The common places of the most famous and renowmed diuine Doctor Peter Martyr diuided into foure principall parts: with a large addition of manie theologicall and necessarie discourses, some neuer extant before. Translated and partlie gathered by Anthonie Marten, one of the sewers of hir Maiesties most honourable chamber.

Of Enuie.

54 Now come we to enuie: * 1.1 the same did Ci∣cero thinke should rather be called Inuidentia, than Inuidia: the which word Inuidentia we may in English call Enuieng, or Enuiousnesse; * 1.2 bi∣cause among the Latinists, those that are enui∣ed, are said to suffer enuie. But enuieng belon∣geth to them, which pine awaie with this kind of gréefe. And therefore he thinketh, that enuie or enuieng is so called, bicause they, which be enui∣ous, doo looke too narrowlie to other mens pros∣peritie. Wherefore, * 1.3 enuie is a gréefe taken at the prosperitie of other men; especiallie of them, which haue béene of like degrée with vs. For a poore man enuieth not a king; nor yet beggers, noble men. Enuie is of equals, and such as be like vnto our selues. And likenesse is considered in kindred, riches, beautie, age, wit, dignitie, and such like. The cause of enuieng is not in respect that we be afraid of harme to come vnto vs, by such men as we doo enuie; for that were feare: but that men of a certeine hatred and stomach cannot abide the prosperitie of others, especial∣lie of their like and equals: this worketh enuie.

Enuie is alwaies had in euill things; and it is gréeuouslie reprehended in the holie scrip∣tures; bicause it is most plainelie repugnant vnto charitie it selfe. For in the first epistle to the

Corinthians, * 1.4 the 13. chapter, the apostle said; Charitie enuieth not. For Paule in that place did not take this Gréeke word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in his pro∣per signification. But vnto the Galathians he hath more plainlie forbidden enuie, * 1.5 saieng; Be not desirous of vaine glorie, prouoking one an∣other, and enuieng one another. In which place, not onelie enuie is reprooued, but also the mo∣ther thereof is shewed, * 1.6 that is to wit, the de∣sire of glorie. And this may we also note in the historie of the Iudges: for the Ephraits enuied Gedeon, bicause the glorie of so great a victorie séemed to haue come vnto him.

And this affect beareth rule in all those things, wherein we desire to excell. Neither yet dooth it forbeare vertues: for he that is enuious would not haue his equals, and such as be like vnto him, to excell in anie ornament of vertue. And the reason why enuie is conuersant among such as be alike, is, that although the prosperous for∣tune of our equals, and them that be like vs, dooth not plucke anie of our goods from vs, nor maketh vs lesse than we be; yet the enuious man dooth so conceiue of other mens goods, as if by them his honour and dignitie, his gaine and other ornaments should be diminished. * 1.7 Neither must we omit, that euerie enuious man is a re∣ioiser in euill things: for he delighteth in the ad∣uersitie of his equals. Yet must not both these be accounted for one and the selfe same vice; sée∣ing they apperteine to contrarie motions of the mind. For enuie is a gréefe or sadnesse; whereas he that reioiseth in euill things, is affected with delight. Otherwise these vices, although they be diuers, yet are they so linked togither, as there can be no enuious man, which is not mooued with a gladnesse of other mens harmes. And héereby it euidentlie appéereth, that enuie is méere repugnant vnto mercie, séeing mercie sorroweth for an other mans miserie, but an en∣uious man reioiseth for the same, by reason of the delight, wherewith he is affected to other mens harme. This motion of the mind is in him also, that is vexed or angred at the prosperitie of the wicked: for he that becommeth sad for the prosperitie of the wicked, the verie same man taketh pleasure, when he perceiueth them to be suppressed and in trouble.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In Iudg. 8, verse. 1.
• * 1.2

  Wherein enuie and enuiousnes doo differ.
• * 1.3

  A definiti∣on of enuie.
• * 1.4

  1. Cor. 13, 4.
• * 1.5

  Gal. 5, 26.
• * 1.6

  Looke In Gen. 26, 24. and In 2. King. 6, 16. Iudg. 8, 1.
• * 1.7

  An enuious man is cal∣led a reioi∣ser in euill things.