THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 227 



be happy and quiet, we create trouble to ourselves. I have 

 heard of a man that was angry with himself because he was 

 no taller ; and of a woman that broke her looking-glass 

 because it would not show her face to be as young and hand- 

 some 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 law-suit with a dogged neighbour who was as rich as 

 he. and had a wife as peevish and purse-proud as the other : 

 and this law-suit begot higher oppositions, and actionable 

 words, and more vexations and law-suits ; for you must re- 

 member that both were rich, and must therefore Lave their 

 will. Well, this wilful, purse-proud law-suit 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 him- 

 self 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 ob- 

 tain 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 towards that kingdom of 

 heaven, by being humble and cheerful, and content with what 

 his good God has allotted him. He has no turbulent, repin- 

 ing, vexatious thoughts that he deserves better ; nor is vext 

 when he sees others possest of more honour or more riches 



