Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 60.

6. Conten∣tedness and Indifferency

6. ¹. Contentedness and acquiescence in your present, and indifferency for your future, condition, and imployment, (Eccl. 6.9.)

Digr. Of the ordinary temptations of desiring to change it; from a false conceit, that we shall live with less in∣cumbrances, and temptations in another: That we shall serve God better, or do more good in some other.

2. Reserving (except in order to the advancing of God's Service) an indifferency to all accidents, and success; and reconcilement to all conditions of Life, (rich, poor, active, retired, &c.) and a compliance of mind to all employ∣ments; as if those only, which you are in, complied with you. Who so thus remits himself to God's pleasure, never fails of obtaining his desire; because, he desires only what happeneth; and hath much more chearfulness, because less business, than the dayly contrivers of their Fortunes.

3. For the future, entertaining no designs at all (be∣yond the ordinary imployments of your present Vocation, or someway respecting it); these being the chief causes of great passions, and discontents. Especially not any that looks very far off: desiring always to be, what for the pre∣sent you are; (Quod sis esse velis, nihilque malis). Know∣ing, that (in a diligent and conscionable minding of your present business) the more you put your self (for to mor∣row) out of the guidance, and conduct of your own humane wisdome, the more you are received into the tuition of God's. And by this non-solicitude do avoid, the languishing im∣patience of non-possession, the violence (often not without envy, malice, flattery, &c.) of a prosecution, and lastly, the despair, and misery of a disappointment (as it more often happens) of your desires.

4. Or, if not this, at least entertaining no great designs; none singular, or eminent; but having as many, and as small, as you can, (and these also be rather suspensive, and doabting, desires with remission of the issue to God, than

fixed, and peremptory resolves). For the smaller they are, the less will your passion be after them; and the less the danger of a rival to prevent you in them; and the more they are, the more indifferent will you be to any of them: So that, defeated of one, you can easily transfer your thoughts upon a second; a third; (As for Example: One dubiously proposing with himself, either such an imployment, for doing the more good abroad; or else such a retire∣ment, for better following his own Devotions; put-by the first, he will more easily repair to, and content himself with the second.

5. In the prosecution of your designs (assuredly lawful, where there is no special interest of Piety) going on chear∣fully in two cases especially. 1. Where you find any strong inclinations of your will, and a way much facilitated, and as it were offering it self unto you: For, that our heart, and way is thus prepared, we have reason to presume (in things lawful) is from God. 2. Where you find (though against your inclination) a course that is as it were ne∣cessitated to you (Suppose from the power others have over you, or from the indigence of your fortunes) For our wills may also take counsel of the flesh; and the necessity, we find thwarting our desires, we have reason to pre∣sume is from the ordination of God.

6. Being as ready to desist; especially in two cases. 1. Where, a thing being suggested by others, yet no ne∣cessity presseth you; and, after having also recommended it in your Prayers, there remains an aversion of your will to it. 2. When, there being no aversion of your will, yet your desires find in the prosecution much impediment, and also difficulty. For this, or no way (Revelations being extraordinary) God declares his pleasure unto you: (i. e.) either in averting internally your will; or in ex∣ternally opposing your endeavors.

7. Practising content, and indifferency, and submitting to

God's appointments, in any little displeasures that happen to you, Not thinking any small thing below the exercise of this virtue; for by this often imploying of your quiet∣ness of mind upon quotidian inconveniences, it will grow stronger for greater occasions.

8. Fortifying your self against discontent more especially in the beginning and newness of a misfortune, or change of your condition: Time, and a little accustomance to a new (tho worse) state of life, being a certain cure of all inquietude: Chiefly endeavouring to acquire this indiffer∣ency also for short, and long, life (the thing wherein we use to be the least resigned): A conformity to the Di∣vine Will being a much more acceptable Sacrifice to God, where more difficulty and reluctance of Nature. Which indifferency is more easily acquired by frequent cogitations and discourses of Death and converse with the sick, rendring it less terrible to us; being a thing more strange and sur∣prizing because all avoid the fore-thinking of it.

9. In the discontents also, melancholies, sadness, aridities, barrenness, morosities, disgusts, desolations of the soul; which, in the with-drawings, and absence of the Spirit the Com∣forter, will sometimes happen to the best of men; happen I say from some greater deprivation of present secular con∣tents; from the length of their sufferings; and the re∣moteness of their reward or release; but most commonly, from an indisposition of the body, when the Spirits after much industry are spent, and grow heavy, and dull; or when some cold humors more abound (from whence these dejections are observed to be more frequently towards the Evening;) these desolations being a more special time of temptations from the Evil Spirit: First, Not resolving, or executing any thing, and refusing your own counsel, till such a fit be past. Well considering the Cause; and so neglecting, and not heeding your present thoughts; call∣ing to mind former consolation, and that your mind was

not long since, and e're long will be again, of another complexion. Forcing your self to pray, (St. James's his Advice, c. 5.13.) though you can little mind it. Exer∣cising some act of praise, and loving God, in expressions opposite to your present thinkings (as Cant. 1.3.—2.16. Rom. 8.35.37. the 23d, 25th, or some other Psalm re∣cited.) Meditating on the joys to come. On our Saviour and the Saints persevering in God's Service in the greatest wants of all worldly contents; and joying in these wants, because of a so much greater reward to come. Singing some spiritual Hymn, or Sonnet; which singing will ex∣cite your spirits. Taking up, and reading the Scripture, or some pious Book. Repeating the Beatitudes (Matt. 5.) together with the woes (Luk. 6.) Imploying the mind about any other thing (save minding it self, or that which it is then doing): as in some external occupations, or honest recreations; any way refreshing, and heating your Spirits; Melancholy being of a cold, and dry temper; Only taking heed of not turning aside (to remedy it) to any intemperance, or other unlawful sensual delight. Empty∣ing the Soul of some parts of its sadness, by communica∣ting it to a spiritual friend; who also may infuse into you some of his Comforts. After such remedies used, the evil not expelled, patiently as always, entertaining it for God's, and your sins sake; and making of it to contemplate your own natural we akness.