The Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Remedies against Envy.
ENDEAVOUR to put on Christ, and then thou art sure to chase away Envy. It is the Apostle's Rule, Rom. 13.13, 14. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in Strife and Envying, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts thereof. Strive by a Holy imitation, to follow the Example of thy Lord and Master, who was meek and lowly in Heart, and envied no Man, Matt. 11.29. Christ loved all respectively: For Love envieth not, 1 Cor. 13.4. If we love for the sake of him who first loved us, we shall never be perplexed for any competent Blessings he in his good pleasure bestows, but should rather wish them greater: We shall wash off that guilt of undervaluing others, and abandon that presumption of over-rating our selves; and this sort of Ambition which acts contrary to these Remedies, reigns only in the Dominion of the Envious.
2. THE Meek Moses was so free from Pride and Ambition, that he reprehended those that Envied for his sake; and wisht that all God's People could Prophesie; and besought the Lord, that he would put His Spirit upon them, Num. 11.29. Discipline thy self in God's School, for there is the best and safest cure of Emulation. It was a Paradox to David, Psal. 73.16. Vntil saith he, I went into the Sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. There thou mayst learn not to value Transitory things too much; to consider well his Hand, which setteth up, and pulleth down: To refer all thy Desires to the advancement of his Glory; and humbly to acknowledge, and in a high manner express thy thankfulness for those favours of Providence he hath conferred on thee; having the possession of these thoughts, thou mayest quite Banish Envy.
3. NEXT consider where thou placest thy Enmity. The Psalmist found in the Sanctuary, that his Enemies were not to be Envyed: Surely, said he, thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down to Destruction, Psal. 73.18. Let not this Memento flip out of thy Mind, That God mixeth Bitter with Sweetness to all in this Life. One hath great Riches, but no Child to enjoy it; nor perhaps a generous Heart to make use of those goods of Fortune God hath been pleased to bestow upon him; Another is in perfect Bodily Health, but his Soul may be sick unto Death: Others contrive and hoard up Wealth, but with such a seared Conscience, that the poorest Saint is incomparably more happy. Another is advanced to Honours, perhaps only to make his Fall the greater. Another in divers respects may be very Prosperous in the Eye of the World; but may resemble the Moon, who is most tenebrous towards Heaven, when she Illuminates the Earth. So it is with Man very observable. that the greater Lustre they shine with in the Eye of the World, the more despicable they are in the sight of Heaven; for God abhorreth all those Pomps and Vanities, and layeth up such severe Judgments for the Owners, that a Soul in the midst of Torments is as proper an Object of Envy, as the glittering Shadows, who are hasting thither.
4. O let us not forget then that we are Brethren, Members of one Body, whereof Christ Jesus is the Head; therefore let us with all Gentleness and Meekness take St. Paul's advice, Gal. 6.1. Brethren, if a Man be over-taken in a Fault, restore such a one in the Spirit of Meekness, considering thy self, lest thou also be tempted. Let us support one another through Love, and mutually rejoice at each others Happiness; and by these means we shall cast away the works of Darkness, Strife and Envy.