It is then a most cursed thing to desire or rejoice in the sins of others because of our own advantage. That is the special observation here. How many are there that watch for the falls of their enemies, and rejoice in their sin? I appeal unto you, had you an enemy to you, when you heard of his fall, though it were a sin against God, yet if it tended unto his disgrace, did not you rejoice in it? were you not glad of it? because the more an enemy is disgraced the more you think your self justified and honoured. Oh this is horrible! Oh be humbled before the Lord for this, and seek unto God that if it be possible he may pardon the thoughts of thy heart in this thing. What, to rejoice that the infinite blessed God is dishonoured because thou thy self hast an advantage, it is a most horrible cursed thing. How many are there that looking upon the professors of Religion whom they think to be adversaries unto them, do rejoice when they see them fall, why? because they think by their disgracing, themselves to be thereby justified. This is to feed upon the sins of people. You shall have vermin and swine rooting in filth and in dung,1 so there are many that feed upon the filth and dung of others, upon the filth of their sins. It is a vile and cursed wickedness to be glad of the afflictions of our neighbour for our own advantage, much more to be glad of his sin. When thy neighbour falls into affliction thou shouldst not rejoice at his affliction though thou hast advantage by it; but when thy neighbour falls into sin, to be glad of it for thine own advantage, this is a most ⟨p. 107⟩cursed thing indeed.2 For a Chirurgeon to be glad of another mans wounds and to prolong the healing of them because he thereby shall have some advantage, would not every one cry out of him? And truly this were wickedness. So for Soldiers to love war,3 and to lengthen out war, and care not what becomes of the lives of men and the woeful miseries of a Kingdom so they may have long pay, (I say) for them willingly to lengthen out war because of their own advantage, this you will all account a great wickedness: But this is not so bad as to be glad of the sins of people for our own advantage. Certainly as Chirurgeons that shall lengthen out the affliction of their Patients for their own advantage may be said to feed, upon the matter and filthy stuff of the wound;
It is then a most cursed thing to desire or rejoyce in the sins of others because of our own advantage. That is the special observation here. How many are there that watch for the falls of their enemies, and rejoyce in their sin? I appeal unto you, had you an enemy to you, when you heard of his fall, though it were a sin against God, yet if it tended unto his disgrace, did not you rejoyce in it? were you not glad of it? because the more an enemy is disgraced the more you think your self justified and honored. Oh this is horrible! Oh be humbled before the Lord for this, and seek unto God that if it be possible he may pardon the thoughts of thy heart in this thing. What, to rejoyce that the infinite blessed God is dishonored because thou thy self hast an advantage, it is a most horrible cursed thing. How many are there that looking upon the professors of Religion whom they think to be adversaries unto them, do rejoyce when they see them fall, why? because they think by their disgracing, themselves to be thereby justified. This is to feed upon the sins of people. You shall have vermine and swine rooting in filth and in dung,1 so there are many that feed upon the filth and dung of others, upon the filth of their sins. It is a vile and cursed wickedness to be glad of the afflictions of our neighbor for our own advantage, much more to be glad of his sin. When thy neighbour falls into affliction thou shouldst not rejoice at his affliction though thou hast advantage by it; but when thy neighbor falls into sin, to be glad of it for thine own advantage, this is a most ⟨p. 107⟩cursed thing indeed.2 For a Chirurgion to be glad of another mans wounds and to prolong the healing of them because he thereby shall have some advantage, would not every one cry out of him? And truly this were wickedness. So for Soldiers to love war,3 and to lengthen out war, and care not what becomes of the lives of men and the woful miseries of a Kingdom so they may have long pay, (I say) for them willingly to lengthen out war because of their own advantage, this you will all account a great wickedness: But this is not so bad as to be glad of the sins of people for our own advantage. Certainly as Chirurgeons that shall lengthen out the affliction of their Patients for their own advantage may be said to feed, upon the matter and filthy stuff of the wound;
- 1simile swine.
- 2Chyurgion
- 3SoldierSouldier
