men is that of envy.-Such is the nature of the present state, that there must necessarily be a diversity in the circumstances and conditions of mankind. An attempt to make all alike would be as fruitless as it is foolish. It would be as vain as to aim at changing the winds, or preventing the descending of the rain. It is altogether inconsistent with the welfare or existence of society. If then the providence of God appoints or permits, for wise and important purposes, such varieties in the situations and capacities of his intelligent creatures, we ought thankfully to submit to his dispensations, as most conducive, upon the whole, to promote his glory, display his wisdom, and prove beneficial to the world. This would soon banish envy from among men, which, however, is far from being the case. The happiness of men is generally over-rated, excepting that which springs from religion. This, from mistaken notions, is let down as low as the other is exalted. But we should remember all is not gold that glitters, though many seem by their actions and pursuits to think the contrary; they become discontented, because others appear richer, more respectable, and happier than themselves, and covet their state and situation as better than their own. Hence all their murmuring, repining, and fretfulness against Divine Providence, and such complaining against the inequality of his ways, (Ezek. xviii. 25.) because they are not permitted to indulge their inordinate desires. All this arises from their ignorance of the divine counsel, and the true state of those whose apparent prospe rity causes their vexation. They do not consider the obligations they lie under to their gracious and almighty Benefactor, for the numerous benefits bestowed upon them, without intermission, for a succession of years, or for the rich provision made in the gospel for their perishing souls; nor do they reflect upon the greatness of their debt to their long-suffering Creditor, or their utter inability to supply the deficiency of their obedience, gratitude, and love, or to escape the punishment due to their frequent negligence and transgressions. This disposition gives birth to peevishness and unthankfulness, and increases the power of unbelief and hardness of heart; it strengthens the natural enmity of the carnal mind against the righteous laws and government of God, till they are led captive by the devil at his will, who blinds their hearts more effectually in the promotion of his infernal machinations. It promotes many sinful practices, particularly among those who are placed in inferior situations or needy circumstances, whose minds are aiming at higher things. They will be rich, great, and honourable, and if they cannot rise by truth and righteousness, they will, if possible, by injustice, fraud, and knavery. It is greatly to be feared that this is one of the chief causes of bankruptcies and failures amongst traders and commercial men; of purloining, falshood, pilfering, and unfaithfulness among children and servants; and of numerous treacheries among those in whom men sometimes place the greatest confidence. To this also may be ascribed much of the slandering and backbiting found among all ranks, and so artfully spread under the appearances of pity, secresy, and confidence. How common it is, if you express your esteem for the virtue, piety, wisdom, or integrity of particular persons, to observe a significant or sarcastic smile, or some unkind hint, that their worth and excellency are strangely over-rated! The spirit that is in us desires to envy, said the apostle, and the observation is confirmed by daily experience. The distress, defamation, and downfall of rivals, and of those in exalted stations, give to envious persons the highest gratification, whether they themselves are advanced thereby or not: and to see them honoured, caressed, and applauded, is to such the worthy cause of their deepest anguish. Envy, says Solomon, is "rottenness of the bones," falling with uncommon pressure upon such as are under its malignant influence. Did we hear, and know all that is passing of this satanic disposition, with its horrid wishes, its ungenerous remarks, its studied calumnies, and lying descriptions, with the bad effects it produces on such as are subject to its authority, the personification of it by one of our poets would scarcely appear too strong. "A poisonous morsel in her teeth she chew'd, And spread a greenness o'er her canker'd breast ; She bears her own tormentor in her breast." This is a most deadly stain in human nature, and renders man a vile instrument of the devil, in the accomplishment of his infernal designs-tearing up by the roots every thing that resembles the beneficent Creator of heaven and earth. The disposition of some persons is hasty and violent.