The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Lastly, That is the highest poison and wickedness that can be in Envy, viz. When it is for the Graces and Godliness of others. Thou hast a wicked, malicious, and envious heart to others, merely because they are godly. Though this be so heinous a sin, that some make it a tendency to the sin against the holy Ghost, yet how often is it practised? How many men are reproached, envied by their neighbours and others, merely for their godliness? They are carried out with devilish spite, because of that. If they were profane, superstitious, carnal, and dissolute as they are, then there were no better men in the world. ⟨p. 28⟩But this maketh them the object of their envy, that they are godly. Thus Cain, he envied, and so hated his brother Abel. We might have thought, there being no more men, then those two, except their Father, they should dearly have loved one another; but Abel's works they were godly, and God had a respect to his sacrifice, and not to Cain's, and this made him envy, hate, and at last murder him. And this might be charged upon the Pharisees, when Christ terrifieth them about the sin against the Holy Ghost; for indeed as you heard, to envy, spite, and malice a man because of his godliness, it's an high degree to that unpardonable sin: Look to it; there is too many guilty of this doleful crime.

Lastly, That is the highest poyson and wickedness that can be in Envy, viz. When it is for the Graces and Godliness of others. Thou hast a wicked, malicious, and envious heart to others, meerly because they are godly. Though this be so hainous a sinne, that some make it a tendency to the sinne against the holy Ghost, yet how often is it practised? How many men are reproached, envied by their neighbours and others, meerly for their godliness? They are carried out with devilish spite, because of that. If they were prophane, superstitious, carnal, and dissolute as they are, then there were no better men in the world. ⟨p. 28⟩But this maketh them the object of their envy, that they are godly. Thus Cain, he envyed, and so hated his brother Abel. We might have thought, there being no more men, then those two, except their Father, they should dearely have loved one another; but Abel's works they were godly, and God had a respect to his sacrifice, and not to Cain's, and this made him envy, hate, and at last murder him. And this might be charged upon the Pharisees, when Christ terrifieth them about the sinne against the Holy Ghost; for indeed as you heard, to envy, spite, and malice a man because of his godliness, it's an high degree to that unpardonable sinne: Look to it; there is too many guilty of this dolefull crime.