ON JEALOUSY AND ENVY. 43
boundary. The mischiefof jealousy,manifoldand fruitful,
extends widely. It is the root of allevils,the fountainof
disasters,thenurseryof crimes,thematerialof transgressions.
Thence ariseshatred,thence proceedsanimosity. Jealousy
inflamesavarice,in thatone cannot be contentwith what is
hisown, while he seesanothermore wealthy. Jealousystirs
up ambition,when one seesanothermore exaltedin honours.1
When jealousy darkens our perceptions,and reduces the
secretagenciesof the mind under itscommand, the fearof
God isdespised,the teachingof Christisneglected,the day
of judgment is not anticipated.Pride inflates,crueltyem
bitters,faithlessnessprevaricates,impatienceagitates,discord
rages,anger grows hot; nor can he who has become the sub
jectof a foreignauthorityany longerrestrainor govern him
self.By thisthe bond of the Lord'speace isbroken ; by this
is violatedbrotherlycharity; by this truth is adulterated,
unityisdivided; men plunge intoheresiesand schismswhen
priestsare disparaged,when bishopsare envied,when a man
complainsthathe himselfwas not ratherordained,or disdains
to sufferthat another should be put over him. Hence the
man who is haughty through jealousy,and perversethrough
envy, kicks,hence he revolts,in anger and malicethe oppo
nent,not of the man, but of the honour.
7. But what a gnawing worm of the soul is it,what a
plague-spotof our thoughts,what a rustof the heart,to be
jealousof another,eitherin respectof hisvirtueor of his
happiness; that is,to hate in him eitherhisown deservings
or the divinebenefits— to turn the advantagesof othersinto
one's own mischief— to be tormented by the prosperityof
illustriousmen — to make other people'sglory one's own
penalty,and, as itwere,to applya sortof executionertoone's
own breast,to bring the tormentorsto one'sown thoughts
and feelings,thatthey may tearus with intestinepangs,and
may smite the secretrecessesof the heartwith the hoof of
malevolence! To such,no food is joyous,no drink can be
cheerful. They are ever sighing,and groaning,and griev
ing; and sinceenvy isnever put offby the envious,the pos-
1Or,withsomeeditors," moreincreasedinhonours."