From The Art of Divine Contentment, by Thomas Watson
Be not content, O sinner, in this estate!
Another man desires liberty, God sees restraint better for him; he will work his liberty by restraint; when his feet are bound, his heart shall be most enlarged.
The motion of the soul heaven-ward is a violent motion, it must be learned; flesh and blood is not skilled in these things.
A true Christian is a wonder; he is the most contented, and yet the least satisfied.
Grace is beyond gifts; thou comparest thy grace with another’s gifts, there is a vast difference.
Care is a spiritual canker that doth waste and dispirit; we may sooner by our care add a furlong to our grief than a cubit to our comfort.
True grace is always progressive; as the saints are called lamps and stars, in regard of their light, so trees of righteousness, for their growth: they are indeed like the tree of life, bringing forth several sorts of fruit.
Men can be content to be anything but what God would have them.
The wise God sees that condition to be bad for one, which is good for another.
When grace is crowning, it is not so much for us to be content; but when grace is conflicting, and meets with crosses, temptations, agonies; now to be content, this is a glorious thing indeed.
The wise God hath ordered our condition; if he sees it better for us to abound, we shall abound.
Paul, in regard of his faith and courage, was like a cedar, he could not be stirred; but for his outward condition, he was like a reed bending every way with the wind of providence.
The world is like a shadow that declineth; it is delightful, but deceitful; it promiseth more than we find, and it fails us when we have most need of it.
Contentment is a slip taken off from the tree of life, and planted by the Spirit of God in the soul.
A discontented Christian is like a rough tempestuous sea; when the water is rough you can see nothing there; but when it is smooth and serene, then you may behold your face in the water.
A contented spirit is a silent spirit; he hath not one word to say against God.
If men are poor, they learn to be envious; they malign those that are above them.
A man may read the figure on the dial, but he cannot tell how the day goes, unless the sun shines upon the dial: we may read the Bible over, but we can not learn the purpose, till the Spirit of God shines into our hearts.
It is an easy thing to be wicked; hell will be taken without storm.
A gracious heart spies mercy in every condition, therefore hath his heart screwed up to thankfulness.
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