Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Part I

At the urging of a brother in the Lord, I am digging into this Puritan classic. Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646) was a member of the Westminster Assembly and a prolific writer. Here (and we'll see how this goes) are my notes from his first chapter.

Chapter One: Christian Contentment Defined

Christian contentment is, “that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”

To flesh this out:
I. Christian Contentment is a business of the heart – a sweet, inward thing, a work of the Holy Spirit indoors.

II. It is a quiet of the heart, yet it is not opposed to:
A. A due sense of affliction. Christ doesn't say, “Do not count as a cross what is a cross.”
B. Making in an orderly manner our complaint to God. We are allowed to “unbosom” our hearts to God. We may enlist the encouragement of others.
C. Using lawful means to remedy the situation.
But it is opposed to:
A. Murmuring at the hand of God.
B. “Vexing and fretting,” which are beyond murmuring.
C. Tumultuousness of spirit, a la the multitude in Acts that doesn't know for what purpose it has come together.
D. A spirit distracted from present duties to God in our several relationships. Luther wrote that ordinary works, done in faith and from faith, are more precious than heaven and earth. We are to resist distraction.
E. Distracting, heart-consuming cares – anything that chokes or deadens the heart's union with Christ. We are to think in terms of outer and inner rooms of the heart; ordinary cares and fears may be allowed into the former room but not the latter.
F. Sinking discouragements – the despairing conclusion that God cannot resolve this trial.
Sinful shiftings and shirkings to get relief and help. Examples: Saul's consultation of the witch of Endor; Asa in 2 Chronicles 16:7,8; Jacob lying to Isaac, not trusting in God's means and timing. The heart that thinks, “I do not care how I am delivered, if only I may be freed,” is far from quiet.
G. Rebellions, in situation of long and severe affliction.

III. Christian Contentment is a quiet frame of spirit. The quiet comes more from the temper and disposition of his own heart than from any external argument or from the possession of anything in the world. Consider the healthy man who warms his cold clothes in the morning by wearing them, as opposed to the sickly man whose clothes can be warmed only by proximity to the fire, and then only fleetingly.

IV. Christian Contentment is a compound of all the graces. Yet it is distinguished from:
A. The quietness of mere temperament or disposition.
B. Mere sturdy resolution. Some seem never to be troubled, come what may.
C. Strength of natural (unsanctified) reason.
Such may not appear to be disquieted, but neither are their hearts lively in the service of God, or to sanctify the name of God in their affliction. It is not enough merely not to murmur. And such are just as content when they commit sin against God.

V. Fifth characteristic: freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God's disposal.
A. The heart is readily brought over; much effort is not required to bring one there.
B. Freely, not constrained; no patience by force. “Readily and freely I will be content” -- knowing full well that this is affliction.
C. Not mere stupidity or lack of sense.

VI. Freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God's disposal as “sending under.”

VII. Taking pleasure ... being well-pleased (taking into account II. above) in so far as one can see God in it. “It is good that I am afflicted.” (Present tense) Paul pronounces himself “possessing all things” while in prison. Not as possessing, but possessing. Prov. 15:6

VIII. Looking up to God in all things – not at instruments and means, but up to God. Christian contentment takes pleasure in God's wisdom. “All is traced to God's disposal.”

XI. ...In every condition:
A. Whatever particular afflictions God may place one in (we would usually prefer some other area of life to what we're now facing)
B. Submission as to the time and continuance of the affliction. When God casts one down, one must be content to lie until God bids stand up, and God's Spirit enters to enable it.
C. Content about every circumstance related to the affliction – sometimes the circumstances surrounding are worse than the affliction itself. Sometimes God sends one affliction after another in series. In fact, afflictions rarely come alone.