A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 1
Eccleſ. 4.4.
Verſ. 4. Again, I conſidered all travel, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour: this is alſo vanity and vexation of ſpirit.
SOlomon having ſhewed the vanity that befalleth the eſtates of the ſons of men by oppreſſion, in v. 1, 2, 3. He now in this verſe ſpeaketh of the vanity that befalleth them by reaſon of envy, verſe 4. and then proceedeth to ſpeak of the vanity that befalleth a man from himſelfe, through Firſt, Idleneſſe, verſ. 5, 6, Secondly, Covetouſneſſe, verſ. 7, 8. Thirdly, Solitarineſſe, verſ. 9, to 12. Fourthly, Wilfulneſſe, verſ. 13, to 16.
Doctr. It is a vanity afflicting the ſpirits of men, that when a mans work is right, and he hath taken pains to doe that which is good and right, yet for all this he ſhall be envied of his Neighbours.
Reaſon of envy at good: Firſt, pride of heart, and exceſſive ſelf-love; For envy is the ſadneſſe of the heart for the good that we ſee in another; in regard ſo much glory (or praiſe) ſeemeth to be taken from us, as is given to him; Eliab taxed that in David, which was his own ſin, 1 Sam. 17.28. Hence hatred of brother, as wiſhing him deprived of the good he hath. Secondly, Prophane and rebellious infidelity; For either we doe not believe that our brother hath theſe gifts given him of God, (for if we did, it would mortifie envy. John 3.26, 27.) and this is prophane infidelity: Or elſe, if we believe they were forgiven him of God, it is rebellious infidelity to grudge againſt Gods goodneſſe, Matth. 20.15. Thirdly, want of union with Chriſt, and communion with our brethren; For if we were united to Chriſt by faith, and one to another by brotherly love, the glory of Chriſt would be a comfort to us, by whomſoever advanced, Phil. 1.16, to 19, And if we were united in brotherly love one to another, the honour of one member would be the joy of another, 1 Cor. 12.26. One finger envieth not another that weareth a Gold ring, as taking it for an ornament of the whole hand, yea of the whole body.
Reaſon why it is afflictive; Firſt, To the envious perſon, it rotteth and waſteth the vigour of body and ſpirit, Prov. 14.30. Secondly, to the perſon envied, 1. It is a dangerous threatning loſſe of life, as in Abel, Joſeph, David, Daniel, Chriſt; It is murther, Prov. 27.4. 2 It is uncomfortable and grievous to ſee a mans ſelf ſo il-beloved, that his good ſhould be another mans harm.
Ʋſe. To reprove the envious perſon; ſee how many foule ſins are wrapped up in his heart; ſinnes againſt God, his neighbour, and himſelfe. See the Reaſon.
It argueth weakneſſe and baſeneſſe of ſpirit. Quorum ſimilitudinem deſperant, eorum affectant ſimultatem. Apul. Flo. l. 1: It is weakneſs of eyes to water and run at the ſight of light. Yea, it is next ſtep to the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt. Both maligne others for their goodneſſe; onelyonly the one maligneth it as it is the grace of God, or glory of Chriſt; the other as it is a glory to a neighbour. Such as grieve at others good, would rejoyce in their evil; Love grieveth at the evil of another, but envy grieveth at the good of another.
Means againſt this ſin: Firſt, faith to diſcern whence gifts ſpring, John 3.27. Secondly, Love to look at them as given to our uſe. What if all the Town were good Phiſitians, and I only had no skil that way? The more ready help it would be to me. What though Deborah did not kill Siſera, but Jael? yet Deborah rejoyceth in it heartily, Judges 25.24.
Ʋſe 2. To teach men in wel-doing what to expect; Not applauſe, nor encouragement, but envy. And yet not thereby to be diſcouraged from wel-doing: Nor to think it ſtrange to finde ſuch unchriſtian entertainment, even amongſt Chriſtians.