III. That a man be content with any estate.
IV. The art of contentment.—1. Is not learned from nature. 2. Or outward things. 3. But is taught us by God’s Spirit. 4. By His promises. 5. By the rod of discipline. 6. Proficiency in contentment gained—(1) By despising unjust gain. (2) By moderating worldly desires and care. (3) By carefully using and charitably dispensing what we have. (4) By bearing want and loss with patience.—R. Sanderson.
Christian Contentment.
I. What it is.—1. That our desires of worldly good are low and moderate. 2. That in all our views of bettering our worldly condition we indulge not immoderate cares. 3. That whatever our present condition be, we cheerfully submit to the providence of God in it. 4. That we are so easy with our own lot as not to envy others who may be in more prosperous circumstances. 5. That we will not use any unlawful means to better our present condition. 6. That we make the best of our condition whatever it be.
II. How it may be learned.—1. Christianity sets in view the most solid principles of contentment and the strongest motives to it. 2. Furnishes us with the brightest patterns of contentment to enforce its precepts and prevent our despair of attaining it.
Lessons.—1. The present state should be considered as a state of learning. 2. More depends on our spirits than upon our outward condition in order to contentment. 3. Labour to have our minds so formed that they may be content and tolerably easy in any state of life.
Ver. 13. The Source of the Christian’s Power.
I. The extent of a Christian’s ability.—1. He is able to discharge every duty. 2. He is able to endure every trial. 3. He is able to brave every suffering. 4. He is able to overcome every temptation.
II. The source of the Christian’s ability.—1. Christ strengthens us by His teachings. 2. Christ strengthens us by His example. 3. Christ strengthens us by the moral influence of His death as a sacrifice for our sin. 4. Christ strengthens us by uniting us to Himself, and bestowing on us, in answer to the prayer of faith, the influences of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the fountain of spiritual strength.—G. Brooks.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 15–19.