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On Jealousy and Envy

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 1

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

1. To be jealous of what you see to be good

‹ On Jealousy and Envy.Section 2 ›

,

and

to

be

envious

of

those

who

are

better

than

yourself

,

seems

,

beloved

brethren

,

in

the

eyes

of

some

people

to

be

a

slight

and

petty

wrong

;

and

,

being

thought

trifling

and

of

small

account

,

it

is

not

feared

;

not

being

feared

,

it

is

contemned

;

being

contemned

,

it

is

not

easily

shunned

:

and

it

thus

becomes

a

dark

and

hidden

mischief

,

which

,

as

it

is

not

perceived

so

as

to

be

guarded

against

by

the

prudent

,

secretly

distresses

incautious

minds

.

But

,

moreover

,

the

Lord

bade

us

be

prudent

,

and

charged

us

to

watch

with

careful

solicitude

,

lest

the

adversary

,

who

is

always

on

the

watch

and

always

lying

in

wait

,

should

creep

stealthily

into

our

breast

,

and

blow

up

a

flame

from

the

sparks

,

magnifying

small

things

into

the

greatest

;

and

so

,

while

soothing

the

unguarded

and

careless

with

a

milder

air

and

a

softer

breeze

,

should

stir

up

storms

and

whirlwinds

,

and

bring

about

the

destruction

of

faith

and

the

shipwreck

of

salvation

and

of

life

.

Therefore

,

beloved

brethren

,

we

must

be

on

our

guard

,

and

strive

with

all

our

powers

to

repel

,

with

solicitous

and

full

watchfulness

,

the

enemy

,

raging

and

aiming

his

darts

against

every

part

of

our

body

in

which

we

can

be

stricken

and

wounded

,

in

accordance

with

what

the

Apostle

Peter

,

in

his

epistle

,

forewarns

and

teaches

,

saying

,

“

Be

sober

,

and

watch

;

because

your

adversary

the

devil

,

as

a

roaring

lion

,

goeth

about

seeking

any

one

to

devour

.

”

Notes

3
1 Pet. v. 8.