A second part to the mothers blessing: or A cure against misfortunes. Diuided into certaine principall receipts, to cure the mind of man. / By G.M..

CHAP. III. A Cure against all Pouertie in Generall.

HAuing thus taken a suruay of these two contrary pictures, and (as it were) in two Bundels

knit vp their defects and perfections, let mee not blunt my Pen with per∣swasions touching either the one or the others e∣lection, for no mind can bee so sottish as not easily to iudge of these colours. Remember they are su∣perfluities which we sweat and labour for; things na∣turall and necessary God hath prouided in a plenti∣full manner. Seest thou the springs & watry veines of the earth, what thirst will they not quench? Seest thou the surface and couering of the ground, what hunger will it not

stanch? Seest thou the Beasts of the Field, whom will they not cloath? And seest thou not the Trees of the Forrest? whom will they not shade and de∣fend from tempests. As for things of contrary na∣ture, as Gold, Mynerals, Pearles, Precious stones, (which howsoeuer wee long or labour for, yet (many times) they are found burthensome and wounding to those which possesse them;) these hath prouident Nature either lockt vp in the Earth, or hidden in the Seas, as things which being bro∣ken

vp or wrested from their closets (by our pains and industries) rather threaten vs with iudge∣ments, then fill vs with comforts.

The measure which we should hold in our desires, is to haue all things neces∣sary, things sufficient, and he which strayeth beyond that bound, falleth into a Precipis, whence there is no recouery from the present ruine of his con∣tentments; for Nature al∣lowes vs but onely this, Not to bee hungry, not to be thirstie, not to be cold; and for these things wee

neither need to sweat, nor yet to weare out our appa∣rell. Our cares need not make vs old, nor our at∣tempts draw vpon vs the hate either of our home or forraine neighbours.

Pouerty is no hindrance to any good action; It is only the ambitious desire of wealth which brings vpon vs, and makes vs ac∣quainted with euery disa∣ster. What thiefe will bid a poor man stand? or what malice will shoot his darts against that bosome which is arm'd with a confi∣dence that is able to break or returne them backe vp∣on

the face of the shooter.

Since then Pouertie is so good, so wholsome, so secure, since it keepes the body in firme health, and clenseth the minde of eue∣ry turbulent and vnruly passion, why should wee shrinke, or out of the co∣wardlines of our deceiued natures start from it as a bug-beare. No let vs ra∣ther with open armes re∣ceiue, kisse, and imbrace it. Nay howsoeuer wee a∣bound in the goods of for∣tune; what admirations soeuer depend or cluster about vs; what Honours soeuer cloath vs, what

Fauours soeuer supports vs, though the Exche∣quers of Kings lay open to vs; be our garments steele, scarlet, or purple; yet the very imitation of Pouerty is excellent and pleasant. And a man shall be made more assuredly rich, when hee knowes it is neither painefull nor grieuous, at any time to bee made poore.

It is our inacquaintance with Pouertie which makes vs feare Pouertie, and those which tell vs the strange tales of its hidde∣ousnesse and deformitie; deale with vs as the Spa∣niards

did both with vs and other Nations in their first conquest of the West Indies: make the Sauages beleeue that (all but them∣selues) were Men-eaters, cruel, and without mercy; so that they fled from all other commercement; but experience brought forth other proofes. And in like manner of Pouertie, hee that least knowes it, most feares it. But he that with Lucillius will take Senecaes counsell, and at least once a moneth truely and seri∣ously enter into a strong and perfect imitation, shal bee assured neuer after to

feare it; for it is as easie to indure Pouertie alwayes, as to attempt it once. And for a further testimony, euen Epicurus himselfe (to whom the very sound of Pouertie was (like the shrikes of Mandrakes, fa∣tall and killing) boasted in an Epistle he writ to Cha∣rinus, that hee had found more true contentment in one moneths imitation of Pouertie, then in all the pleasures, feasts, & riches which he had either seene or possest in the whole circuite of his life be∣fore.

But why striue I thus to

make the world in loue with Pouertie; thinke you it is because I would draw all men either to the dete∣station, or from the posses∣sion of honest riches: No, God forbid, let euery man enioy his goods free¦ly, securely; yet by all meanes without feare; so loue them, as they may serue thee, not command thee: imbrace them as guesse which thou canst kindly entertaine for a night, and with as much friendship againe shake hands and depart with thee next morning; think them not houshold Gods, but

transsitorie gifts: for, Few dye rich, lesse liue rich, and none were euer borne rich.

Thou mayest imploy them for thine occasi∣ons; but not admire them for their counsels: for beleeue it nothing is fuller of flattery, nothing fuller of falshood. Ri∣ches wil say this man fol∣loweth thee, or this man loueth thee, when in∣deed it is but something in thee: whereas Pouer∣ty is euer honest, true and full of plain dealing. It wil point thee out, and shew thee the very per∣fect

charracter of those which are thine vnfained friends, of such as loue thee for thy selfe, not for thy fortunes, and there∣fore howsoeuer Riches may haue thy counte∣nance or imployment, yet is Pouertie onely worthy of thy sincere loue and affection.