The danger of prosperity discovered in several sermons upon Prov. I. 27 /

Others in Prosperity are not openly profane, and boldly vicious, yet are corrupted, and insensibly destroyed by it. They over-value and over-delight in the good things of this World, and please themselves in an opiniative Felicity in their present State. They enjoy the World with more appearance of Reason, and less Sensuality than the Riotous and Luxurious; but their conversation with so many charming Objects, ⟨image 4⟩alienates them from God. They do not sanctify him in their Hearts, placing their highest esteem upon his most amiable Excellencies, and their dearest delight in communion with him. They look upon Religion as a sour Severity, and count nothing delightful, but what is suitable to the fleshly Affections. A deceit like that of a sick Person, who feeling no pleasure but in the easy intervals between his Fits, and the remission of his Distemper, should imagine that if he were freed from his Disease, he should lose all Pleasure: whereas the Delights of Health are more full and durable. The Angels are uncapable of sensual Pleasures; their Happiness arises from the perfection of Good, not the allays of Evil. The Beasts are only capable of sensual pleasures, the remedies of natural Evils, Hunger, Thirst, Weariness, or accidental Evils, Diseases, and Pains: And many are so sottishly deceived, as to prefer brutish Pleasures that affect the Senses, before Angelical ⟨image 4⟩Joys that arise from the fruition of God's Favour, and Obedience to his Laws. This is a sad Symptom of an unrenewed Heart, and an heavy Presage of future Misery; for God will not be our everlasting Joy in Heaven, if he be not our exceeding Joy upon the Earth.

Others surrounded with Riches and Honours, are neither thankful to their Divine Benefactor, nor careful to employ their Prosperity and Power for his Glory. The Law of Mercy requires a solemn affectionate recognition of God's Benefits: but the Current of Prosperity drowns their sense of the Divine Goodness: and incogitant practical Atheism, is as destructive as Absolute and Speculative. And how many by the deceitfulness of Riches, are apt to imagine, that they possess with Dominion what they receive in trust: they might be rich in good Works, and if their Hearts were according to their Ability, be fruitful as Paradise,