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

In the general, 'tis of excellent use to rectify our Judgments about the Things and Men of the World. The most are miserably deluded, and live in a blindness so gross and misleading, that they are secure when near steep ruin. Asclepius being blind, mournfully complained, that he was fain to be led by a Child: but carnal Men are voluntarily guided by Sense and Fancy the false Lights that rule in Children, and blindly follow, without considering who is their Leader, and whether they are led. Or like one in a slumber, is strongly affected with slight things: a Scene of Fancy in a Dream transports him as a glorious Reality: a prick of a Pin makes him start as fearfully as if a Viper bit him: thus carnal Men are as deeply affected with ⟨p. 175⟩temporal good and evil things, as if they were Eternal, wherein their Blessedness or Misery consists. And there is nothing of greater use and defence to the Soul, than to make a true judgment of things that greatly and nearly concern us. From thence proceeds a wise Choice, a well-ordered Conversation, and upon it our blessed End depends. For as the Rudder is to a Ship, the Will is to Man; if it be duly turned, it conducts him safely to Felicity.

In the general, 'tis of excellent use to rectify our Judgments about the Things and Men of the World. The most are miserably deluded, and live in a blindness so gross and misleading, that they are secure when near steep ruin. Asclepius being blind, mournfully complain'd, that he was fain to be led by a Child: but carnal Men are voluntarily guided by Sence and Fancy the false Lights that rule in Children, and blindly follow, without considering who is their Leader, and whether they are led. Or like one in a slumber, is strongly affected with slight things: a Scene of Fancy in a Dream transports him as a glorious Reality: a prick of a Pin makes him start as fearfully as if a Viper bit him: thus carnal Men are as deeply affected with ⟨p. 175⟩temporal good and evil things, as if they were Eternal, wherein their Blessedness or Misery consists. And there is nothing of greater use and defence to the Soul, than to make a true judgment of things that greatly and nearly concern us. From thence proceeds a wise Choice, a wellordered Conversation, and upon it our blessed End depends. For as the Rudder is to a Ship, the Will is to Man; if it be duly turn'd, it conducts him safely to Felicity.