I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Consider this, That the less success you have, the more are you free from envy: It's an hard thing for a man that works not, not to envy him that works; and for him that hath no success, not to envy him that hath great success: of all men in the world, the successful man is the most envied. The Heathens had this Notion amongst them, which they applied to their gods; and therefore when Polycrates, King, or rather Tyrant of Samos, prospered so abundantly in all that he undertook, Amasis the King of Egypt, his Friend, and Confederate, wrote thus to him:¹ That thou doest well, and prosper, is no small joy to me; but I must tell thee plainly, That these great, and overflowing Successes, do not please me, who know full well the Nature of the gods, how envious they are: 'Tis my wish concerning my self, and the like I wish for all my Friends; sometimes to prosper, and sometimes to miscarry; and in this Vicissitude rather to pass my life, than without any alteration to prosper; for I never yet could hear of any who having thus prospered long, did not at the last, end in universal destruction. Which he imputed to the envy of their gods; for their ⟨p. 302⟩gods were Devils; and indeed, what is the Reason that the successful men in any kind are the most envied by the world; but because the Devil (who is the envious one) doth provoke thereunto. Yet always so it is,² That success doth raise envy: Hast thou therefore been at work, and hast had no success, then shall you be the more free from envy.

Consider this, That the less success you have, the more are you free from envy: It's an hard thing for a man that works not, not to envy him that works; and for him that hath no success, not to envy him that hath great success: of all men in the world, the successful man is the most envied. The Heathens had this Notion amongst them, which they applied to their gods; and therefore when Polycrates, King, or rather Tyrant of Samos, prospered so abundantly in al that he undertook, Amasis the King of Egypt, his Friend, and Confederate, wrote thus to him:¹ That thou doest well, and prosper, is no smal joy to me; but I must tell thee plainly, That these great, and overflowing Successes, do not please me, who know full well the Nature of the gods, how envious they are: 'Tis my wish concerning my self, and the like I wish for all my Friends; somtimes to prosper, and somtimes to miscarry; and in this Vicissitude rather to pass my life, than without any alteration to prosper; for I never yet could hear of any who having thus prospered long, did not at the last, end in universal destruction. Which he imputed to the envy of their gods; for their