212 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



though he, indeed, wants nothing but his will ; it may be, 

 nothing but his will of his poor neighbour, for not worshipping 

 or not flattering him : and thus, when we might 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 shew 

 her face to be as young 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 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 

 cursed 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 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 honour 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. 



