{"id":682,"date":"2013-01-30T17:38:30","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T17:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/54.225.232.228\/us\/store\/uncategorized\/the-rare-jewel-of-christian-contentment\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T00:30:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T00:30:13","slug":"the-rare-jewel-of-christian-contentment","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/banneroftruth.org\/uk\/store\/christian-living\/the-rare-jewel-of-christian-contentment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book Description<\/h2>\n

Jeremiah Burroughs is worthily reckoned as belonging to the front rank of English puritan preachers. As such he played a prominent part in the Westminster Assembly of divines, but died prematurely before the Assembly’s work was concluded.<\/p>\n

Burrough’s writings, some published before and others after his death, were numerous, but The Rare-Jewel of Christian Contentment<\/em> is one of the most valuable of them all. Its author was much concerned to promote (1) peace among believers of various ‘persuasions’ (2) peace and contentment in the hearts of individual believers during what he describes as ‘sad and sinking times’. The Rare Jewel<\/em> concentrates upon this second aim. It is marked by sanity, clarity, aptness of illustration, and warmth of appeal to the heart. ‘There is an ark that you may come into, and no men in the world may live such comfortable, cheerful and contented lives as the saints of God’. Burroughs presses his lesson home with all the fervour and cogency of a true and faithful minister of God.<\/p>\n

