character of envy, I beg leave to suggest to you some cautions in relation to it. Be careful,
1. Not needlessly to excite it —
[Knowing, as you do, how common an evil it is, and how deeply rooted in the heart of man, you should guard against every thing which may call it into action. Whatever you possess, either of natural or acquired excellence, make not an ostentatious display of it ; but rather put a veil over it, as it were, that its radiance may not offend the eyes of those who behold you. The less value you appear to put upon your attainments, and the less you arrogate to yourselves on account of them, the less will others be disposed to grudge you the enjoyment of them, and to despoil you of the honour due to them. It was unwise in Jacob to mark his partiality towards his son Joseph, by " a coat of many colours ;" and he paid dearly for it by the sufferings it entailed. For your own sakes therefore, as well as for the sake of others, it will be wise in you to bear your honours meekly, and to shew that you are " little in your own eyes."]
2. Not wickedly to indulge it —
[Envy is a principle in our fallen nature far more power- ful than men in general are apt to imagine. " Do you think that the Scripture saith in vain. The spirit that dwelleth in vis lusteth to envy ^ ?" If you will watch the motions of your own hearts, you will find a sad propensity to it, whenever a power- ful occasion arises to call it forth. Suppose a person, whom you have regarded as inferior to yourself in industry and talent, has got before you, and attained a higher eminence than you in your oivn peculiar line ; are you not ready to ascribe his success to chance, or to the partiality of friends, rather than to his own intrinsic merit ? and would it not be gratifying to you to hear a similar judgment passed on him by others ? Suppose he were by any means to fall from his emi- nence; would not his degradation give you pleasure? If you praise him, is it with the same decisive tone as you would have wished for, if the praise had been conferred on you? It is when your own honour or interest comes in competition with that of another, that envy betrays its power over you : and if you have been observant of the workings of your own mind, you will be no strangers to the operation of this principle within you. But remember what has been said of its odious- ness and enormity ; and cry mightily to God to deliver you from its baneful influence. Remember how transitory is all distinction here ; and content yourselves wath the honour which Cometh from God, and will endure for ever.]
^ Jam. iv. 5. See also Tit. iii. 3.