The Fifth Day 207 



might be so, with very many who vex and toil 

 themselves to get what they have no need of. Can 

 any man charge God, that He hath not given him 

 enough to make his life happy? No, doubtless; 

 for nature is content with a little. And yet you 

 shall hardly meet with a man that complains not of 

 some want ; though he, indeed, wants nothing but 

 his will ; it may be, nothing but his will of his poor 

 neighbour, for not worshipping, or not flattering 

 him : and thus, when we might be happy and quiet, 

 we create trouble to ourselves. I have heard of a 

 man that was angry with himself because he was 

 no taller ; and of a woman that broke her looking- 

 glass because it would not shew her face to be as 

 young and handsome as her next neighbour's was. 

 And I knew another to whom God had given health 

 and plenty; but a wife that nature had made 

 peevish, and her husband's riches had made purse- 

 proud ; and must, because she was rich, and for no 

 other virtue, sit in the highest pew in the church ; 

 which being denied her, she engaged her husband 

 into a contention for it, and at last into a law-suit 

 with a dogged neighbour who was as rich as he, 

 and had a wife as peevish and purse-proud as the 

 other: and this law-suit begot higher oppositions, 

 and actionable words, and more vexations and law- 

 suits ; for you must remember that both were rich, 

 and must therefore have their wills. Well ! this 

 wilful, purse-proud law-suit lasted during the life of 

 the first husband; after which his wife vext and 

 chid, and chid and vext, till she also chid and vext 

 herself into her grave : and so the wealth of these 

 poor rich people was curst into a punishment, be- 

 cause they wanted meek and thankful hearts ; for 

 those only can make us happy. I knew a man that 

 had health and riches; and several houses, all 

 beautiful, and ready furnished; and would often 



