CHAP. XXI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 231 



And that our present happiness may appear to be the 

 greater, and we the more thankful for it, 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 tooth- 

 ache ; 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 dis- 

 asters of broken limbs ; some have been blasted, others 

 thunder-strucken; and we have been freed from these, 

 and all those many other miseries that threaten human 

 nature : let us therefore rejoice and be thankful. Nay, 

 which is a far greater mercy, we are free from the insup- 

 portable burthen of an accusing 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 expence of a little money, have eat and 

 drank, and laughed, and angled, and sung, and slept se- 

 curely; and rose next day, and cast away care, and sung, 

 and laughed, and angled again ; which are blessings rich 

 men cannot purchase with all their money. Let me tell 

 you, Scholar, I have a rich neighbour 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 it is true indeed: but he considers not that 

 it 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 



