A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII. Their Envy.
ENVY is a Sin ſeldome confeſſed, Profeſsoss Envy. James 4.5.but yet much diffuſed among Profeſſours. The Spirit that dwelleth in us, luſteth to Envy. And indeed Covetouſneſs and Envy are never aſunder: they are ſins againſt the ſame command: Such as long, that what is their Neighbours, ſhould be theirs, envy to him that which is his: and ſuch as envy to him that which is his, long to have it to be theirs. How deſirous are Profeſſours to graſp all to themſelves? And therefore how apt are the very beſt to be envious at the power, greatneſs, riches, if not goodneſs of others? Doth not the experience that you have of your own hearts (if you be not ſtrangers at home) teſtiſie, that this Spirit is ſtirring and acting in you? The poor envy the rich, the baſe the honourable, as if they had the leſs, becauſe others have ſo much. Some think that this was the ſin that threw down the Angels from Heaven, that they envied Adam's glory, in that he was made after Gods image, and that they relinquiſhed their glory to diveſt Adam of his: To be ſure, the Devil was reſtleſs, till he had implunged Adam in the ſame ſin and miſery, that he was brought into. Sure, maligning the proſperity of others, is not from the Spirit of God. He that giveth freely to all, would not have us to envy thoſe, to whom he gives more freely, than to our ſelves; and he that giveth us more, doth not envy us for what we have. If you have not ſo much as others, it is becauſe you are unfit to receive, not becauſe God is unwilling to give. Do not we ſee how this poyſon diffuſeth it ſelf? An early ſin it was, if not in the Angels, (as ſome think) yet it was in Eve: She envied the all-knowledge of God, and muſt forſooth have at leaſt an equality with God himſelf: It was alſo ſtrong in the firſt man, that was born of a woman: and we ſtill ſuck it in with our Mothers milk, and it ſeldome dyes till we dye. This ſinne is commonly among people of the ſame Profeſſion: One Mechanick envies another, one Merchant another, one Scholar another, one Gentleman another, one Commander another, as Saul envied and hated David, becauſe the Women ſang, that Saul ſlew his thouſands, and David his ten thouſands, one Miniſter another, as thoſe in Paul's dayes, that envied him, and affected an high ſtrain of eloquence, on purpoſe to obſcure that reputation which Paul had got among the Churches. And happy had it been, if this curſed ſinne had dyed in that age, but it hath been ſtill working in all ages of the World.
Is there not a greater promptitude in us, Evidenced in detracting from others worth,to detract from mens worth, than to credit and exalt them? To write down their blots and imperfections, than to ſet forth their due vertues and graces? If we cannot reach others by imitation, we will by calumniation; and therefore Luther ſaith, Envious men feed upon the dung of other men: They are like flies, that love to be upon ſores. It is admirable to ſee, how dull ſighted we are, as to the vertues and graces of our Brethren, but quick ſighted as Eagles to diſcern their imperfections: Mat. 7.3.The beams of Vertue are not ſeen, i. e. not taken notice of, but a mote in a Brother's eye is ſoon eſpyed.
Are we not more greedy to receive and ſpread any thing, Readineſs to receive and ſpread defamations.whereby our Neighbour is infamed and obſcured, than we are to entertain and diffuſe what tends to his praiſe and glory? And is not this the reaſon hereof, viz. the great deſire we have to ſhine alone, and that we would none to vye with us in glory, much leſs to excell us therein?
Is there not (oft-times) a ſecret gladneſs in our hearts, Gladneſs in their being brought lower.when ſome ſad Providences afflict others, in their Names, Goods, Health, and Relations, that thereby they may be brought to a level with us, or to an inferiority, in a lower eſtate? When you have ſeen ſome Congregation wedged in with a concourſe of hearers, and yours thin and naked; and when ſome have been cryed up for their purity, gravity, activity, and zeal; and when others have greatened their parts, or eſtates, and yours rather have been impaired, have ye not been ready even to burſt with Envy? Have you not been glad, when ſome blot hath attended theſe, whereby they have ſallen in that eſteem, which once they had above you?
There is no Envy in God, Diſliking their own enjoyments.and his holy Angels: they rejoyce at our advancement, and at the glory of the humane Nature, that it is ſo exalted above theirs; but unhappy we! that cannot ſee any excellency in another, but we diſlike our own enjoyments, and are more vexed at the welfare of our Neighbours, than we would be at our own calamities.
The Beaſts do not envy one another, Conſiderations to withdraw the heart from Envy. Gal. 5.20.but Men do: yea, the Devils envy not one another: ſome Profeſſours are herein worſe than Devils. No wonder if there have been hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, ſtrife, ſeditions, and hereſies, whilſt envyings have abounded amongſt us. You know the miſerable effect of Envy in the firſt man, that was born of a woman: through Envy Cain hated, Prov. 27.4.and then kill'd his Brother Abel. Wrath is cruel, and Anger outragious, but who is able to ſtand before Envy? This is ſo filthy, ſo ſhameful a ſin, that few will own it: Obſerve the confeſſions of men in Prayer, and Conference, and you will hardly find a Profeſſour acknowledge Envy. The malignity of this ſin appears, in that it ſtrikes directly at the Providence of God, who diſpoſeth of the inequality of mens conditions, according to his ſoveraignty and wiſdome: It hath a tacit accuſation of God, for raiſing up ſome ſo high, and laying others ſo low: It is deeply unſatisfied with Gods bounty to the Children of men, that he gives ſo liberally to ſome, whereas he is not bound to any. Whilſt others complain againſt God, for making the World no better, the envious man is troubled, that he hath done ſo well, for ſome of his Creatures. Gal. 5.19, 20, 21.No wonder the Apoſtle reckoneth Envy among the groſs ſins of Murder, Uncleanneſs, Idolatry, Witchcraft, &c. and concludes, Heaven is no place for ſuch. They which do ſuch things, ſhall not inherit the Kingdome of God. This is a ſin ſo damnable, and ſo ugly, making you ſo much like the Devil, that it is high time you watch againſt it, mourn for it, and ſeek its ruine. O! When ſhall we hear the Exhortation, Let us not be deſirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another? When ſhall we in honour preferr one another? When ſhall we, like Barnabas, Acts 11.23.When we ſee the grace of God, rejoyce? When ſhall Miniſters reprove the Joſhuahs, that are envying for their ſakes, in Moſes words, I would to God all the people of the Lord did propheſie? When ſhall we like John the Baptiſt, be contented to decreaſe, ſo that Chriſt may increaſe? and to be laid by, if others more able may be ſubſtituted to do Gods work? When ſhall we rejoyce if God uſeth others to convert by them, more than by us? and with famous Mr. Dod, I would to God (ſaith he) that I were the worſt Miniſter in England: his meaning was, that all ſhould excel him in gifts and graces. We pretend to evidences of our converſion from our love to the Saints, but let us hear what the effects of true love are: 1 Cor. 13.4, 5.Love ſeeketh not her own, love envieth not, love is not puffed up. As love is the fulfilling of the Law, ſo envy is the diſſolution of it. O! when ſhall we inſtead of envying our Brother, bleſs God for him? If he hath more than we have, more ſtrength, parts, riches, honours, graces, &c. the account he muſt paſs with God is the greater: let us pity him rather than envy him: Believe it, God is wiſer than we are, and if his diſtributions are various, we have as many talents as we can well improve. Let us look to our own duty in the places wherein God hath ſet us; and pray for them, that have ten tallents more than we have, that they may ſerve the Lord ten times more than we can. O that thine eye might affect thine heart, that thine eye ſhould be evil becauſe Gods is good.