Wise. You have given it a very right description, in calling of it the Father and Mother of a great many other prodigious wickednesses: for it is so venomous and vile a thing, that it puts the whole course of Nature out of order, and makes it fit for nothing but confusion, and a hold for every evil thing.1 For where envy and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. Wherefore, I say, you have rightly called it, The very Father and Mother of a great many other sins. And now for our further edification, I will reckon up some of the births of Envy.2
1. Envy, as I told you before, it ⟨p. 262⟩rotteth the very bones of him that entertains it. And,
2. As you have also hinted, it is heavier than a Stone, than Sand; yea, and I will add, It falls like a Mill-stone upon the head. Therefore,
3. It kills him that throws it, and him at whom it is thrown. Envy slayeth the silly one. 3That is, him in whom it resides, and him who is its object.
4. 'Twas that also that slew Jesus4 Christ himself;5 for his adversaries persecuted him through their envy.
5. Envy was that by virtue of which Joseph was sold by his Brethren6 into Egypt.
6. 'Tis envy that hath the hand7 in making of variance among Gods Saints.
7. 'Tis envy in the hearts of Sinners,8 that stirs them up to thrust Gods Ministers out of their coasts.
8. What shall I say? 'Tis envy that is the very Nursery of whisperings, debates, backbitings, slanders, reproaches, murders, &c.
'Tis not possible to repeat all the ⟨p. 263⟩particular fruits of this sinful root. Therefore, it is no marvel that Mr. Badman was such an ill natured man, for the great roots of all manner of wickedness were in him, unmortified, unmaimed, untouched.
Wise. You have given it a very right description, in calling of it the Father and Mother of a great many other prodigious wickednesses: for it is so venomous and vile a thing, that it puts the whole course of Nature out of order, and makes it fit for nothing but confusion, and a hold for every evil thing.1 For where envy and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. Wherefore, I say, you have rightly called it, The very Father and Mother of a great many other sins. And now for our further edification, I will reckon up some of the births of Envy.2
1. Envy, as I told you before, it ⟨p. 262⟩rotteth the very bones of him that entertains it. And,
2. As you have also hinted, it is heavier than a Stone, than Sand; yea, and I will add, It falls like a Mill-stone upon the head. Therefore,
3. It kills him that throws it, and him at whom it is thrown. Envy slayeth the silly one. 3That is, him in whom it resides, and him who is its object.
4. 'Twas that also that slew Jesus4 Christ himself;5 for his adversaries persecuted him through their envy.
5. Envy was that by vertue of which Joseph was sold by his Brethren6 into Egypt.
6. 'Tis envy that hath the hand7 in making of variance among Gods Saints.
7. 'Tis envy in the hearts of Sinners,8 that stirres them up to thrust Gods Ministers out of their coasts.
8. What shall I say? 'Tis envy that is the very Nursery of whisperings, debates, backbitings, slanders, reproaches, murders, &c.
'Tis not possible to repeat all the ⟨p. 263⟩particular fruits of this sinfull root. Therefore, it is no marvel that Mr. Badman was such an ill natured man, for the great roots of all manner of wickedness were in him, unmortified, unmaimed, untouched.
- 1Jam. 3. 14, 15.
- 2Some of the births of Envy.
- 3Job. 5. 2.
- 4Matt. 27. 18.
- 5Mar. 15. 10.
- 6Acts. 7. 9.
- 7Isa. 11. 13.
- 8Acts 13. 14.
