CHAP. X. Of Envy. (Book 10)
ENVY is an inveterate Grief at others Welfare and Prosperity; and an Evil Perturbation of the Mind, so odious, that to expose it to View, is a Motive suffici∣ent to make us loath and detest it: It is a
The government of the thoughts a prefatory discourse to The government of the tongue / by the author of The whole duty of man.
About this Item
- Title
- The government of the thoughts a prefatory discourse to The government of the tongue / by the author of The whole duty of man.
- Author
- Allestree, Richard, 1619-1681.
- Publication
- London :: Printed by R. Smith for Richard Cumberland ...,
- 1694.
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- Subject terms
- Conduct of life.
- Link to this Item
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A23734.0001.001
- Cite this Item
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"The government of the thoughts a prefatory discourse to The government of the tongue / by the author of The whole duty of man." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A23734.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 8, 2025.
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Page 40
Tare of the Wicked's sowing, and worthy of Divine Revenge and Punishment; it is an impediment to Piety, a path to Hell, and a secluder from the Kingdom of Heaven: It is a Pernicious Attendant to Posterity, A Vanity and Vexation of Spirit, Eccles. 4.4. A Fruit of Unregeneration, Rom. 1.29. It is the Daughter of Self-Love and Pride, the Result of Carnal Minds, 1 Cor. 3.3. A Work of the Flesh, Gal. 5.21. It is an Ob∣struction of Edification, and Growth by the sincere Milk of Gods Word, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2.
2. IT is a Blasphemous Censure of the Most High, whose Judgment it dissalloweth, secretly Murmuring and Repining at his Providence, who Wisely Disposeth of all things in Heaven and Earth, Setting up and pulling down, and distributing to every one, according to his good Pleasure, Dan. 4.25. To display it farther, it is a Diabolical Wisdom, a Companion of Confusion and every evil Work, James 3.14, 15, 16. It is the mischievous Canker, which nippeth the choicest Buds of Vertue, attempting either to cloud them with Incredulity, by reason the Envious cannot attain thereto, or labour∣ing to blast them with impious Calumnies.
3. I need not here cite the Example of Antigones, and Teutamus, Conspiring against the truly Noble Eumenes; or of Philip's Sy∣cophants against Aratus: Nor of Domitians envying Agricola his worth: Nor Saul's envying David, Cain Abel, Rachel her Sister,
Page 41
the Patriarchs Joseph: Seeing it is manifest that Christ Jesus, in whom were all Perfections, was envyed. There's nothing so little, but stimulateth it: Nothing so Sacred or High, but this Hellish Fury will flie at. Joseph's Party-Coloured Coat awaken'd it, and it was vigilant to strike at the Saviour of the World: The Natals hereof were in Lucifer, envying God's Monarchy, and ambitious to share in his Sovereignty.
4. NATURAL Historians acquaint us of some Countries free from Serpents; but who can inform me of any barren of Envy? I doubt it is the common Plague that visits all places: Like those Croaking Plagues of Egypt, which did not spare Pharoahs Bed-Chamber; it deludeth the Country with False Opticks, thinking our Neighbours Fields more Fruitful than our own: 'Tis a Mon∣ster; not of Gods making, but born of de∣praved Affections, as Anger, Fear, Jealousie, Self-Love, which creates Indignation, if another attain to a Happy and Prosperous Condition: Envy thinks all the World too little for its own Orifice: All this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the Kings Gate; said ambi∣tious Haman in his Envy, Esth. 5.13. And again, To whom would the King delight to do Honour more than to my self, Chap. 6.6.