PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS AUDIOBOOK IN ORDER, PART 1 THROUGH 13 — 15 OR SO, JUST AS THOUGH YOU WERE READING THE BOOK: The kindle version (there are several versions) that I used, which is the same as the audiobook, is at the following link for 99 cents:
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment: Jeremiah Burroughs
Burroughs was an English Congregationalist and eminent Puritan divine, born in East Anglia in 1599 or 1600.
This book is about how to live the Christian life so that you will discover contentment. It talks mostly about dealing with afflictions from God, that each believer experiences, via God’s providence — to conform him to the image of Christ; to teach dependence upon Christ….
In 15 years of running the Christian race, I have thought about many of these things. But I was not sure I was thinking rightly; nor was I anywhere near putting them into a meaningful system via which I might assess my experience and responses.
Burroughs established an orderly system by which Christians might know how they are going amiss in their Christian walk.
I listened through the 3 hour 22 minute audiobook several times before I began to note it, and based on what I have learned thus far in my walk, from reading Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, John Bunyan…I believe that Burroughs’ writings will be helpful for improving sanctification via a more specific prayer life, more specifically directed self-observation, journaling…(as Edwards recommended, and I posted recently, see Categories, Jonathan Edwards, A glimpse into His Spiritual Journey, for many helps in the same areas).
I believe that because, he specifically identifies what we are to look for, avoid, etc.
We all begin as spiritual infants, and depending upon what kinds of teachers we are under, we may not know many things we ought to know had we been abiding in God’s means of grace and listening to great teachers.
Burroughs certainly should be categorized as a great teacher.
The following is part one of this audiobook series, it is 14 minutes long; talk points are below this mp4:
Audio book, talk point HIGHLIGHTS, are just that; these points are meant to assist your listening, not to stand alone.
This audiobook was recorded from the YouTube site, Christian Sermons and Audio Books [All square bracketed statements, emboldening, underscoring are mine.]
I am posting this audiobook in 14 to 20 minute segments with talk point notes by me. If you want to hear the entire 3 hour 22 minute audiobook, then click the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_VSoTP4Snc
After listening to the audiobook several times, it is very clear to me that the initial hour is the most difficult, as it lays the foundation for the other 2 1/3 hours.
- (Phil 4:11 [KJV])Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
- Audio book is based on Phil. 4:11
- The apostle Paul’s proficiency in the school of Christ is therein apparent
- He had become a master in Christian contentment; contentment is a mystery; this book opens that mystery up, so its parts become visible, and by grace, can be learned
- God is pleased to bestow such gifts upon His children, students of Christ’s school; that is, through God’s grace, one may learn [by receiving God’s providential lessons and learning to remain quiet under then; abiding in His word and prayer…]
- Though Paul’s worldly necessities often did not create a sufficiency, he was contented by the sufficiency of Christ within His soul – a gift of God to Paul [who was striving to walk with God and to receive God’s afflictions without murmuring…such things will be more clearly explained in part 5 and following, of this mini-series]
- 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
- For example:
- (1Tim 6:6 [ESV2011]) But godliness with contentment is great gain,
- (1Tim 6:8 [ESV2011]) But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
- (Heb 13:5 [ESV2011])Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- These texts suggest that godliness is NOT great gain unless you also have contentment
- Four things need to be explained to demonstrate the above conclusions:
- 1) The nature of Christian contentment; 2), the art and mystery of it; 3), the lessons that need to be learned to bring the heart to contentment; and 4), in what, the glorious excellence of this grace consists
- His description of Christian contentment: that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and Fatherly disposal in every condition [in Sinclair Ferguson’s description of the beatitude of meekness, he described it so – one may hear that video sermon in the category of True Kingdom Citizen, meekness]
- Contentment is the sweet inward work of the Spirit wherein one does not seek to help oneself via outward violence; murmuring; uttering perverse words against God and others; but is inwardly submissive, and waits upon God [for deliverance, relief…]
- Not only must the tongue hold its peace, the soul must be silent: it is possible for one to be outwardly quiet but be very discontented inwardly
- God hears the inward thoughts, attitudes, desires…; for example: (Ps 55:21 [KJV]) The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
- Or, (Ps 62:1 [KJV])… Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. (Ps 62:5 [KJV]) My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
- Those words may be translated, My soul be thou silent unto God, hold thy peace, Oh my soul
- Contentment requires more than ordinary gifts, or reason; it is a business of the heart, quieting [for a fuller understanding of the biblical concept of “heart,” see, Categories, Beatitude life, post on Purity of heart – that post contains a definition of heart and more]
- A quiet heart is not opposed to the following [he seems to be saying that a quiet heart will accept, receive, submit to]: affliction; suffering; hardship
- When a Christian is under affliction from God, God would have him receive this affliction, not murmur; seek to escape…but be sensitive to the pain it causes and quietly receive it – that you might demonstrate a proper Christian attitude of obedience / respect towards God; furthermore, no heart can truly know contentment that hasn’t known the contrary [found in affliction]
- [In biology, psychology…we know that mankind typically fights or flees threatening situations. In learning to observe, identify, and express feelings in dealing with troublesome life experiences, I have seen again and again, that I and humans in general tend to avoid painful situations. That is, it is no little feat to remain calm, silent, inwardly quiet in the face of loss of a loved one; divorce, cancer, abuse, persecution; and other sorts of painful situations; such as Paul reported experiencing in 2 Cor. 11:23ff]
- [Regarding fleeing God’s afflictions: I have been long aware that I tend to flee to some pleasurable experience when I am in a painful one: to entertainment; buying something at the mall; any addiction, etc. Escaping God’s afflictions is disobedience; it is also heneous to Him. Therefore, a Christian must learn to remain under His afflicting hand, as it is conforming you to His Son’s image]
- It is acceptable to seek deliverance from affliction in a biblical manner via God’s appointed means [of grace – abiding in His word, prayer…]
- It is acceptable to seek deliverance as He leads me, via His providence [all things that enter one’s life are from God’s hand; so it seems that Burroughs is saying that one needs to pay attention to what is coming into his life and derive from that, a leading from God]
- One may seek deliverance from his affliction by submissiveness and holy resignation of spirit, to be delivered as God wills [when I had prostate cancer, I realized that I was unable to free myself from it, but resigned myself to accept whatever God deemed necessary: death; to learn, as if being chastened…therein, I resigned myself to submit and receive His providence to me, believing He is all wise and therefore would do what was best. It took me 6 months to come to that. But I considered that a great blessing, because my elderly neighbor was diagnosed with leukemia and died 3 months later. I felt blessed, knowing that I was given sufficient time to fight through the rebellion; to respond correctly to the Spirit…]
- The above things are to be done with quietness and submission, desiring contentment
For other similar posts in this blog, see Categories: Jonathan Edwards (posts about gleaning from his spiritual life); and Spiritual Disciplines.