the complete angler-第41章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
et 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 of 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 the gifts of God unequally dealt； if we see another abound with riches； when； as God knows； the cares that are the keys that keep those riches hang often so heavily at the rich man's girdle； that they clog him with weary days and restless nights； even when others sleep quietly。 We see but the outside of the rich man's happiness： few consider him to be like the silk…worm； that； when she seems to play； is； at the very same time； spinning her own bowels； and consuming herself； and this many rich men do； loading themselves with corroding cares； to keep what they have； probably； unconscionably got Let us； therefore； be thankful for health and a competence； and above all； for a quiet conscience。
Let me tell you； Scholar； that Diogenes walked on a day； with his friend； to see a country fair； where he saw ribbons； and looking…glasses； and nutcrackers； and fiddles； and hobby…horses； and many other gimcracks； and； having observed them； and all the other finnimbruns that make a complete country…fair； he said to his friend； 〃 Lord； how many things are there in this world of which Diogenes hath no need！〃 And truly it is so； or might be so； with very many who vex and toil themselves to get what they have no need of。 Can any man charge God； that He hath not given him enough to make his life happy？ No； doubtless； for nature is content with a little。 And yet you shall hardly meet with a man that complains not of some want； 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 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 lawsuits； for you must remember that both were rich； and must therefore have their wills。 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 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 towards that kingdom of heaven； by being humble and cheerful； and content with what his good God had allotted him。 He has no turbulent； repining； vexatious thoughts that he deserves better； nor is vext when he see others possess 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。
My honest Scholar； all this is told to incline you to thankfulness； and to incline you the more； let me tell you； and though the prophet David was guilty of murder and adultery； and many other of the most deadly sins； yet he was said to be a man after God's own heart； because he abounded more with thankfulness that any other that is mentioned in holy scripture； as may appear in his book o￡ Psalms； where there is such a commixture； of his confessing of his sins and unworthiness； and such thankfulness for God's pardon and mercies； as did make him to be accounted； even by God himself； to be a man after his own heart： and let us； in that； labour to be as like him as we can； let not the blessings we receive daily from God make us not to value； or not praise Him； because they be common； let us not forget to praise Him for the innocent mirth and pleasure we have met with since we met together。 What would a blind man give to see the pleasant rivers； and meadows； and flowers； and fountains； that we have met with since we met together ？ I have been told； that if a man that was born blind could obtain to have his sight for but only one hour during his whole life； and should； at the first opening of his eyes； fix his sight upon the sun when it was in its full glory； either at the rising or setting of it； he would be so transported and amazed； and so admire the glory of it； that he would not willingly turn his eyes from that first ravishing object； to behold all the other various beauties this world could present to him。 And this； and many other like blessings； we enjoy daily。 And for the most of them； because they be so common； most men forget to pay their praises： but let not us； because it is a sacrifice so pleasing to Him that made that sun and us； and still protects us； and gives us flowers； and showers； and stomachs； and meat； and content； and leisure to go a…fishing。
Well； Scholar； I have almost tired myself； and； I fear； more than almost tired you。 But I now see Tottenham High…Cross； and our short walk thither shall put a period to my too long discourse； in which my meaning was； and is； to plant that in your mind with which I labour to possess my own soul； that is； a meek and thankful heart。 And to that end I have shewed you； that riches without them； do not make any man happy。 But let me tell you； that riches with them remove many fears and cares。 And therefore my advice is； that you endeavour to be honestly rich； or contentedly poor： but be sure that your riches be justly got； or you spoil all。 For it is well said by Caussin； 〃 He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keeping 〃。 Therefore be sure you look to that。 And； in the next place； look to your health： and if you have it； praise God； and value it next to a good conscience； for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of； a blessing that money cannot buy； and therefore value it； and be thankful for it。 As for money； which may be said to be the third blessing； neglect it not： but note； that there is no necessity of being rich； for I told you； there be as many miseries beyond riches as on this side them： and if you have a competence； enjoy it with a meek； cheerful； thankful heart。 I will tell you； Scholar； I have heard
