The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson

Author:Thomas Watson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Protestant, Christian Life, Philosophy, Christianity, Religion, General, Religious
ISBN: 9781573581134
Publisher: Soli Deo Gloria Publications
Published: 1995-01-01T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XII

Three things inserted by way of Caution.

In the next place, I come to lay down some necessary cautions. Though I say a man should be content in every estate, yet there are three estates in which he must not be contented.

1st. He must not be contented in a natural estate: here we must learn not to be content. A sinner in his pure naturals is under the wrath of God,Jno. 3. 16

and shal he be content when that dreadful vial is going to be poured out? Is it nothing to be under the scorchings of divine fury? "who can dwel with everlasting burnings?" A sinner, as a sinner, is under the power of Satan,Ac. 26. 18 and shal he in his estate be contented? Who would be contented to stay in the enemies'quarters? While we sleep in the lap of sin, the devil doth to us as the Philistines did to Samson, cut out the lock of our strength, and put out our eyes. Be not content, O sinner, in this estate! For a man to be in debt, body and soul; in fear every hour to be arrested and carried prisoner to hel , shall he now be content? Here I preach against contentation,. Oh get out of this condition! I would hasten you out of it as the angel hastened lot out of Sodom;Gen. 19. 15 there is the smel of the fire and brimstone upon you. The longer a man stays in his sin, the more sin doth strengthen. It is hard to get out of sin, when the heart as a garrison is victualled and fortified. A young plant is easily removed, but when the tree is once rooted, there is no stirring of it: thou who art rooted in thy pride, unbelief, impenitency, it will cost thee many a sad pul ere thou art plucked out of thy natural estate.Jer. 6. 16 It is an hard thing to have a brazen face and a broken heart; "he travaileth with iniquity;"Ps. 7. 14 be assured, the longer you travail with your sins, the more and the sharper pangs you must expect in the new birth. O be not contented with your natural estate! David saith, "why art thou cast down, O my soul?"Ps. 43. 5 But a sinner should say to himself, why art thou not disquieted, O my soul? Why is it that thou layest afflictions so to heart, and canst not lay sin to heart? It is a mercy when we are disquieted about sin. A man had better be at the trouble of setting a bone, than to be lame, and in pain al his life; blessed is that trouble that brings the soul to Christ. It is one of the worst sights to see a bad conscience quiet; of the two, better is a fever than a lethargy. I wonder to see a man in his natural estate content. What! content to go to hel ?

2d. Though, in regard of externals,

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