The Compleat ^Angler 



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 lawsuit with a 

 dogged neighbour who was as rich as he, and had a wife as peevish 

 and purse-proud as the other : and this lawsuit begot higher opposi- 

 tions, and actionable words, and more vexations and lawsuits ; for 

 you must remember that both were rich, and must therefore have 

 their wills. Well, this wilful, purse-proud lawsuit 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, 

 because 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 

 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 

 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 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 meantime he (and he only) possesses the earth, as 

 he goes towards 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 vext when he sees others possest of more honour or 

 more riches than his wise God has allotted for his share ; but he 



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