False Christian teachings, trends….
The purpose of this post is to remind readers of the attitudes and graces spoken of in each of the eight parts of this series. A sampling of points was copied and pasted from each post; by knowing where these specific attitudes and graces are explained, one might more easily return to review those he wishes to know more intimately.
Now this is a way of getting contentment that the men of the world do not know: they can get contentment, if they have the creature to satisfy them; but in getting contentment from the Covenant of grace they have little skill. I should have opened two things here, first, how to get contentment from the Covenant of grace in general (but I shall speak of that in the next sermon, and now, only a word on the second). Secondly, how he gets contentment form the particular branches of the Covenant, that is, from the particular promises that he has, for supplying every particular want.
…five considerations with which a godly man finds contentment in what he has, though it is ever so little; 1. Because in what he has, he has the love of God to him; 2. What they have is sanctified to them for good; 3. …Grace shows a man that what he has, he has free of cost, from God as from a Father, and therefore it must needs be very sweet; 4. A godly man may very well be content, though he has only a little, for what he does have he has by right of Jesus Christ, by the purchase of Jesus Christ; 5. Every little that they have is but as an earnest penny for all the glory that is reserved for the. …Can I have the strength of Christ? Yes, it is made over to you by faith: the Scripture says that the Lord is our strength…
IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE REMOVING OF THE AFFLICTION THAT IS UPON US AS THE CHANGING OF THE AFFLICTION, THE METAMORPHOSING OF THE AFFLICTION, SO THAT IT IS QUITE TURNED AND CHANGED INTO SOMETHING ELSE. …A CHRISTIAN COMES TO THIS CONTENTMENT NOT BY MAKING UP THE WANTS OF HIS CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK OF HIS CIRCUMSTANCES. …THE MYSTERY CONSISTS NOT IN BRINGING ANYTHING FROM OUTSIDE TO MAKE MY CONDITION MORE COMFORTABLE, BUT IN PURGING OUT SOMETHING THAT IS WITHIN.
Burroughs describes the state of contentment further; then he talks about two ways of knowing greater contentment: by subtracting from one’s desires; and by adding his burden of sin to his burden of affliction. “The heavier the burden of your sin is to your heart, the lighter will the burden of your affliction be to your heart, and so you shall come to be content.”
It is okay to desire the affliction to be removed and to seek that via prayer; but obedience remains under the affliction; more than that, is pleased to remain under it, thanking God for His work, knowing that He only does right…. One who has learned this lesson of contentment, looks up to God in all things; he does not look down at the instruments and means God uses [to afflict him or bless him]; he sees God’s wisdom in what is happening to him
The doctrine contained in Phil. 4:11 is that it is the duty, glory and excellence of a Christian to be well-skilled in the mystery of Christian contentment …godliness is NOT great gain unless you also have contentment
Summary of the above section: when affliction comes, whatever it is, and though you feel much pain; cry to God, seek lawful ways to be delivered (via prayer, abiding in His word…); and do not murmur, repine, fret, vex yourself, nor permit tumultuousness of spirit, fear, or discouragement to destabilize and distract you; or rebellion to set you in opposition to God
Contentment is a blessing bestowed by the New Covenant and its promises; all believers may partake of all the blessings of this covenant – Burroughs clarifies the knowledge, understandings, conduct…via which one might arrive at contentment…The doctrine contained in Phil. 4:11 is that it is the duty, glory and excellence of a Christian to be well-skilled in the mystery of Christian contentment