conflict; and will crown the conqueror with eternal rewards. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. To him that overcometh, faith our bleffed Lord, I will grant to fit with me on my throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne *

Rev. ii. 10.-iii. 21.

SERM.

VII.

SERMON VIII.

On ENVY.

VIII.

I CORINTHIANS, xiii. 4.

Charity envieth not

SERM. ENVY is a fenfation of uneafinefs and difquiet, arifing from the advantages which others are fuppofed to poffefs above us, accompanied with malignity towards those who poffefs them. This is univerfally admitted to be one of the blackeft paffions in the human heart. In this world we depend much on one another; and were therefore formed by God to be mutually useful and affifting. The inftincts of kindness and compaffion which belong to our frame, fhew how much it was the intention of our Creator that we should be united in friendship. If

any

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any infringe this great law of nature, by SERM. acts of causeless hoftility, refentment may juftly arise. No one is to be condemned for defending his rights, and fhewing dif pleasure against a malicious enemy. But to conceive ill-will at one who has attacked none of our rights, nor done us any injury, folely because he is more profperous than we are, is a difpofition altogether unnatural; it fuits not the human conftitu tion, and partakes more of the rancour of an evil spirit. Hence, the character of an envious man is univerfally odious. All disclaim it; and they who feel themselves under the influence of this paffion, carefully conceal it.

But it is proper to confider, that among all our paffions, both good and bad, there are many different gradations. Sometimes they swim on the furface of the mind, without producing any internal agitation. They proceed no farther than the beginnings of paffion. Allayed by our conftitution, or tempered by the mixture of other difpofitions, they exert no confiderable influence on the temper. Though the character in which envy forms the ruling paffion,

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SERM. fion, and reigns in all it force, be one too odious, I hope, to be common; yet fome fhade, fome tincture, of this evil difpofition mixes with moft characters in the world. It is, perhaps, one of the most prevailing infirmities to which we are subject. There are few but who, at one time or other, have found fomewhat of this nature ftirring within them; fome lurking uneafinefs in their mind, when they looked up to others, who enjoyed a greater share than had fallen to their lot, of fome advantages which they wished, and thought themselves entitled, to poffefs. Though this should not embitter their difpofition; though it should create the uneafiness only, without the malignity, of envy; yet ftill it is a dif turbed state of mind; and always borders upon, if it actually include not, fome vicious affections. In order, as far as poffible, to remedy this evil, I fhall now confider what are the most general grounds of the envy which men are apt to bear to others; and fhall examine what foundation they afford, for any degree of this troublefome and dangerous paffion.The chief grounds of envy may be reduced to three: Accomplish

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Accomplishments of mind; advantages of SERM. birth, rank, and fortune; fuperior fuccefs in worldly pursuits.

I. ACCOMPLISHMENTS, or endowments of the mind. The chief endowment for which man deferves to be valued, is virtue. This unquestionably forms the most eftimable diftinction among mankind. Yet this, which may appear furprising, never forms any ground of envy. No man is envied for being more juft, more generous, more patient, or forgiving, than others. This may, in in part, be owing to virtue producing in every one who beholds it, that high degree of refpect and love, which extinguishes envy. But, probably, it is more owing to the good opinion which every one entertains of his own moral qualities. Some virtues, or at leaft the feeds of them, he finds within his breaft. Others he vainly áttributes to himfelf. Thofe in which he is plainly deficient, he undervalues, as either not real virtues, or virtues of very inferior rank; and refts fatisfied that, on, the whole, he is as worthy and refpectable as his neighbour.

The