DIES PISCATORI^. 593 



that have possessed my soul since we two met together. And 

 these thoughts shall be told you, that you also may join with 

 me in thankfulness to the Giver of every good and perfect 

 gift for our happiness. 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 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 thunder-strucken ; and we have been freed from these, 

 and all those many miseries that threaten human nature : let 

 us therefore rejoice and be thankful. Nay, which is a far 

 greater mercy, we are free from the unsupportable 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 expense of a 

 little money, have ate 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 purchase 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 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 

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