Case 3. Whether an incestuous marriage, contracted in simpli- city of heart, betwixt two persons ignorant of such a defilement; and so far consummate, as that children are born in that wedlock; ought to be made known and prosecuted to a dissolution........ w a Uissolution........................... 493 An Advertisement to the Reader...... ............................ 497 I HAVE perused this Treatise, entitled “ The Remedy of Discontentment;" and, judging it to be very pious, profitable, and necessary for these Sad and Distracted Times, I License it to be printed and published ; and should much cornmend it to the Christian Reader, if the very name of the Author were not in itself sufficient, without any further tęstimony. JOHN DOWNAME: TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, GRACE AND PEACE, e, in this the parent might blue WHAT can be more seasonable, than, when all the world is sick of Discontentment, to give Counsels and Recipes of Contentation? Perhaps the patient will think it a time ill chosen for physic, in the midst of a fit : but, in this case, we must do as we may. I confess, I would rather have staid till the paroxysm were happily over ; that so, the humours being somewhat settled, I might hope for the more kindly operation of this wholesome medicine. But, partly, iny age and weakness, despairing to outlive the public distemper; and, partly, iny judgment, crossing the vulgar opinion for the season of some kind of Recipes ; have now put me upon this safe and useful prescription. God is niy witness, that I wrote this in the depth of mine own afflictions; the particulars whereof, it were unseasonable to trouble the world withal : as one, that meant to make myself my own patient, by enjoining myself that course of remedies, that I prescribe to others; and as one, who, by the powerful working of God's Spirit within me, labour to find my heart framed to those holy dispositions, which I wish and reconimend to every Christian soul. If there be no remedy, but the worst of outward troubles must afflict us; it shall be happy yet, if we inay find inward peace in our bosoms : which shall be, if we can reconcile ourselves to our offended God ; and calm our spirits to a meek undergoing of those sufferings, which the Divine Providence hath thought fit to measure forth unto us. This is the main drift of this ensuing labour, Now the same God, who hath, in these blustering times, put into my heart these quiet thoughts of Holy Contentation, bless them in every hand, that shall receive them ; and make them effectual to the good of every soul, that shall now and hereafter entertain them ! that so their gracious proficiency may, in the day of the appearance of our Lord Jesus, add to the joy of my account ; who am the unworthiest of the servants of God and his Church, J. N. THE METHOD* OF THIS TREATISE. HOW TO WANT. Contentation in knowing r(a.) The Transito{ I. WHAT IT is, to know how to want (1) of the Valu-i riness of Life, &c. ation and to be abased. of Earthly (b.) Unsatisfying thly ! Things. Condition of them. | (c.) Danger of over I esteeming them. [2.] Of Divine Providence over-ruling all Events. [3.] of the Worse Condition of others. (a.)Expose to Envy. (b.) Macerate with (1.) The Di Cares. versities of į14.1 of the Incon. | (c.) Danger of Dis. CI. CONSI- life; as veniences of great temper, both bo dily and spiritual. DERATIONS Estates. which re (d.) Torment in spect parting. (e.) Account to be rendered. s(a.) Freedom from Cares. [5.] of the Benefits (b.) Freedom from of Poverty. Fears of Keeping. (c) Freedom from [ Fears of losing. [6.] Of how little will suffice Nature. 17. Of the Miseries of Discontentment. 18.j of the Vicissitudes of Favours and Crosses, (9.] Examples of Contentation, both without and within the Church of God. (a.) Necessity and Benefit of Death. (b.) Conscience of a II. HOW TO well-led Life, BE ATTAIN (c.) Final Peace ED: wherein [1.] Remedies with God. there will be against the Tera; (d) Efficacy of use of certain . Christ's Death rois of Death. applied, (e.) Comfortable (2.) Death it Expectation of self: wbere-) certain Resurrec. in are to be tion and immedi. (considered ate Vision of God. ((a.) Defilement of Sin Original. (b.) Proneness to Sin. Inconveniencies ing well. | (d.) Dulness of Un. (a. of 3 Conjunction derstanding. Soul and Budy. "1(e.) Perpetual Con(1.) Solicitude of Cares. (g.) Multiplicity of Passions. Glory. ((3.) True Inward Riches. (.) To abate of our Desires. (14.) To be frequent and Fercent in Prayer. HON TO ABOUND. • This Analysis is arranged somewhat differtatly from tbat printed in the former editions, to render it more conforunable to the Trealise itself. LDITOR. 3. RESOLUTIONS. |