252 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



removed so often from one house to another, re- 

 plied, " It was to find content in some one of them." 

 But his friend, knowing his temper, told him, " If he 

 would rind content in any of his houses, he must 

 leave himself behind him ; for, content will never 

 dwell but in a meek and quiet soul." And this may 

 appear, if we read and consider what our Saviour 

 says in St. Matthew's Gospel : for he there says, — 

 " Blessed be the merciful, for they shall obtain 

 " mercy. Blessed be the pure in heart, for they 

 " shall see God. Blessed be the poor in spirit, for 

 " theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And, Blessed 

 " be the meek, for they shall possess the earth." 

 Not that the meek shall not also obtain mercy, and 

 see God, and be comforted, and at last come to the 

 kingdom of heaven ; but in the mean time he, and 

 he only, possesses the earth as he goes toward that 

 kingdom of heaven, by being humble and cheerful, 

 and content with what his good God has allotted 

 him. He has no turbulent, repining, vexatious 

 thoughts, that he deserves better ; nor is vexed 

 when he sees others possessed of more honour, or 

 more riches than his wise God has allotted for his 

 share ; but he possesses what he has with a meek 

 and contented quietness ; such a quietness as makes 

 his very dreams pleasing both to God and himself. 



My honest Scholar, all this is told to incline you 

 to thankfulness : and to incline you the more, let 

 me tell you, that though the prophet David was 

 guilty of murder and adultery, and many other of 



