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fo effential to a man, and a Chriftian. Let SERM. no difcouragement, nor danger, deter us from doing what is right. Through bonour and dishonour, through good report and bad report, let us preferve fidelity to our God and our Saviour. Though an hoft should encamp against us, let us not fear to discharge our duty. God affifts us in the virtuous. 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 fet down with my Father on his throne *.

* Rev. ii. 10.-iii. 21.

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I CORINTHIANS, xiii. 4.

Charity envieth not.

NVY is a fenfation of uneafinefs

EN

and difquiet, arifing from the advantages which others are supposed to poffefs above us, accompanied with malignity towards thofe 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 instincts of kindness and compaffion which belong to our frame, fhow how

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much it was the intention of our Creator, SERM. that we should be united in friendship. If any infringe this great law of nature, by acts of caufelefs hoftility, refentment may juftly arife. No one is to be condemned. for defending his rights, and fhowing difpleasure 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 unpatural; it fuits not the human conftitution, and partakes more of the rancour of an evil spirit. Hence, the character of an envious man is univerfally odious. All difclaim 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 fwim on the furface of the mind, without producing any internal agitation. They proceed no farther than the beginnings of paffion. Allayed by our conftitution,

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SERM. tution, 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, and reigns in all its force, be one too odious, I hope, to be common; yet fome fhade, fome tincture, of this evil difpofition, mixes with most characters in the world. It is, perhaps, one of the most prevailing infirmities to which we are fubject, There are few but who, at one time or other, have found somewhat of this nature ftirring within them; fome lurking uneafiness 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 intitled, 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 difturbed 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 con

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fider what are the most general grounds of SER M. the envy which men are apt to bear to others; and shall examine what foundation they afford, for any degree of this troublefome and dangerous paffion. -The chief grounds of envy may be reduced to three: Accomplishments of mind; advantages of birth, rank, and fortune; fuperior success 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 estimable 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 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