mendation. These, in their language, are like unto kites in their flying, which mount in the air so scornfully as if they disdained to stoop for the whole earth, fetching about many stately circuits: but what is the spirit these conjurers with so many circles intend to raise ? A poor chicken, or perchance a piece of carrion and so the height of the others' proud boasting will humble itself for a little base gain.

:

But it is an humble and willing submitting ourselves to God's pleasure in all conditions. One observeth (how truly I dispute not) that the French naturally have so elegant and graceful a carriage, that, what posture of body soever in their salutations, or what fashion of attire soever they are pleased to take on them, it doth so beseem them that one would think nothing can become them better. Thus contentment makes men carry themselves gracefully in wealth, want, in health, sickness, freedom, fetters, yea, what condition soever God allots them.

It is no breach of contentment for men to complain that their sufferings are unjust, as offered by men; provided they allow them for just, as proceeding from God, who useth wicked men's injustice to correct his children. But let us take heed that we bite not so high at the handle of the rod as to fasten on his

hand that holds it; our discontentments mounting so high as to quarrel with God himself.

It is no breach of contentment for men by lawful means to seek the removal of their misery and bettering of their estate. Thus men ought by industry to endeavor the getting of more wealth, ever submitting themselves to God's will. A lazy hand is no argument of a contented heart. Indeed, he that is idle, and followeth after vain persons, shall have enough; but how? (Prov. xxviii. 19,) "shall have poverty enough."

God's spirit is the best schoolmaster to teach contentment, a schoolmaster who can make good scholars, and warrant the success as well as his endeavor. The school of sanctified afflictions is the best place to learn contentment in: I say, sanctified; for naturally, like resty horses, we go the worse for the beating, if God bless not afflictions unto us.

Contentment consisteth not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire; not in multiplying of wealth, but in subtracting men's desires. Worldly riches, like nuts, tear many clothes in getting them, spoil many teeth in cracking them, but fill no belly with eating them, obstructing only the stomach with toughness, and filling the bowels with windiness; yea, our souls may sooner surfeit than be satisfied with earthly things. He that at first thought

ten thousand pounds too much for any one man, will afterwards think ten millions too little for himself.

Men create more discontents to themselves than ever happened to them for others. We read of our Saviour, that, at the burial of Lazarus, (John xi. 33,) étúpačev čavtóv," he troubled himself," by his spirit raising his own passions, though without any ataxy or sinful disturbance. What was an act of power in him is an act of weakness in other men: man disquieteth himself in vain with many causeless and needless afflictions.

Pious meditations much advantage contentment in adversity. Such as these are: to consider, first, that more are beneath us than above us; secondly, many of God's dear saints have been in the same condition; thirdly, we want rather superfluities than necessities; fourthly, the more we have, the more we must account for; fifthly, earthly blessings, through man's corruption, are more prone to be abused than well used; sixthly, we must leave all earthly wealth at our death, "and riches avail not in the day of wrath : " but, as some use to fill up the stamp of light gold with dirt, thereby to make it weigh the heavier, so it seems some men load their souls with thick clay, to make them pass the better in God's balance, but all to no purpose; seventhly, the less we have,

the less it will grieve us to leave this world; lastly, it is the will of God, and therefore both for his glory and our good, whereof we ought to be assured. I have heard how a gentleman, travelling in a misty morning, asked of a shepherd (such men being generally skilled in the physiognomy of the heavens) what weather it would be. "It will be," said the shepherd, "what weather shall please me: " and being courteously requested to express his meaning, "Sir," saith he, "it shall be what weather pleaseth God, and what weather pleaseth God pleaseth me." Thus contentment maketh men to have even what they think fitting themselves, because submitting to God's will and pleasure.

To conclude: a man ought to be like unto a cunning actor, who, if he be enjoined to represent the person of some prince or nobleman, does it with a grace and comeliness; if by and by he be commanded to lay that aside and play the beggar, he does that as willingly and as well. But, as it happened in a tragedy (to spare naming the person and place), that one, being to act Theseus, in "Hercules Furens, coming out of hell, could not for a long time be persuaded to wear old sooty clothes proper to his part, but would needs come out of hell in a white satin doublet, so we are generally loath, and it goes against flesh and blood to live

in a low and poor estate, but would fain act in richer and handsomer clothes, till grace, with much ado, subdues our rebellious stomachs to God's will.

SOLOM

OF BOOKS.

OLOMON saith truly, "Of making many books there is no end;

so insatiable is the

thirst of men therein: as also endless is the desire of many in buying and reading them. But we come to our rules.

It is a vanity to persuade the world one hath much learning by getting a great library. As soon shall I believe every one is valiant that hath a well-furnished armory. I guess good housekeeping by the smoking, not the number of the tunnels, as knowing that many of them (built merely for uniformity) are without chimneys, and more without fires. Once a dunce, void of learning but full of books, flouted a library-less scholar with these words, - Salve, doctor sine libris: but the next day the scholar coming into this jeerer's study crowded with books, Salvete, libri, saith he, sine doctore.

Few books well selected are best. Yet, as a certain fool bought all the pictures that came out, because he might have his choice; such is the vain humor of many men in gathering of