Table of Contents Expand \u2193<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nBiographical Introduction<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\n<\/td>\nChristian Contentment Described<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nIt is inward<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\nIt is quiet<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhat this is not opposed to<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhat it is opposed to<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\nIt is a frame of spirit<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\nIt is a gracious frame<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nIt freely submits to God’s disposal<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\nIt submits to God’s disposal<\/td>\n33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\nIt takes pleasure in God’s disposal<\/td>\n33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\nIt submits and takes pleasure in God’s disposal<\/td>\n35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\nIt does this in every condition<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Mystery of Contentment<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nA Christian is content, yet unsatisfied<\/td>\n42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\nHe comes to contentment by subtraction<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\nBy adding another burden to himself<\/td>\n47<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\nBy changing the affliction into something else<\/td>\n49<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nBy doing the work of his circumstances<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\nBy melting his will into God’s will<\/td>\n53<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\nBy purging out what is within<\/td>\n55<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Mystery of Contentment – continued<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\nHe lives on the dew of God’s blessing<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\nHe sees God’s love in afflictions<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nX<\/td>\nHis afflictions are sanctified in Christ<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXl<\/td>\nHe gets strength from Christ<\/td>\n62<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXII<\/td>\nHe makes up his wants in God<\/td>\n65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXIII<\/td>\nHe gets contentment from the Covenant<\/td>\n69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Mystery of Contentment – concluded<\/td>\n74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHe supplies wants by what he finds in himself<\/td>\n74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHe gets supply from the Covenant<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI. The Covenant in general<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2. Particular promises in the Covenant<\/td>\n80<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXIV<\/td>\nHe realizes the things of Heaven<\/td>\n83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXV<\/td>\nHe opens his heart to God<\/td>\n84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHow Christ Teaches Contentment<\/td>\n86<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nThe lesson of self-denial<\/td>\n86<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\nThe vanity of the creature<\/td>\n91<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\nTo know the one thing needful<\/td>\n92<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\nTo know one’s relation to the world<\/td>\n93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nWherein the good of the creature is<\/td>\n97<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\nThe knowledge of one’s own heart<\/td>\n99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHow Christ Teaches Contentment- Concluded<\/td>\n103<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\nThe burden of a prosperous condition<\/td>\n103<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\nThe evil of being given up to one’s heart’s desires<\/td>\n109<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\nThe right knowledge of God’s providence<\/td>\n111<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Excellence of Contentment<\/td>\n118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nBy it we give God his due worship<\/td>\n119<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\nIn it is much exercise of grace<\/td>\n121<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\nThe soul is fitted to receive mercy<\/td>\n124<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\nIt is fitted to do service<\/td>\n125<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nIt delivers from temptations<\/td>\n126<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\nIt brings abundant comforts<\/td>\n128<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\nIt gets the comfort of things not possessed<\/td>\n129<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\nIt is a great blessing on the soul<\/td>\n133<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\nA contented man may expect reward<\/td>\n133<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nX<\/td>\nBy it the soul comes nearest the excellence of God<\/td>\n134<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Evils of a Murmuring Spirit<\/td>\n136<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nIt argues much corruption in the soul<\/td>\n137<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\nIt is the mark of an ungodly man<\/td>\n138<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\nMurmuring is accounted rebellion<\/td>\n139<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\nIt is contrary to grace, especially in conversion<\/td>\n141<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nIt is below a Christian<\/td>\n144<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Evils of a Murmuring Spirit \u2013 concluded<\/td>\n152<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\nBy murmuring we undo our prayers<\/td>\n152<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\nThe evil effects of murmuring<\/td>\n153<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\nDiscontent is a foolish sin<\/td>\n157<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\nIt provokes the wrath of God<\/td>\n161<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nX<\/td>\nThere is a curse on it<\/td>\n165<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXI<\/td>\nThere is much of the spirit of Satan in it<\/td>\n166<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXII<\/td>\nIt brings an absolute necessity of disquiet<\/td>\n167<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXIII<\/td>\nGod may withdraw his protection<\/td>\n167<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAggravations of the Sin of Murmuring<\/td>\n170<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nThe greater the mercies the greater the sin of murmuring<\/td>\n170<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\nWhen we murmur for small things<\/td>\n176<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\nWhen men of gifts and abilities murmur<\/td>\n178<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\nThe freeness of God’s mercy<\/td>\n178<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nWhen we have the things for the want of which we were discontented<\/td>\n178<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\nWhen men are raised from a low position<\/td>\n179<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\nWhen men have been great sinners<\/td>\n180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\nWhen men are of little use in the world<\/td>\n180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\nWhen God is about to humble us<\/td>\n181<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nX<\/td>\nWhen God’s hand is apparent in an Affliction<\/td>\n182<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXI<\/td>\nWhen God has afflicted us for a long time<\/td>\n183<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Excuses of a Discontented Heart<\/td>\n185<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI<\/td>\n‘It is a sense of my condition’<\/td>\n185<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nII<\/td>\n‘I am troubled for my sin’<\/td>\n186<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIII<\/td>\n‘God withdraws himself from me’<\/td>\n188<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIV<\/td>\n‘It is men’s bad treatment that troubles me\u2019<\/td>\n190<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nV<\/td>\n‘I never expected this affliction’<\/td>\n191<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVI<\/td>\n‘My affliction is so great’<\/td>\n192<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVII<\/td>\n‘My affliction is greater than others’<\/td>\n193<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nVIII<\/td>\n‘If the affliction were any other, I could be content’<\/td>\n194<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nIX<\/td>\n‘My afflictions make me unserviceable to God’<\/td>\n195<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nX<\/td>\n‘My condition is unsettled’<\/td>\n199<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXI<\/td>\n‘I have been in a better condition’<\/td>\n202<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXII<\/td>\n‘I am crossed after taking great pains’<\/td>\n204<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nXIII<\/td>\n‘I do not break out in discontent’<\/td>\n205<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHow to Attain Contentment<\/td>\n207<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI Considerations to content the heart in any afflicted condition<\/td>\n207<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n1<\/td>\nThe greatness of the mercies we have<\/td>\n207<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2<\/td>\nGod is beforehand with us with his mercies<\/td>\n208<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n3<\/td>\nThe abundance of mercies God bestows<\/td>\n209<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n4<\/td>\nAll creatures are in a vicissitude<\/td>\n209<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n5<\/td>\nThe creatures suffer for us<\/td>\n210<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n6<\/td>\nWe have but little time in the world<\/td>\n211<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n7<\/td>\nThis has been the condition of our betters<\/td>\n211<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n8<\/td>\nWe were content with the world without grace, and should be now with grace without the world<\/td>\n213<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n9<\/td>\nWe did not give God the glory when we had our desires<\/td>\n213<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n10<\/td>\nThe experience of God doing us good in afflictions<\/td>\n213<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHow to Attain Contentment-concluded<\/td>\n216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nII Directions for attaining contentment<\/td>\n216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n1<\/td>\nThere must be grace to make the soul steady<\/td>\n216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2<\/td>\nDo not grasp too much of the world<\/td>\n216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n3<\/td>\nHave a call to every business<\/td>\n217<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n4<\/td>\nWalk by rule<\/td>\n217<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n5<\/td>\nExercise much faith<\/td>\n219<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n6<\/td>\nLabour to be spiritually-minded<\/td>\n219<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n7<\/td>\nDo not promise yourselves great things<\/td>\n220<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n8<\/td>\nGet hearts mortified to the world<\/td>\n221<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nII Directions for attaining contentment- continued<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n9<\/td>\nDo not pore too much on afflictions<\/td>\n222<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n10<\/td>\nMake a good interpretation of God’s ways to you<\/td>\n223<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n11<\/td>\nDo not regard the fancies of other men<\/td>\n225<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n12<\/td>\nDo not be inordinately taken up with the comforts of the world<\/td>\n226<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Review<\/h2>\n