с 5 But every one follows his own wicked lusts; having taken up an unjust and wicked envy, by which death first entered into the world. d Gen. iv. 3, &c. to CHAP. III. Envy and emulation the original of all strife and disorder. Examples of the mischiefs they have occasioned. d FOR thus it is written, And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof: 2 And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering. But unto Cain, and unto his offering, he had not respect. And Cain was very sorrowful, and his countenance fell. e 3 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou sorrowful? And why is thy counteThis is acnance fallen? If thou shalt offer aright, but not divide aright, hast thou not sinned? Hold fAoorpoon thy peace: unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. cording the lxx. conversion. 4 And Cain said unto Abel his brother, Let us go down into the field. And it came to pass as they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 5 Ye see, brethren, how envy and emulaFratricide. tion wrought the death of a brother. For h this our father Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau. λ Envy. i Gen. xxviii. j Gen.xxxvii. k per 6 It was this that caused Joseph to be j secuted even unto death, and to come into * Exod. ii.15. bondage. Envy forced Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he Exod. ii.14. heard his own countrymen ask him, 'Who made thee a judge, and a ruler over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? 7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam were "shut out of the camp, from the rest of them Made to congregation, seven days. lodge out. Numb. xii. 14, 15. Hades. 8 Emulation "sent Dathan and Abiram Brought quick into the grave, because they raised up a sedition against Moses, the servant of God. 9 For this David was not only hated of Had,or unstrangers, but was persecuted even by Saul hatred, not the king of Israel. upon r ancient exam derwent the only, &c. 9 To cease from. T Combat ants, wrest 10 But not to insist ples, let us come to those worthies that have been nearest to us; and take the brave exam- lers. ples of our own age. The faith 11 Through zeal and envy, "the most faith-ful, and most ful and righteous pillars of the church have righteous. been persecuted even to the most grievous deaths. V ? Good. " Labours. 12 Let us set before our eyes the 'Holy Apostles: Peter by unjust envy underwent not one or two, but many "sufferings; till, And so. at last, being martyred, he went to the place of glory that was due unto him. 13 For the same cause, did Paul in like By envy. manner receive the reward of his patience. Seven times he was in bonds; he was whipped, was stoned; he preached both in the &c. East and in the West; leaving behind him He receiv the glorious report of his faith: у ed the, &c. 14 And so having taught the whole world righteousness, and for that end travelled even to the utmost bounds of the West, he at last suffered martyrdom by the command of the Vide Peargovernors, 15 And departed out of the world, and went a Men who have lived godly, are a unto his holy place; being become a most eminent pattern of patience unto all ages. 16 To these Holy Apostles were joined a gathered to very great number of others, who, having gether. through envy undergone in like manner many pains and torments, have left a glorious example among ample to us. b Become an excellent ex us. d The names Dirce I omit. c Envy. 17 For this not only men, but women, of Danae and have been persecuted: and having suffered See Junius Very grievous and cruel punishments, have Cursed af finished the course of their faith with firmness; and though weak in body, yet received a glorious reward. Annot.in loc. flictions torments. or ƒ Envy or emulation. 18. This has alienated the minds even of women from their husbands; and changed what was once said by our father Adam; Gen. ji 23. g This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. ▲ Great. i Send. 19 In a word, envy and strife have overturned whole cities, and rooted out great nations from off the earth. CHAP. IV. He exhorts them to live by the rules, and repent of their divisions, and they shall be forgiven. THESE things, beloved, we write unto j Instructing you, not only for your instruction, but also remembering for our own remembrance. you, but also &c. k * Place of en- 2 For we are all in the same lists, and the 2 counter. Imposed Same combat is 'prepared for us all. upon us all. 3 Wherefore let us lay aside all vain and empty cares; and let us come up to the gloricus and venerable rule of our holy calling. 1 Tim. v.4. 4 Let us consider what is good, and acceptable, and well pleasing in the sight of him that made us. m 5 Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious his blood is in the sight of God: which, being shed for our salvation," has obtained the grace of repen- given to. tance for all the world. n Afforded or Look dili gently to. 6 Let us search into all the ages that have gone before us; and let us learn that our Lord has in every one of them still given place? for repentance to all such as would turn to him. From age Be turned. to age. T2 Pet. ii. 5. 8 7 'Noah preached repentance; and as ma- Gen vii. ny as hearkened to him were saved. Jonah Jon. iii. denounced destruction against the Ninevites. t salvation. 8 Howbeit they, repenting of their sins, appeased God by their prayers, and were saved, Received though they were strangers to the covenant of God. 9 Hence we find how all the ministers of the grace of God have spoken by the Holy Spirit of repentance. And even the Lord of all has himself "declared with an oath con- " Spoken. cerning it; V 11. 20 as his repen 10. As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not "Ezek.xxxiii the death of a sinner," but that he should re- So much pent. Adding further this good sentence, saying, Turn from your iniquity, O house of Is rael. 11 Say unto the children of my people, Though your sins should reach from earth to heaven; and though they should be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye shall turn to me with all your heart, and shall call me Father, I will hearken to you, as to a holy people. 12 And in another place he saith on this wise: z Wash you clean; put away tance. I Repent from. Ezek. xviii. 30, 32. y Isaiah i. Jer. iii. 4, 19. Isa. i. 16. make ye, the evil of your doings from before mine. Evil from eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek your souls. judgment; relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 13 Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though them white they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool. b I will make as wool. • Becoming &c. d Turn ourselves to his b 14 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but, if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 15 These things has God established by his almighty will, desiring that all his beloved should come to repentance. CHAP. V. He sets before them the examples of holy men whose piety is recorded in the Scriptures. WHEREFORE let us obey his excellent and suppliants of glorious will; and imploring his mercy and goodness, let us fall down upon our faces bemercy. fore him, and cast ourselves his upon mercy; laying aside all vanity, and contention, and envy which leads unto death. @ Vain labour. Gen. v. 24. g Found. A Being found. i Gen.vi. vii. viii. d e 2 Let us look up to those who have the most perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Let us take Enoch for our example; who being found righteous in obedience, was ' translated, and his death was not known. i 3. Noah being proved to be faithful, did by his ministry preach regeneration to the world; and the Lord saved by him all the living creatures, that went with one accord to*James .gether into the ark. j In unity. 23. xli. 8. Isaiah I Words. 4* Abraham, who was called God's friend, was in like manner found faithful; inasmuch as he obeyed the 'commands of God. |