We are eager, too, to get money, and get more money
still--piercing ourselves through too often, as the Apostle warned us--
with many sorrows, and falling into foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition. We are luxurious--more and more
fond of show; more apt to live up to our incomes, and probably a little
beyond; more and more craving for this or that gew-gaw, especially in
dress and ornament, which if our neighbour has, we must have too, or we
shall be mortified, envious. Nay, so strong is this temper of rivalry,
of allowing no superiors, grown in us, that we have made now-a-days a god
of what used to be considered the basest of all vices--the vice of envy--
and dignify it with the names of equality and independence. Men in this
temper of mind cannot be at peace. They are not content; they cannot be
content.
But with what are they not content? That is a question worth asking.
For there is a discontent (as I have told you ere now) which is noble,
manful, heroic, and divine. Just as there is a discontent which is base,
mean, unmanly, earthly--sometimes devilish.
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