The Art of Divine Contentment

The contented heart is never out of heart. Contentment is a golden shield that beats back discouragement. True contentment will trust God even when it cannot see Him. Why are you discontented? Is it because you are temporarily dispossessed of comforts? You who are discontented because you do not have all you would like to have, let me tell you, either your faith is a nonentity, or, at best, it is just an embryo. It is a weak faith that must have stilts and crutches to support it. 

 

Discontent is not only below faith, but it is also below reason. Discontent is unworthy of the relationship we have with God. Christians are invested with the title and privilege of sonship; we are heirs of the promise. God will be sure to reward the contented Christian.

 

List of Chapters

Ch. 1: The Scholar

Ch. 2: The Lesson

Ch. 3: The Character of Contentment

Ch. 4: Why Should We Be Content?

Ch. 5: The Usefulness of Contentment

Ch. 6: How Is It Possible to Be Content?

Ch. 7: Motivations to Contentment

Ch. 8: Discontent

Ch. 9: More Motivation

Ch. 10: Cautions

Ch. 11: Characteristics of Contentment

Ch. 12: Rules for Contentment

Ch. 13: The Contented Christian’s Comfort

 

About the Author

Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) was a prominent English Nonconformist Puritan pastor and author, known for his notable works like The Godly Man’s Picture, The Ten Commandments, and The Body of Divinity. Having earned his degrees from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he served at St. Stephen Walbrook Church in London for 16 years before being imprisoned in 1651 for his role in a plot to restore Charles II. Upon his release, he continued preaching, both privately and publicly after the passing of the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672, which allowed him to obtain a preaching license at Crosby Hall in London. Watson, who carried Christ in his heart and lived as a committed Christian, retired to Barnston in Essex due to declining health, passing away in 1686.