The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment [Paperback]

Jeremiah Burroughs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2009

'I have learned to be content in whatever [state] I am'' (Phil. 4:11) Anyone who lacks true contentment may find it in this book. If not, it will be because that one would not follow the very clear and simple instructions given. The teaching is from the Bible, yet it must be described as unique. Nowhere else will you find such unusual, but Biblically authenticated thoughts: He will teach you that contentment lies in subtraction, not in addition; that the ABC's of Christianity are nothing like what you thought them to be; that there is a mystery of contentment, but that once you have learned the way from Christ's word, you will be able to attain such a depth of contentment as you never before dreamed existed. This is a key book for building up Christian maturity. Christian Contentment, what is it? ''It is a sweet, inward heart thing. It is a work of the Spirit indoors. It is a box of precious ointment, very comforting and useful for troubled hearts in times of troubled conditions.'' ''It is the inward submission of the heart.'' The Mystery of Contentment: The mystery of it is that a Christian can be the most contented person, yet unsatisfied. He can be content with whatever portion God gives him, give him the whole world and it cannot satisfy him. That is the mystery of it. The Art of Contentment: ''I have learned to be content.'' To learn, first one must know his ABC's. The ABC's of contentment are: 1. I am nothing in myself. Christ is all in all. 2. I deserve nothing. What I have from God, I do not deserve. 3. I can do nothing. Christ says, ''Apart from Me, you can do nothing'' Wanting to do something without Christ is evil. 4. I am vile. By nature I am not only an empty vessel, but corrupt. 5. I can make use of nothing, if with it God withdraws Himself. 6. I am worse than nothing, for sin has made me so. 7. If I perish, nothing will be lost. God can raise up someone else. Contentment is not by addition, but by subtraction: Seeking to add a thing will not bring c

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Burroughs (1599-1646) was one of the great Independents, a member of the Westminster Assembly, and a voluminous writer. All he wrote was powerful. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: University of Michigan Library (April 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002NEEWJQ
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but . . ., February 19, 2003

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John Andrew Deskins "Professional listener" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Paperback)

After you've read through the first chapter of this book, you will think most modern evangelical writing should be shelved next to Dr. Seuss.

This is a fantastic and profound book, HOWEVER . . .

DON'T BUY THIS EDITION! The print is miniscule and very difficult to read! Try the Banner of Truth Edition.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary for every Christian to learn, August 6, 2004

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J. Adrian (Orange,New Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Paperback)

This is 'the book' on the doctrine of Christian contentment. The depth of the Puritans is rarely even approached by modern authors. Burrough's takes you through some of the ABC's of Christian living. For example on p.87-88 "We deserve nothing and therefore why should we be impatient if we do not get what we desire." Perhaps at the root of discontentment is that we really do not desire God's will in everything, at least in some things we want the Lord to rubber stamp and implement our will even if it is contrary to His. A Christian can be content no matter what their circumstances because contentment comes from the inward state of the heart and not from outward circumstances as the author ably instructs the reader. The importance of a believer learning to be content(and it is a lifelong process)would be difficult to overstate. It helps in dealing with temptation, it prepares the Christian for any type of service their Lord and Master requires of them, and it brings great comfort no matter how bleak things may appear to be. The writer also enables the reader to understand how that comfort is brought, on p.130 " Certainly our contentment does not consist in getting the thing we desire, but in God's fashioning our spirits to our conditions." God works in us to view things by faith, and by doing so , we see things more and more filtered through God's perspective. By doing that we can see a little more of the big picture of all of the Lord's dealings with His people and bring that to bear on what is happening in our life. Any Christian who learns to be more content both glorifies God and becomes increasingly useful in His service and thats why this book is so important and useful for the Lord's people.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Rare a Jewel, January 5, 2004

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M. Galishoff "drmlg" (Lanett, Al USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Paperback)

Look at the self-help secion and Christian Living section in bookstores and you will find hundreds if not thousands of books professing to help the reader to contentment and happiness. Very few, if any, survive the test of time much less the test of human experience.

This great book, written almost 400 years ago, addresses the basic problem of human discontent, suffering and offers a timeless and tested solution. 16th and 17th century Divines did not mince words, cater to the fickle tastes of the reading public or care about being poitically correct. They preached the truth.

True contentment, argues the author, is achieved by subtraction and not by addition; by surrender and not struggle.

Read this great work and toss all those written by people who will be forgotten next year. It will set your heart on fire and elevate your soul.