Please listen through parts in order, as this is an audiobook and the initial parts lay a necessary foundation for the latter parts. See part one for a brief bio on Burroughs.
If you notice that Burroughs seems to repeat himself often, don’t be troubled by that. His outline was seemingly divided into very minor points that almost seem to be repetitions. Jonathan Edwards’ writing is very similar in Religious Affections.
At first, I was very confused by Edwards’ style, apparently because I am used to authors only considering more major points, and assuming that readers would fill in the blanks. Burroughs and Edwards consider very weighty subjects and for the benefit of readers, who want to understand, address as many little points as they believe to be necessary.
I was able to understand Edwards’ style when I sat his book down and bought it on Audible and while listening through the book, I caught on to his style of writing. I was immediately able to better understand while I read. Although his subject matter, like Burroughs,’ is very difficult, so I often listened and followed along in the book.
Part 2
Mp4, number two of mini-series on The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, by Jeremiah Burroughs:
The following talk points highlights from the audiobook version of Burroughs’ book are intended to support your listening experience:
- What things are contrary to the quiet, submissive, contented spirit?, The following:
- Murmuring; repining at God’s hand [to fret, complain, long for something else], as the Israelites did in the wilderness
- Vexing, fretting, which is a degree beyond murmuring
- A tumultuous spirit: violently agitated thoughts and feelings – like the unruly multitude in Acts
- To an unsettled, unstable spirit wherein the heart is distracted from present duty in our relationships with God, self and others
- Duty should be a higher priority than distractions – duty: the ordinary works of God done in faith, from faith [perhaps, as in Matthew 6 and 7, which directs one how to live the Christian life]
- He cited an example from Nehemiah 6:3 when he told Sanballat that he was doing a great work and couldn’t come down to talk to him [Sanballat was deliberately trying to pull him from his duty]
- Distracting, heart consuming cares – he didn’t allow the fear and noise of evil tidings to take hold of him, distracting him from the work of God-given duties [as I have let concerns about the 2020 election distract me, and occupy my thoughts and feelings]
- Sinking discouragements, losing hope due to circumstances [2020 election again, for me; therein, I realized that I was not depending upon God, but on man]; because God can work above, beyond, and contrary to means; our reason cannot predict How He might act in a given situation; therefore, we should always hope in Him [as the Israelites at the Red Sea]
- God’s blessings to His servants often come from unexpected places [as tho He tests us, seeing whom we will depend upon]
- To sinful “shiftings and shirkings” to get relief [I think he means, that when one is under affliction and having painful feelings, fleeing that affliction to a situation that will produce more pleasant feelings – pleasure seeking: that is what addictive behaviors are mostly about, and God hates pleasure seeking because therein one does not submit to Him, but keeps running from Him and the work He is doing in one’s life; that is, one is disobedient, disquieted, rebellious…]
- He cites biblical examples: 2 Chron. 20:35; 16:7,8,; 14:12 and others
- Desperate risings of the heart against God; and outright rebellion – he stated that even the godly can experience the beginnings of these when their afflictions have been long and hard; and especially when joined with melancholy [gloominess; depression]
- Christian contentedness is opposite of all the above
- 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
- Quietness of spirit under affliction, then, is when the heart is able to bear an affliction and to keep quiet under it
- Christian contentment is a quiet, gracious, frame of spirit, which suggests 3 things:
- It is a grace that spreads itself through the soul
- It is a judgment in the soul that tends to quiet the soul: “in my judgment I am satisfied; that is, I can say, “This is from the hand of God and it is best for me, although I don’t see the reason for it, I am satisfied in it.”” [I think his word “judgment” means, interpretation of the impact of the affliction upon his life – an interpretation is a group of thoughts and feelings one has about something, see link at the end of post to pdf self-exam packet that explains relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; in addition to explaining how facts, opinions and interpretations factor into self-examination]
- Some know partial contentment: some part of the soul has contentment. He may be satisfied in his judgment [interpretation of his situation of affliction] and not in his affections, thoughts or will: he cited Psalm 42, David’s judgment was satisfied, but some part of him remained disquieted [you might want to read Psalm 42 to get an idea what Burroughs is suggesting; also, the pdf self-exam packet will help with this point]
- Spiritual contentment derives from the disposition of the heart, rather than from externals: e.g., if a child is disquieted and you give it a toy, which quiets it, that quietness came from an external thing
- Right quietude comes from within, from the disposition of one’s heart
- Contentment is not one act, but a constant state that reveals a quiet heart
- [The biblical definition of heart, indicates that it is the command center which includes the thoughts, affections and will – a pdf download which provides instruction about these three areas, is linked to this post]
Click the following link for a pdf downloadable self-exam packet:
DOWNLOADABLE SELF-EXAM -2- docx
For other similar posts in this blog, see Categories: Spiritual Disciplines; Jonathan Edwards, posts which offer a glimpse of his spiritual life; and Study Helps.