The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandmanThe husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman

SECT. IV.¹

1. 1§. 4.

IV The Fourth Temptation of the Husbandman ¹is, Envy at his Superiors. And by this Temptation fell the second Husbandman in the world. Abel sat above Cain in the favour and acceptation of God, Gen. 4.4, 5. and for this Cain was wroth, and his countenance fell. He that should have blest God for his Brother, and examined himself, he takes it ill at God, and ill of his Brother, and is the death of him; as envy useth to pursue its object to death, he kills him down right, because he was exalted in Gods esteem above him. And ever since, the spirit that is in the Husbandman is prone to lust unto envy. His Landlords temptation is to despise him, and his temptation is to envy his Landlord. He ⟨p. 77⟩can hardly come to Town, but he envies the ease of the Tradesman: He can hardly see the fine house of the Gentleman his neighbour, nor the fine clothes of his Wife or Children, without an envious eye; nay, the painful life of his faithful Minister he is apt to envy, as if he had a degree of ease and honour above himself; yea, except grace prevent and mortify, there lies at his heart a perpetual grudge, and secret spite at all Magistrates, Ministers, great and wealthy men, all which he thinks do him wrong, because he sweats, and they do not; he pays the money, and they receive it; he gets it, and they spend it, though most of it returns through his hands again. He knows no reason, why such being made of the same mould, and perhaps born of the same Stock with himself, should live in such brave houses, wear such costly apparel, and fare at such an high rate; when he hath his head full of cares, his bones full of pain, and hath hardly meat to eat, or time to eat it; when his Landlords Horses lye in a finer House then he, and his meanest servant wears a cloth beyond him.