"Consider the excellency of it. Contentment is a flower that doth not grow in every garden; it teacheth a man how in the midst of want to abound. You would think it were excellent if I could prescribe a receipt or antidote against poverty: but behold here is that which is more excellent, for a man to want, and yet have enough, this alone contentment of spirit doth bring. Contentation is a remedy against all our trouble, an alleviation to all our burdens, it is the cure of care. Contentation, though it be not properly a grace (it is rather a disposition of mind,) yet in it there is a happy temperature and mixture of all the graces: it is a most precious compound, which is made up of faith, patience, meekness, humility, &c. which are the ingredients put into it." - Thomas Watson, The Art of Divine Contentment (emphases added)
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:11-13, KJV
"Watson's works are all marked by profound spirituality, terse style, impressive remarks, and practical illustrations. This book, first printed in 1653 is no exception. Based on Philippians 4:11, "I have learned, in whatever state I am therewith to be content," Watson writes, "For my part, I know not any ornament in religion that doth more bespangle a Christian, or glitter in the eye of God and man, than this or contentment. If there is a blessed life before we come to heaven, it is the contented life." Godly contentment is a theme missing from many pulpits today. A serious reading of this treatise would do much to fill this void." - Book Summary from Solid Ground Christian Books.
Many Thomas Watson books are on the Puritan Hard Drive in print and audio formats.
A search for the word "content", using the Master Search Index on the Puritan Hard Drive, brings up 34,060 results in 1,256 documents, and a search for the word "peace", using the Master Search Index on the Puritan Hard Drive, brings up 71,100 results in 1,357 documents -- all of which gives you the search term in the context of one line (under each book title in which they are found), and when you click on this line the Puritan Hard Drive opens the correct book, to the correct page, and highlights your search term!
