Church of England -- Sermons; Ethics; Sermons, English
{4} If any desire to see this distinction and comparison made in a
particular instance, the appetite and passion now mentioned may serve for
one. Hunger is to be considered as a private appetite, because the end
for which it was given us is the preservation of the individual. Desire
of esteem is a public passion; because the end for which it was given us
is to regulate our behaviour towards society. The respect which this has
to private good is as remote as the respect that has to public good; and
the appetite is no more self-love than the passion is benevolence. The
object and end of the former is merely food; the object and end of the
latter is merely esteem; but the latter can no more be gratified without
contributing to the good of society, than the former can be gratified
without contributing to the preservation of the individual.
{5} Emulation is merely the desire and hope of equality with or
superiority over others with whom we compare ourselves. There does not
appear to be any other _grief_ in the natural passion, but only _that
want_ which is implied in desire. However, this may be so strong as to
be the occasion of great _grief_. To desire the attainment of this
equality or superiority by the _particular means_ of others being brought
down to our own level, or below it, is, I think, the distinct notion of
envy. From whence it is easy to see that the real end, which the natural
passion emulation, and which the unlawful one envy aims at, is exactly
the same; namely, that equality or superiority: and consequently, that to
do mischief is not the end of envy, but merely the means it makes use of
to attain its end. As to resentment, see the Eighth Sermon.
{6} Ephes. ii. 3.
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