Use 1. To reprove us, and humble us for this envying the wicked. It appeareth partly by our troubling and vexing ourselves so much at the sight of their prosperity. We are so dejected at it, as if God had done nothing for our souls, as if all our happiness were gone, and lay in outward things. We should chide ourselves for this : Ps. xlii. 5,
* Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul, why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope thou in God ; I shall yet praise him, for the help of his •countenance.' Partly by our questioning providence and murmuring against providence, as if all things were not under the government of God : Exod. xvii. 7, ' They tempted the Lord, saying. Is the Lord among us or not ? ' Judges vi. 13, 'If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us ? ' Or as if we had deserved more than he giveth us : Isa. Iviii. 3, ' Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not ? wherefore have we afilicted our 'soul, and thou takest no know- ledge ? ' Partly by our proneness to choose their ways, and weariness of the good course wherein we are engaged. Alas ! how have we lost our way, and been hurried to and fro in this time of trial, like light chaff. As Cyprian observeth, De Lapsis : Adprimum statim verhum minantis inimici, fidem suam perdit nee prostratus est, persecutionis metu, sed voluntario lapsu seipsum prostravit, &c. We give out at the first assault ; yea, before assaulted ; at the very blast and rumour of a temptation.
2. Envy them not. Let it enforce the admonition of the text. Now, for remedies, let me —
[1.] Kecommend those tliree radical graces, faith, fear, and love.
SERMON UPON PROVERBS III. 30, 31. 385
(1.) Faith, that we may see afar off, and look beyond the present condition : 2 Peter i. 9, ' He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.' Faith showeth us there are other good things after this life, with which these present unstable good things are not to be compared, nor so much as called good things. The use of faith is to be, Heb. xi. 1, ' The evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for.' Some are of so weak a sight, that without their spectacles they can scarce see anything except those that are so bulky and great that they are not only seen but felt ; but if they use their spectacles, they can see afar off. In a perspective-glass men can dis- cern ships at sea at a great distance. AH carnal men see nothing but those corporeal things which dogs and horses see ; they know it is good to eat well and drink well and sleep well, increase by trade, or follow after vain pleasures ; but faith giveth an eagle's eye, that can see, beyond all the clouds of the lower world, an invisible God, and heaven at a distance. Yea, faith is necessary to see the vanity of present things : Ps. xxxvii. 35, 36, ' I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree : yet he passed away, and lo ! he was not ; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found ; ' that we may not look too much to sense and appearance, that we may not judge rashly of matters as they show for the present ; but remember all flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass.
(2.) The fear of God is necessary : Prov. xxiii. 27, ' Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of God all the day long.' Fear is always necessary, that we may be sensible of his providence, to suppress all murmurings, and to moderate our desires of earthly tilings ; to keep us as with a bridle from putting forth our hands to iniquity.
(3.) Love is also necessary. Love to God and his ways : Ps. cxix. 165, ' Great jjcace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them ; ' they do not easily stumble. So to men : 1 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Cha- rity envieth not.' We are apt to be grieved at the good of others, and their preference before ourselves. We should rejoice in others' good as our own : 1 Cor. xii. 26, ' The members should have the same care one for another ; and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.'
[2.] A due estimation and value of our privileges, though spiritual and future. They are not worthy of the favour of God that do not prefer it above all worldly things whatsoever , even one drachm of his love : Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt ; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.' In the darkest times of trouble you are in a better state than they. A christian sees nothing under the sun truly great and worthy his envy ; nothing worthy to be compared with what he enjoyeth in Christ.