The Resolving of Some Questions
sphere. Take a great painter, and put him to plough, or set him to planting, or grafting of trees—this is not his art—he is not skilled in it! Just so, bid a natural man live by faith, and when all things go contrary, to be contented, you bid him do what he has no skill in, you may as well bid an infant to guide the stern of a ship! To live contented upon God in the deficiency of outward comforts, is an art which "flesh and blood has not learned;" nay, many of God's own children, who excel in some duties of religion, when they come to this art of contentment, how do they bungle! They have scarcely commenced the learning of this art.
The Resolving of Some Questions.
For the illustration of this doctrine, I shall propound these questions.
Question 1. Should a Christian be insensible to his condition?
No—for then he is not a saint—but a stoic. Rachel did well to weep for her children—there was nature. But her fault was, she refused to be comforted—there was discontent. Christ himself was sensible, when he sweat great drops of blood, and said, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me;" yet he was contented, and sweetly submitted his will: "nevertheless, not as I will—but as you will." The apostle bids us to humble ourselves "under the mighty hand of God," (1 Pe. 5:6) which we cannot do unless we are sensible of it.
Question 2. Whether a Christian may lay open his grievances to God.
Yes. "Unto you have I opened my cause;" (Jer. 20:12) and David poured out his complaint before the Lord. (Psalm 142:2) We may cry to God, and desire him to write down all our injuries. Shall not the child complain to his father? When any burden is upon the heart, prayer gives vent, it eases the heart. Hannah's spirit was burdened; "I am" says she, "a woman of a sorrowful spirit." Now having prayed, and wept, she went away, and was no more sad. Here is the difference between a holy complaint and a discontented complaint; in the one we complain to God; in the other we complain of God.
Question 3. What does contentment exclude?
There are three things which contentment banishes out of its diocese, and which can by no means dwell with it.
1. Contentment excludes a vexatious repining. Murmuring is properly the daughter of discontent. "I mourn in my complaint."
(Psalm 55:2) He does not say "I murmur in my complaint".
Murmuring is no better than mutiny in the heart; it is a rising up against God. When the sea is rough and unquiet—it casts forth nothing but foam. Just so, when the heart is discontented—it casts forth the foam of murmuring, anger, and impatience! Murmuring is nothing else, but the scum which boils off from a discontented heart!
2. Contentment excludes an uneven discomposure. When a man says, "I am in such straits, that I know not how to evolve or get out, I shall be undone!" When his head and heart are so distracted, that he is not fit to pray or meditate, etc. When he is not himself— just as when an army is routed, one man runs this way, and another that, the army is put into disorder; so a man's thoughts run up and down distracted, discontent dislocates and unjoints the soul, it pulls off the wheels.
3. Contentment excludes a childish despondency. This is usually consequent upon the other. A man being in a hurry of mind, not knowing which way to extricate, or wind himself out of the