For know this, in conclusion, Non est volentis nec currentis, sed miserentis Dei, ’tis not as men, but as God will.  “The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, bringeth low, and exalteth” (1 Sam. ii. ver. 7. 8), “he lifteth the poor from the dust, and raiseth the beggar from the dunghill, to set them amongst princes, and make them inherit the seat of glory;” ’tis all as he pleaseth, how, and when, and whom; he that appoints the end (though to us unknown) appoints the means likewise subordinate to the end.

Yea, but their present estate crucifies and torments most mortal men, they have no such forecast, to see what may be, what shall likely be, but what is, though not wherefore, or from whom, hoc anget, their present misfortunes grind their souls, and an envious eye which they cast upon other men’s prosperities, Vicinumque pecus grandius uber habet, how rich, how fortunate, how happy is he?  But in the meantime he doth not consider the other miseries, his infirmities of body and mind, that accompany his estate, but still reflects upon his own false conceived woes and wants, whereas if the matter were duly examined, [3741]he is in no distress at all, he hath no cause to complain.

[3742]  ------“tolle querelas,
Pauper enim non est cui rerum suppetit usus,”

       “Then cease complaining, friend, and learn to live. 
        He is not poor to whom kind fortune grants,
        Even with a frugal hand, what Nature wants.”

he is not poor, he is not in need. [3743]"Nature is content with bread and water; and he that can rest satisfied with that, may contend with Jupiter himself for happiness.”  In that golden age, [3744]_somnos dedit umbra salubres, potum quoque lubricus amnis_, the tree gave wholesome shade to sleep under, and the clear rivers drink.  The Israelites drank water in the wilderness; Samson, David, Saul, Abraham’s servant when he went for Isaac’s wife, the Samaritan woman, and how many besides might I reckon up, Egypt, Palestine, whole countries in the [3745]Indies, that drank pure water all their lives. [3746]The Persian kings themselves drank no other drink than the water of Chaospis, that runs by Susa, which was carried in bottles after them, whithersoever they went.  Jacob desired no more of God, but bread to eat, and clothes to put on in his journey, Gen. xxviii. 20. Bene est cui deus obtulit Parca quod satis est manu; bread is enough [3747]"to strengthen the heart.”  And if you study philosophy aright, saith [3748] Maudarensis, “whatsoever is beyond this moderation, is not useful, but troublesome.” [3749]Agellius, out of Euripides, accounts bread and water enough to satisfy nature, “of which there is no surfeit, the rest is not a feast, but a riot.” [3750]S.  Hierome esteems him rich “that hath bread to eat, and a potent man that is not compelled to be a slave; hunger is not ambitious, so that it have to eat, and thirst doth not prefer a cup of gold.”  It was no epicurean speech of an epicure, he that is not satisfied with a little will never have enough:  and very good counsel of him in the [3751]poet, “O my son, mediocrity of means agrees best with men; too much is pernicious.”