A15013:987
Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…
Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the [brace] good and bad things [brace] they did and had practically applied to our information and reformation / by that faithful and painful preacher of Gods word William Whately ... ; together with Mr. Whately's life and death ; published by Mr. Edward Leigh and Mr. Henry Scudder, who were appointed by the author to peruse his manuscripts, and printed by his own copy.Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the [brace] good and bad things [brace] they did and had practically applied to our information and reformation / by that faithfull and painefull preacher of Gods word William Whately ... ; together with Mr. Whatelyes life and death ; published by Mr. Edward Leigh and Mr. Henry Scudder, who were appointed by the authour to peruse his manuscripts, and printed by his owne coppy.
London: printed by G.M. for Edward Langham book-seller, 1640London: printed by G.M. for Edvvard Langham booke-seller, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is a wrong to God in that we satisfy not our selves in his disposing of things, for may not God show more or less favour to men as it seemeth good to himself? and why, should our eye be evil because his eye is good? It is a wrong to the person envied, in that we do not so behave our selves towards him, as we would that all other should do to our selves, for men would that others should rejoice in their welfare, and not repine at it. Secondly, in that it maketh us apt to do them any injury, as here is seen in the Example that we speak of, who stopped Isaacs Wells out of envy. And it is a wrong to ones self, in that he bringeth needless vexation upon himself, and filleth his heart with gall, when he might have fed on honey as it were; for we should rejoice with them that rejoice, and then we should partake of the benefit; because the best fruit of a good thing is to have joy of it.
It is a wrong to God in that we satisfie not our selves in his disposing of things, for may not God shew more or lesse favour to men as it seemeth good to himselfe? and why, should our eye be evill because his eye is good? It is a wrong to the person envyed, in that we do not so behave our selves towards him, as we would that all other should doe to our selves, for men would that others should rejoyce in their welfare, and not repine at it. Secondly, in that it maketh us apt to doe them any injurie, as here is seene in the Example that we speake of, who stopped Isaacs Wells out of envy. And it is a wrong to ones selfe, in that he bringeth needlesse vexation upon himselfe, and filleth his heart with gall, when he might have fed on honey as it were; for we should rejoyce with them that rejoyce, and then we should partake of the benefit; because the best fruit of a good thing is to have joy of it.
And this envy springeth from mere self-love, and pride, and folly, in not seeing God in things, and submitting to his wisdom. Whosoever findeth a kind of tang of this disease in himself, must blame himself for it heartily, and think thus with himself, What shall I be an imitator of wicked men, yea of the wicked spirits? What a foolish man am I that will not see Gods wise providence and yield to it? What a wretch, that think all good things lost which fall besides my self? What a foolish man that will make a cross to my self where it need not be, nor indeed is? And if any think, if he had not this prosperity it might befall me, and therefore at least I may grieve that he hath it to my damage.