CHAP. LXXV. Examples of Envy.

ENvy dangerous, Job 5. 2. Prov. 14. 13. & 27. 4. Matth. 27. 18. Mar. 15. 10. Act. 7. 9. & 13. 45. & 17. 5. Rom. 1. 29. Phil. 4. 15. 1. Tim. 6. 4. Tit. 3. 3. Jam. 4. 5. Eccl. 4. 4. Jam. 3. 14, 16.

Forbidden, Prov 3. 31. & 23. 17. Esay 11. 13. and 26. 11. 1 Pet 2. 1. Rom. 13. 13. 1 Cor. 3. 3. Gal. 5. 26. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Gal. 5. 21. Psal. 37. 1. Prov. 24. 1, 19.

Threatned, Ezek. 35. 11.

Scriptural Examples: Achitophel envied Hushai, 2 Sam. 17. 23. the Israelites, Moses, Psal. 106. 16. the Philistims, Isaac, Gen. 26. 14. Rachel her sister, Gen. 30. 1. Jacob's sons, Joseph, Gen. 37. 11. Josuah for Page  466 Moses, Num. 11. 29. the elder son, the Prodigal, Luk. 15. 28. the Priests, Jesus, Matth. 21. 15. Cain, Abel, Gen. 4. 5. the Jewes, Paul, Act. 13. 45. & 17. 5. the Princes, Daniel, Chap. 6. 3, &c. Saul, David, 1 Sam. 18. 7, 8. the Apostles, Luk. 9. 49. Sathan, our first Parents, Gen. 3. 1, &c. Dathan, and Abiram, Mo∣ses.

Other Examples:

Themistocles did so envy Aristides for that favour [ 1] which he found in Athens, that when he had no other exceptions against him, he suggested to the people, that Aristides by his just and upright deal∣ing engrossed all matters of Judicature into his own hands, and thereby affected the sole power, and overthrow of all their other Tribunals, for which he caused him to be banished. Plut.

Their banishment was called Ostracisme, and the [ 2] manner was thus; Every Citizen was to write his name in a shell whom he would have banished, and if 6000 did not concur in their judgments, there could be no Ostracisme: Now when Aristides was to be banished, a certain illiterate Citizen met him in the street, and because he could not write himself, desired him to set down Aristides his name in his shell: Aristides wondring at it, asked him whether he had ever suffered any wrong from Ari∣stides, or whether he knew him if he saw him? No, said the other, I know him not, neither did he ever wrong me, but yet I envy him because her hath gotten the sirname of Just. Aristides wondring at it, took the mans shell, wrote down his own name, and so delivered it, never discovering himself to him. Plut.

After the great Battel of Platea betwixt the Per∣sians, [ 3] and Grecians, which was obtained by the va∣lour, Page  467 and wisdome of Themistocles, and Aristides, all the Grecian Captains, having sworn upon the Altar, that according to their Consciences they would give their voices to him that best deserved it, every one gave himself the first place for worthinesse, and the second to Themistocles, though it was full sore against their wills, every one much envying his glo∣ry. Plut.

Alexander M. having given to Taxilis, an Indian [ 4] King a thousand Talents, Meleager one of his friends told him, that he was glad that he had found some∣thing in India which was worth a thousand Talents: to whom Alexander answered, Invidos homines nihil aliud quàm ipsorum esse tormenta: that envious persons were a great torment to themselves. Q. Cur.

Cambyses King of Persia slew his brother Smerdis [ 5] out of envy, because he could draw a stronger bowe then himself, or any of his followers. Horod.

Phidias that curious workman that made Miner∣va's [ 6] shield with so much Art, was out of envy falsly accused by Meno, another workman, and being condemned was forced to drink poison. Plut.

Cato Major was so envied for his wisdom, and [ 7] virtue, that fourty six times he was publickly accu∣sed and forced to plead his cause before the people, yet alwaies came off cleer. Sab.

Mutius a Citizen of Rome was noted to be of such [ 8] an envious, and malevolent a disposition, that Pub∣lius one day observing him to be very sad, said, Either some great evill is happened to Mutius, or some great good to another. Suet.

Caligula out of envy caused Esius Proculus to be [ 9] slain, because he was a beautiful young man. Ra∣vis.

Page  468Adrian the Emperour did so envy the glory of [ 10] Trajan his predecessour, that he gave away Arme∣nia. Assyria, and Mesopotamia to the Parthians, which Trajan had conquered; and brake down a bridge over the River Danubius which Trajan had built with great cost, and labour. Volat.

Invidia virtutis comes.