ARRANGED AND REVISED, WITH A GLOSSARY, INDEX, AND OCCASIONAL NOTES, BY JOSIAH PRATT, B.D. F.A.S. LECTURER OF THE UNITED PARISHES OF ST. MARY WOOLNOTH AND ST. MARY WOOLCHURCH RAW, ST. LAWRENCE JEWRY, LONDON. FOR WILLIAMS AND SMITH, STATIONERS' COURT ; J. BURDITT ; BYFIELD AND SON ; T. CONDER; J. HATCHARD ; MATHEWS AND LEIGA ; J. NUNN ; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON ; L. B. SEELEY ; VERNOR, 1419.d.58 CONTENTS OF VOL. VIII. PRACTICAL WORKS CONCLUDED. Page I. THE REMEDY OF DISCONTENTMENT: or, A TREATISE OF CONTENTATION IN WHATSOEVER CONDITION: FIT FOR THESE SAD To the Christian Reader......... The Method of this Treatise........... Introduction. The Excellency of Contentation ; and how it is to be had.-The Contrariety of Estates, wherein Contentation is to be exercised....... 5 Part First. Contentation, in KNOWING HOW TO WANT.......... 6 CHAP. I. WHAT IT IS to know how to want, and to be abased. Sect. 1. How MANY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO WANT........ ib. 2. WHO THEY ARE, THAT KNOW HOW TO WANT. 8 CHAP. II. HOW TO BE ATTAINED........... ib. Sect. 1. CONSIDERATIONS for Contentment : which respect, (1.) The Diversities of Life; as [1.] Of the Valuation of Earthly Things; viz. (a.) The Transitoriness of Life, Honour, Beauty, Strength, and Pleasure... 9 (b.) Unsatisfying Condition of them..... 11 (c.) Danger of over-esteeming them..... 12 [2.] Of Divine Providence over-ruling all Events.......... 13 [3.] Of the Worse Condition of Others....... 14 [4.] Of the Inconveniences of great Estates ; viz. (a.) Expose to Envy.......... 15 (b.) Macerate with Cares...... ib (c.) Danger of Distemper, both bodily and spiritual ... 16 (d.) Torment in Parting.... 17 (e.) Account to be rendered...... ib. [5.] Of the Benefits of Poverty ; viz. (a.) Freedom from Cares............. ib. (b.) Freedom from Fears of Keeping.... 18 (c.) Freedom from Fears of Losing..... ib. [6.] Of how little will suffice Nature...... ib. [7.] Of the Miseries of Discontentment...... 19 [8.] Of the Vicissitudes of Favours and Crosses...... 21 19.] Examples of Contentation, both within and without the Church of God....... 22 |