A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 2 That we must be diligent, lest our prosperity become unto us an occasion of sin; and how this is to be done.

§. Sect. 2 That we must bee diligent, lest our prosperity become vnto vs an occasion of sin; and how this is to be done.

In which regard, prosperity, which is good in it self, becometh exceeding dangerous unto us, as being an ordinary and common means, both to occasion our falls into many sins, and to hinder our rising again by unfeigned repentance. In which regard, it greatly behooveth us, when we live in this estate, to think that we walk in slippery places, and as it were upon the narrow ridge of a steep hill, the descent on both sides being headlong and dangerous, in which, if we slide, we are ready to tumble by degrees into a gulf of wickedness. And consequently, as we desire to walk acceptably unto God, and tender our own salvation, we must with all care and circumspection look unto our footing, that we may be preserved from these fearful falls, and receive no hurt in this dangerous passage. To which purpose, I will propound some rules concerning the right carriage of our selves in this estate, which if we observe, they will serve as some stays to keep us from slipping, and like rails on either side of a narrow bridge over a deep and dangerous river, preserve us from falling and sinking into the depths of sin and worldly wickedness. And to this purpose we are to look on the left hand with all care and providence, that we stay our selves, by shunning the abuse of our prosperity, and on the right hand with no less heedfulness, that we use it rightly and in an holy manner. For the first, our care must be, that we so use our worldly prosperity and temporal things, that they be not helps and inducements unto any sin. And to this end, let us often consider, that they are the blessings of God, which he hath bestowed upon us, to encourage us in his service; and therefore what a sin and shame is it, to take occasion by his bounty the more to displease him? to use them as the weapons of iniquity to fight on the devils side, against our Lord and Sovereign? and to abuse these benefits which are given us of God for comforts in our pilgrimage, as impediments which hinder us in our journey, and as pricks in our sides, to hasten our speed towards hell and destruction.