—I have already, under the article on cruelty, given some marks of this: but I wish to set forth anger in a fuller light, attended with other circumstances. I have thought this the more necessary, as it discovers itself so frequently, and in such a great number of persons. Whatever desire we may have of always doing our own will and pleasure, we may be assured that we shall meet with obstructions and difficulties, and this is highly provoking to men of proud and ungovernable tempers. It is no easy matter to be angry even in a right cause, and not transgress the divine law. Anger, in general, carries with it such a degree of revenge, as ill becomes a guilty transgressor to discover either towards opponents or enemies, and therefore we are commanded to east it away. Col. iii. 18. We are, indeed, allowed to shew E our displeasure at sin; (Psal. xcvii. 10.) and there may, on some occasions, be a necessity to rebuke offenders with sharpness; (Titus, i. 13.) but it should be administered in the spirit of love and forgiveness. Anger is such a violent and unruly evil, that it agitates and convulses the whole frame. It discovers itself by furious looks. Dan. iii. 9. When under its influence, the tongue is compared to a sharp razor, working deceitfully; (Psal. lii. 2.) it also produces actions degrading to human nature. Acts vii. 54. It distorts the countenance, disturbs the mind, and transforms the man into the resemblance of that apostate spirit who is represented as a being of "great wrath." It is bad when felt in the heart, but worse when it appears without. Wilfulness and irritability of temper are greatly strengthened and confirmed by a corrupt education, by the want of necessary restraint, and by foolish indulgence. This is especially the case among the more wealthy classes, who regard with admiration the first ebullitions of evil, or the first openings of intellect, in their children, and imagine themselves and their offspring, from worldly advantages, as a superior order of beings. Hence, they to whom the care of their persons or education is committed must not controul them, must patiently endure their pride and petulance; and this, from fear or interest, is too much the case; and by this means the tyranny of these young tyrants grows with their growth and increases with their years. When offence is given to persons of this character, what a spirit do they afterwards manifest! What shocking expressions drop from their unhallowed lips! What bitter oaths, curses, and imprecations ; what abuse, threatenings, ill-wishes, and resolutions of revenge, without the least regard to God or his glorious majesty! The same state of mind produces much the same kind of fruit in high and low in some, however, it is more quickly terminated, by the submission of the weaker to the stronger party; while others more on an equality continue their scurrility, brawling, and villifying, for a longer space. But whether their merciless fury is of longer or shorter duration, 35 it is often attended with fatal consequences, owing to that implacability which is cherished in the mind, and which no submissions or other considerations can remove. Under this hellish passion, how many inhuman and barbarous murders have been committed or designed, which the most seared conscience cannot forget; which wise and upright magistrates cannot pardon; and the perpetration of which has awakened divine vengeance to discover those which have been committed with the greatest secresy, and to fill the mind of the revengeful delinquent with incessant fear and alarm! This is abundantly confirmed by the histories of all nations. What parricides, matricides, and fratricides, have been committed in families, in the bosoms of which nothing contrary to concord and love ought to prevail, besides innumerable other murders among persons of every character and clime! These are Satan's first-born children, who has been a murderer from the beginning, hunting the precious souls of men, to destroy them; and these vile wretches have also succeeded like him in destroying many of the unhappy victims of their vengeance, by hurrying their souls into the awful presence of a holy God. It is true, revenge has not always been the principal motive in these bloody scenes, yet it seems difficult to divest ourselves entirely of the persuasion that such things can be committed altogether in cool blood, as some instances of this shocking crime are said to be. However, no doubt can remain, but that revenge has often ended in such horrid eatastrophes. If all the attempts of this wicked and furious passion have not aimed to inflict death on the real or supposed offender, yet there is a variety of instances in which its cruelties have been followed by lingering afflictions, mutilated bodies and sorrowful minds, with loss of one or more of the senses, and perhaps of reason; while it has reduced others to a state of want and wretchedness. Such is this uncontrouled and headstrong passion, and such, or similar, its baneful effects. When submitted to, it overturns in its course all mercy and |