph. 6. 16. Treat. 2. part. 6. §. 72, &c.

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  6. Assurance of our right to Christ, and interest in him. All things are theirs* 1.7 whose Christ is. This doth the Apostle not only in generall affirm, but also in sun∣dry particulars exemplifie. For having laid down this generall position, All things •…•…re yours, he doth thus exemplifie it, Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours. Hereof he tenders this reason, and ye are Christs, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3. 21, 22, 23.

  Well may they who have Christ rest content in any estate. For,

  • 1. Christ is more worth then all the world. He is that treasure for which a wise man will •…•…ell all that he hath to buy that field where this treasure is. He is that pearl for which a wise man will sell all that he hath to buy it, Matth. 13. 44, 45, 46.
  • 2. God with Christ fre•…•…ly gives us all things, Rom. 8. 32.
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  • 3. Christ can make all wants, and all sufferings an advantage unto us To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Philip. 1. 21. Have not now they whose Christ is, just cause to be content with that which they have what∣soever it be?
• 7. Frequent and serious Meditation on that excellent inheritance which is pur∣chased* 1.8 and prepared for us in heaven. An heir that hath title to a rich inheritance, will be content with such diet and apparel as his Father is pleased to allow him. The heir as long as he is a childe di•…•…fereth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all, Gal. 4. 1. He goeth contentedly to School; he doth what his father enjoyns him to do; he rests contented with his present condition upon expectation of a future great inheritance: yet at the most is it but an earthly inheritance. How much more content should we be with the present on hope of an heavenly Inheritance? 1 Cor. 9. 25.

This was one special ground of Martyrs, not contentment only, but rejoycing also in their sufferings: For the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, Rom. 8. 18. Our light affli∣ction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a farre more exceeding, and eternall weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. This was a reason whereby the Patri∣archs were induced to live all their dayes in Tabernacles: For they looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Heb. 11. 9, 10.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Grounds of content.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. God order∣eth all things.
• * 1.3

  1. Faith in our special relati∣o•…•… to God.
• * 1.4

  3. Conviction of our unwo•…•…∣thiness.
• * 1.5

  4. Apprehen∣sion of our desert.
• * 1.6

  5 Applicat•…•…on of Gods pro∣mises.
• * 1.7

  6. Our right to Christ.
• * 1.8

  7. Meditation on our heaven∣ly inheritance.