226 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART I 



other : and this lawsuit begot higher oppositions, and action- 

 able words, and more vexations and lawsuits ; for you must re- 

 member, 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 vexed and chid, 

 and chid and vexed, till she also chid and vexed 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 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 

 honor, 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 thank- 



