Quotes on Contentment

Here is a list of quotes that I used over the past few weeks.

Watson Defines Contentment: “ It is a sweet temper of spirit, whereby a Christian carries himself in an equal poise in every condition” Contentment doth not appear only now and then as some stars which are seen but seldom: it is a settled temper of the heart. It is not casual, but constant” The Art Of Divine Contentment, Watson pages:31,34,35

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every situation.” The Rare Jewel OF Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs

“What is contentment? It is having a satisfied mind in any situation. It is find inner satisfaction in God alone and in his provision for you. It is experiencing his peace and confidence in difficult times. It is consciously enjoying the fact the God is good even when your circumstances are not.” Learning Contentment In All Your Circumstances Robert D Jones pg 53

“ This sin of discontent I find very skilful in it’s apologies, which I shall first discover, and then make a reply. We must lay it down for a rule, that discontent is a sin, so that all the pretences and apologies wherewith it labors to justify itself are but the painting and dressing of a strumpet” Watson p51

“Your sufferings are not so great as your sins: put these two in the balance, and see which weighs heaviest; where sin lies heavy, suffering lie light. A carnal spirit makes more of his sufferings, and less of his sins… The carnal heart cried, Take away the punishment; but a gracious heart cries Take away the iniquity. One saith, “Never anyone suffered as I have done, but the other saith, never any one sinned as I have done.” Watson p82

“ It is Satan’s policy, either to keep us from seeing our sins; or if we will needs see them, that we may be swallowed up of sorrow. Watson

“ Friends are as brittle glasses, we may use them, but if we lean too hard upon them, they will break” Watson p69

“Murmuring is no better than mutiny in the heart; it is a rising up against God.” Watson p30

“ God’s friendship is nothing else but compassion; for there is naturally no affection in us to desire his friendship, and no goodness in us to deserve it; the loadstone is in himself. When we were full of sin, he was full of compassion; when we were his enemies, he sent an embassy of peace; when our hearts were turned back from God, his heart was turned toward us. O the tenderness and sympathy of our Friend in heaven!” Watson p72

A Contented Christian carries heaven about him; for what is heaven but that sweet repose and full contentment that the soul shall have in God? Watson p104

“ The trade of sin needs not to be learned, but the art of divine contentment is not achieved without holy industry” The Art Of Divine Contentment Watson

“ The humble man is the contented man; if his estate be low, his heart is lower than his estate; therefore be content. If his esteem in the world be low, he that is little in his own eyes, will not be much troubled to be little in the eyes of others. He hath a meaner opinion of himself than others can have of him. The humble man studies his own unworthiness; he looks upon himself as less than the least of God’s mercies and then a little will content him. He doth not say his comforts are small, but his sins are great. He thinks it a mercy he is out of hell, therefore is contented!” Watson p211

God sees in his infinite wisdom that the same condition is not convenient for all; that which is good for one, may be bad for another. One season of weather will not serve all men’s occasions; one needs sunshine, another rain: one condition of life will not fit every man, any more than one suit of apparel will fit every body: prosperity is not fit for all, nor yet adversity. Watson p41

Discontent keeps a man from enjoying what he doth possess. Watson p44


Though God had carried him (Paul) into various conditions, yet he was not lifted up with the one, nor cast down with the other: the spring of his heart was not broken, the wheels of his affection were not destroyed, but kept their constant motion towards heaven- still content Watson p26