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How to become Rich and Happy, The Second Part. (Book 1)
CHAP. I. (Book 1)
THe Chirurgeons of Greece, (like our English Mountebanks) were wont to shew the operations of their Skill upon Scaf∣folds, in view of all passengers: thereby to assure men what they could do, as well as to get more practice and custom, if they were deserving. The Merchant thinks it a good course, first to try with a little, how vendible his commodity will be, and after he replenisheth the Market, according to the esteem it findes with the In∣habitants. Nor is he held wise, that will venter all his estate in one bottom. Such were my thoughts, in publishing the first part of this Tracte: intending (like Phïdias touching his portrayture) that if it were liked, did abide the touch, passe the standard of the judicious Readers approbation: I would publish the residue, otherwise not: res••lving whether allowed of, they should incourage me; or disliked, they should amend me. And now having found that acceptance, which in modesty I could not expect, I have sent abroad the second Part.
In the former Part of this Discourse, I have declared what it is, and what it is not to be Rich: and withall chalked out the way in six Particulars, how men that are poor, may become Rich, and rid of poverty. In this which follows, I shall declare how they may be∣come Happy, and rid of discontent or Melancholy.
Now for the effecting of this, there needs no more be done, than to cure men of their covetousnesse: for if that be once done, all is done; otherwise nothing, or nothing to purpose. For let a cove∣tous man become never so rich, he is never the happier; his care, misery, and melancholy still remaines: but let his covetousnesse cease, and then comes peace, and joy, and content, have he never so little: as I shall shew when I come unto it. Yea, let men but leave, or be wil∣ling to leave this one sinne, and they shall depart from this discourse, (like Naaman out of Jordan) as if they had been washt, and all their sinnes taken away, like the scales from Pauls eyes, Act. 9. 18. For what hath brought Vsury, and Simony, and non-residency, and bribery, and perjury, and felony, and cruelty, and hypocrisie, and subtilty, and en∣vy, and strife, and debate into the City, and Nation, and made every house an Inne, and every shopa Market of oathes, and lyes, and equivocati∣ons, and fraude, and indeed of what not? but the superfluous and excessive love of money? What is the cause of all the murmurings, mutinies, jarres, contentions, grudgings, repinings, fretting, chafing, weeping, vexing, complaining, and discontent in every Family? but the great controversie of mine and thine. Name but covetousnesse, and you have named the Mother of all sinnes that can be named, which makes the Apostle call it, The root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. Wherefore my