Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations : together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

Remedies against unmercifulnesse, and uncharitablenesse.

1. Against Envy: by way of consideration.

Against Envy I shall use the same argu∣ment I would use to perswade a man from the Fever or the dropsie. 1. Because it is a disease, it is so far from having pleasure in it, or a temptation to it, that it is full of pain, a great instrument of vexation; it eats the flesh, and d••••es up the marrow, and makes hollow eyes, and lean cheeks, and a paleface. 2. It is nothing but a direct resolution never to enter into Heaven by the way of noble pleasure taken in the good of others. 3. It is most contrary to God. 4. And a just con∣trary state to the felicities and actions of Heaven, where every star increases the light of the other, and the multitude of guests at the supper of the Lamb makes the eternal meal more festival. 5. It is perfectly the state of Hell, and the passion of Devils: for they do nothing but desp••ire in themselves, * 1.1 and envy others quiet or safety, and yet cannot rejoyce either in their good, or in their evil, although they endeavour to hin∣der that, and procure this, with all the devi∣ces and arts of malice and of a great un∣derstanding. 6. Envy can serve no end in the world; it cannot please any thing, nor do any thing, nor hinder any thing, but the content and felicity of him that hath it. 7. Envy can never pretend to justice, as hatred and uncharitablenesse sometimes may: for there may be causes of hatred,

and I may have wrong done me, and then hatred hath some pretence, though no just ar∣gument: But no man is unjust or injurious▪ for being prosperous or wise. 8. And there∣fore many men professe to hate another, but no man owns envy, as being an enmity and displeasure for no cause but goodnesse or feli∣licity:* 1.2 Envious men being like Cantharides and Caterpillars, that delight most to devour ripe & most excellent fruits. 9. It is of all crimes the basest: for malice and anger are appeased with benefits, but envy is ex∣asperated, as envying too fortunate persons both their power and their will to doe good: and never leaves murmuring till the envied person be levelled, and then only the Vultur leaves to eat the liver: for if his Neighbour be made miserable the envious man is apt to be troubled: like him that is so long un∣building the turrets till all the roof is low or flat, or that the stones fall upon the lower buildings, and doe a mischief that the man repents of.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nem•• ali∣en••e vt ••••ti m••••d••t qui sat•••• c••nfidit suae. C••c. co••t••a M. Anth.
• * 1.2

  Hemerus Thersitis m••les mores descrilens, malitiae summam apposuit.

  P••lidae imp••intis e••at at{que} immicus V••ys••i