XXXIII. NO REMEDY BUT PATIENCE.

ONCE a gaoler demanded of a prisoner newly committed unto him, whether or no he were a Roman Catholic. No, answered he. What then, said he, are you an Anabaptist? Neither, replied the prisoner. What, said the other, are you a Brownist, or a Quaker? Nor so, said the man, I am a Protestant, without wealth or gard, or any addition, 221equally opposite to all heretics and sectaries. Then, said the gaoler, get you unto the dungeon; I will afford no favour to you, who shall get no advantage by you. Had you been of any of the other religions, some hope I had to gain by the visits of such as are of your own persuasion, whereas now you will prove to me but an unprofitable prisoner.

This is the misery of moderation; I recall my word (seeing misery properly must have sin in it). This is an affliction attending moderate men, that they have not an active party to side with them and favour them.

Men of great stature will quickly be made porters to a king, and those diminutively little, dwarfs to a queen, whilst such who are of a middle height may get themselves masters where they can. The moderate man, eminent for no excess or extravagancy in his judgment, will have few patrons to protect, or persons to adhere unto him. But what saith St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 19: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.