224 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART I. 



will beg you to consider with me, how many do, even at this 

 very time, lie under the torment of the stone, the gout, and 

 toothache; and this we are free from. And every misery 

 that I miss is a new mercy ; and therefore let us be thankful. 

 There have been, since we met, others that have met disasters 

 of broken limbs ; some have been blasted, others thimder- 

 strucken ; and we have been freed from these, and all those 

 many other miseries that threaten human nature : let us there- 

 fore rejoice and be thankful. Nay, which is a far greater 

 mercy, we are free from the unsupportable burden of an accus- 

 ing, tormenting conscience, a misery that none can bear : 

 and therefore let us praise Him for His preventing grace, and 

 say, Every misery that I miss is a new mercy. Nay, let me 

 tell you, there be many that have forty times our estates, that 

 would give the greatest part of it to be healthful and cheerful 

 like us ; who, with the expense of a little money have eat and 

 drank, and laughed, and angled, and sung, and slept securely ; 

 and rose next day, and cast away care, and sung, and laughed, 

 and angled again ; which are blessings rich men cannot pur- 

 chase with all their money. Let me tell you, Scholar, I have 

 a rich neighbor, that is always so busy that he has no leisure to 

 laugh : the whole business of his life is to get money, and more 

 money, that he may still get more and more money ; he is still 

 drudging on, and says, that Solomon says, " The diligent hand 

 maketh rich "; and is it true indeed : but he considers not that 

 *t is not in the power of riches to make a man happy ; for it 

 was wisely said, by a man of great observation, " That there 

 be as many miseries beyond riches, as on this side them." 

 And yet God deliver us from pinching poverty ; and grant 

 that, having a competency, we may be content and thankful.. 

 Let not us repine, or so much as think the gifts of God un- 

 equally dealt, if we see another abound with riches ; when, as 

 God knows, the cares that are the keys that keep those riches, 

 hang often so heavily at the rich man's girdle, that they clog 

 him with weary days, and restless nights, even when others 



