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Contentment

HERE are few things by which sick people

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are more tempted than discontent; there is no form, perhaps, in which it does not offer itself to them-discontent with their lot, their circumstances, their friends, their suffering, and all things that surround them. It manifests itself either in complainings, or murmurings, or dissatisfaction; or difficulty in being pleased; or in seeking to get circumstances altered; or in a state of utter selfishness, which refuses to take an interest in other people, and things beyond itself; or in trying to make out that one's own case is the hardest, and the most trying, the least perceived by others; or in constantly calling the attention of others to ourselves and our trials; or in craving for sympathy. All these things mark discontent. Often, too, it speaks by the countenance and by the voice-even the manner betrays it. Some people wish that it should be seen; they hope thus to get more sympathy; they take no pains to hide it. They like those people who will listen to their complain

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ings; and all others they count hardhearted. But is there no sin in discontent? Misery there surely is. Discontented spirits are ever "seeking rest but finding none.' In the society of others, they crave for attention and sympathy. When they are alone they turn inwardly upon themselves, wearied and disappointed-more hopeless than ever: they brood over their distresses, and never know the blessing of peace.

There is but one remedy for it all. That remedy lies within the reach of every sick person; but they must apply it for themselves, and must earnestly cry to God to give them the strength and the courage, the patience and the perseverance, to apply it faithfully and unweariedly. The remedy is contentment; but there are many ingredients in it.

1. To see and to believe that you are discontented.

2. To feel the greatness of the sin of discontent. 3. Not to allow yourself any excuses or palliations, e.g., not to say, "Perhaps I am rather discontented sometimes, but then I have so much to make me so.

4. To hide nothing from yourself about it, but to say, "I am discontented."

5. To consider it a constant duty to fight against it; beginning with some small thing and that which is the most obvious to yourself.

6. Remember that it is a holy war that you are beginning-one which you cannot fight alone, and

1 Matt. xii. 43.

for which you must daily, and earnestly, ask the help of God.

7. Do not be out of heart if you make very slow progress, and find the difficulties rather increase than diminish. "The battle is not yours, but

God's."",

Your friends have been far more patient with you than you have given them credit for. You have wearied their spirits very often; they have tried with earnest desire to please you, and to make you happy; and they could not. You have complained of them; and at length have, after many hard thoughts of them, become estranged from them in heart. No wonder you are unhappy; your state is a very painful one, and calls for true pity. But have you asked yourself whether there may not be something in you, which hinders you from receiving what you crave for? and which seems to shut up, and shut out, the love of friends, and leave you (as you suppose) a sad and isolated being? You think your lot a hard one: perhaps even unlike that of others. Who placed you in that lot? Is it not written that "the lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord?" Did you ever think that every portion of your lot is under His control? if so, have you any right to reply against it?

Again. Are there no crosses of which you complain, that you have brought upon yourself? Do you never say, or make it appear, that you should

2 2 Chron. xx. 15.

3 Prov. xvi. 33.

like a thing to be done, or to have a thing, and then complain afterwards of that very thing, which you brought upon yourself, and say that it tired or annoyed you? If you can answer No, happy are you; but if your conscience must answer that it is true, then the result shows discontent, and unwillingness to be satisfied.

Again. Do you never go on complaining to every one you meet with, or whom you confide in, until your whole mind is full of your grievances, and you can think of nothing else, when you are alone; and even your very prayers are complainings-perhaps often rather of others than of yourself? Truly this is one of the surest indications of a discontented heart.

Do you never, when you are alone, think of all the aggravations of your lot; of all the things that might be otherwise; of the characters of your friends, and even of your nearest relations; until you take an entirely exaggerated view of every one, and of every circumstance; and afterwards really, though perhaps unintentionally, represent things to yourself, and to others, quite untruly-giving a false gloss and unreal colouring to the whole?

A faithful and sincere answer to these questions will teach you how truly to reply to the question,— Is there no sin in discontent? Are not the sins threefold: 1. Sin towards God. 2. Sin towards your neighbour. 3. Sin towards yourself?

1. Sin towards God.

He has placed you where you are. He has

chosen for you your friends, your home, your trials, your blessings, your pains, your pleasures, and everything that belongs to your lot. He has chosen them because they are the best for you— those which will the most surely and quickly perfect you, and liken you to Himself. He would change them in one moment, but thereby He would not prove His love.

2. Sin against your neighbour.

Your discontent has given you hard thoughts of him, as hindered you from love; at least from anything but that kind of love, which selects a few to care for, who meet your wishes, and then rejects the rest. Read 1 Cor. xiii., and try yourself by it. 3. Sin against yourself.

You have, by discontent, shut yourself out from the enjoyment of all the blessings, and helps, and comforts, with which God has surrounded you; you have hindered yourself from peace, and rest, and quietness, and have isolated yourself. If your sight had been cleansed, you would have seen bright and blessed things around you, things to be thankful for, and to rejoice in. If your ears had not been stopped, you would have heard loving voices, and they would have touched your heart, and made it to rejoice and sing. In all these things you have sinned against faith, hope, and charity. You have not trusted God, you have not "hoped all things, believed all things, endured all things,"4 or persevered in loving, though you fancied that no

41 Cor. xiii. 7.