CHAP. III.—_The sad state of the Corinthian church after sedition arose in it from envy and emulation._ Every kind of honour and happiness[11] was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, “My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.”[12] Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith,[13] neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian,[14] but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.[15] CHAP. IV.—_Many evils have already flowed from this source in ancient times._ For thus it is written: “And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell. And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned? Be at peace: thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”[16] Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother. Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother.[17] Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage.[18] Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman, “Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?”[19] On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp.[20] Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they excited against God’s servant Moses.[21] Through envy, David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel.[22] CHAP. V.—_No less evils have arisen from the same source in the most recent times. The martyrdom of Peter and Paul._