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

2. It opposeth that admirable goodness in Christ: Oh come with admiration, and read, and consider, the life of Christ, and his death, and you will see, envy is as direct contrary to him, as the Serpent to the Dove! Consider what he was, and yet how debasing himself for our sakes; He thought it no robbery to be equal with God, Phil. 2. for it was his due, being of the same essence with him, so that he might always have declared that infinite Majesty: but he willingly doth obscure this Sun in a cloud, this Divinity in a veil of flesh; and when he doth not take the nature of Angels, but man, even then he doth act the condition of the great, and mighty, and honoured men of the world, but of the most contemptible, a worm, and no man; yea see how good to us, to those that hated him, envied him; how destitute of a place to lay his head in; that supported all the world by his power, at his death how abused, scorned, reproached, and handled in the most ignominious, and scurrilous manner. Oh admire all this, you that hear and believe! Had there been any gall in this Dove, any envy in Christ, would he have emptied himself, thus to make thee full? Would he have become poor, to make thee rich? Oh then if envy at any time stir in thy heart, say, Did Christ do thus? Was he of this temper? and it must need fill thee with confusion.

2. It opposeth that admirable goodness in Christ: Oh come with admiration, and read, and consider, the life of Christ, and his death, and you will see, envy is as direct contrary to him, as the Serpent to the Dove! Consider what he was, and yet how debasing himself for our sakes; He thought it no robbery to be equall with God, Phil. 2. for it was his due, being of the same essence with him, so that he might alwayes have declared that infinite Majesty: but he willingly doth obscure this Sunne in a cloud, this Divinity in a vail of flesh; and when he doth not take the nature of Angels, but man, even then he doth act the condition of the great, and mighty, and honoured men of the world, but of the most contemptible, a worme, and no man; yea see how good to us, to those that hated him, envied him; how destitute of a place to lay his head in; that supported all the world by his power, at his death how abused, scorned, reproached, and handled in the most ignominious, and scurrilous manner. Oh admire all this, you that hear and believe! Had there been any gall in this Dove, any envy in Christ, would he have emptied himself, thus to make thee full? Would he have become poor, to make thee rich? Oh then if envy at any time stirre in thy heart, say, Did Christ do thus? Was he of this temper? and it must need fill thee with confusion.