DIES PISCATOEI^. 595 



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 handsome as her next neighbor'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 neighbor, 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 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 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 faniily 

 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 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 ia heart, for they shall see God. Blessed 

 be the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 



