GHAP. XXI. THE COMPtETE ANGLER. 333 



chid and vexf, till she also chid and vext herself into 

 her grave: And so the wealth of these poor rich-peo- 

 ple, ^vas curst info a punishment, because they wanted 

 meek and thankful hearts ; for those only can make us 

 liappy. I knew a man that had health and riches ; and 

 several houses, all beautiful, and ready furnished ; and 

 would often trouble himself and family to be removing 

 from one house to another: and being- asked by a 

 friend. Why he removed so often from one house to 

 another? replied, " It was to find content in some 

 <c one of them." But his friend knowing his temper, 

 told him. If he would find 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 Savi- 

 our says in St. Matthew's Gospel ; for he there says, - 

 " Blessed be the merciful, for they shall obtain 

 f 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 

 f < 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 only7! 

 possesses the earth as he goes towards that kingdom, 

 of heaven by being humble and chearful, and con- 

 tent with what his good God has allotted him. He 

 lias no turbulent, repining, vexatious thoughts that he 

 deserves better ; nor is vext when he sees others possest 

 of more honour or more riches than his wise God has 

 allotted for his share: but he possesses \vhat 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 

 the most deadly sins, yet he was said to be a man 

 after God's own' heart, because he abounded more 

 with thankfulness than any other that is mentioned in 



