The treasure of tranquillity. Or A manuall of morall discourses tending to the tranquillity of minde. Translated out of French by I.M. Master of Arts.

DISC. 4.

Of each mans Vocation and Calling.

IT cometh oftentimes to passe that such as do not thinke di∣ligently of that which they doe, are seene to fall into such a kind of life as is paineful to beare, and yet more vneasy to be abando∣ned. The which is certainely a great difficulty, and a case that doth require much prudence, and no lesse patience, with piety to implore the aid and assistance of God; considering that pa∣tience with humility in Gods behalfe, is the remedy which most doth lighten and ease the euill. Consider the poore pri∣soners, what paines they endure in the beginning to beare the burthen that is laid vpon their

legges, but after that they are once accustomed thereunto, ne∣cessity teacheth them, and vse maketh all such hard vsage easie vnto them. There is no manner of life, howsoeuer hard & strict it be, which hath not some kinde of solace and refreshment, one or other to sweeten the same. And truly there is not any one thing, wherein Nature hath so much fauoured vs as in this; that she maketh vs to finde the reme∣dy, and mittigation of our mis∣fortunes in the sufferance of the same.

The case then so standing as it doth, that man is borne obnoxi∣ous, and subiect vnto all manner of miseries, we must cōsequent∣ly suppose that wee are all of vs the prisoners of Fortune, who holdeth vs tyed, and fettered fast hand and foote; and that

there is no difference, sauing that the fetters and chaines of some, are of gold, and of other some of yron. We are all of vs in one & the same prison, and those that hold others captiue are in the like condition and case them∣selues, in regard of others. If the desire of honour turmoileth thee, the desire of riches doth trouble another. If the basenesse, and obscurity of birth doth af∣flict the, to others Nobility and greatnesse doth bring a thousand discontented thoughts: Art thou subiect to the commandement and will of another, that other is subiect at least to his owne, hauing his braines and his breast beaten with ten thousand heart-burnings, and diseasments which thou doest not espy, in summe if yee marke all things well, our whole life is nothing but a ser∣uitude

wherein euery one ought to take good heed how to de∣meane himselfe in his calling, & how hee may content himselfe therein, winking at that which is euill in it, and applying him∣selfe vnto that which is good. For there is no calling, howsoe∣uer painefull and toylefull it bee, wherein the patient soule doth not finde some contentment and gaine, though that cunning and skill bee more exquisite in time of aduersity, then of prosperite. For when as difficulties and crosses doe present themselues, then must we gather all the for∣ces of our wits together, and set our whole vigour and vertue against such imminent or present euils, reposing our whole confi∣dence in God. Ionas had euer leisure within the Whales belly to make his supplication & pray∣er

vnto God, and was presently heard. In this manner all acci∣dents, howsoeuer grieuous and vneasy they be, may be sweetned and lightned not a little.

To this purpose also it is good that each one set certaine bounds and limits to the hopes of his life, and that hee thinke with himselfe that howsoeuer humane things bee different and diuers for the outward sem∣blance and shew: that neuerthe∣lesse inwardly they resemble one another in their inconstancy and vanity.

Beare not enuy against such as are in higher place then your selfe, for oftentimes that which we account height, is as a steepe hill from whence a man with ve∣ry little adoe is hurled downe headlong. And truely such as haue liued content, haue not

beene alwaies those that haue made the better choise, but ra∣ther those who prudently and discreetly could cary themselues in that estate and calling which they once made choyce of, ta∣king patiently the euill that fell out therein, and endeauouring to redresse such accidents as did crosse their desires, and for this cause Plato did compare the life of man to the play at dice, wherat whoseuer doth play, ought al∣waies to striue to haue a faire throwe, and yet should content himselfe with any cast that com∣meth. For seeing that good or euill luck is not in our power, at least wise wee must labour to take cheeerefully our chance, & withall to thanke God, for that the worst that could, is not fallen forth. Men of weake wit, hauing fortune at will, are so transported

with ioy that scarcely they know what they doe, they are so insolent, that no man can keepe them company, they can abide nobody and nobody can abide them. Whereas in the time of aduersity they are so amased and so melācholious, that they are al∣most ouerwhelmed with sorrow and heauinesse of mind, yee shall see them like vnto the sicke of a languishing, and anguishing di∣sease, which can neither abide heat nor cold.

The Philosopher Theodorus was wont to say, that he gaue his Schollers instructions & lessons, with the right hand, but that they receiued them, with the left, and so doth it fare often∣times not with a few, who with the left hand take hold of the lucke which fortune (I meane Gods prouidence) reacheth thē

with the right. It were much better in my iudgement wisely to imitate the wise diligence of the Bees, the which of Thyme which is but a dry and harsh hearbe, do make the sweete and pleasant honey. So should we out of this harsh and combersome life ex∣tract and draw whatsoeuer ther∣in is good, and in the meane time chase away what is euill therein, or case and couer it closly, and who knoweth not but that such as are exercised in the actions of vertue can draw, by a certaine se∣crete and supernaturall kind of alchimie, good out of euill? Di∣ogenes was banished, but hee made good vse of his banish∣ment, in that he did in the meane time betake himselfe vnto the study of wisdome. And this shall not be so difficult and hard to do, as it seemeth to be, if by

frequēt exercise ye do endeauor to acquire, the habitude & setled custome of liuing content. Can ye not abide in the houses of Princes and great men? content you then with your owne. Do ye find your selfe vncapable of go∣uernment in the Cōmon-wealth? play then the good Citizens part & be cōtent to obey. Thus doing ye shall make vnto your selues facile, and easy, that which most men deeme to bee difficult and hard in the course of our life.

Moreouer it shall much a∣uaile you in your discontentmēts to represent vnto your selfe the great and famous personages of the time past: how and with what wisedome, and courage they haue remedied and borne the crosses and calamities which befell them in this life, Doth it displease you that you are desti∣tute

of children? Consider how many Kings, Princes, and Poten∣tates, haue dyed without issue. If pouerty doth vexe you, weigh in your owne minde, how ma∣ny excellent men haue bene like∣wise poore, who neuerthelesse haue liued patiently without cō∣plaining. On a day it was told the Philosopher Stilphon, that his daughter had done amisse: the fault (quoth he) is not in me, but in her fortune and mine. If the churlish and froward conditions of your owne grieue you, set before your eyes so many wise, honourable and illustrious men, as haue quietly comported with the importunities of theirs. So∣crates had the most froward wife in the world, and hee said that, by enduring of her at home, hee did learne to bee patient abroad. Looke vpon holy Da∣uid

a man after Gods owne heart, who yet was troubled and angred by his owne children.

The world is full of such ex∣amples, and if wee did not loue our selues so much as we doe, it is certaine that in the greatest crosses, & encōbrements of this life, wee should finde comfort enough. For there is not any prison, how darke or straight so∣euer it bee, which will not giue place vnto a song, to refresh somewhat the poore prisoners perplexed minde. Finally, I say, that if yee serue God and feare him, charity shall be able, of it self, to procure peace & tranqui∣lity vnto your spirit: that which the whole world cannot per∣forme, although in word euery one should offer you to doe the same.