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

And when an illuminate Christian sees the Marks of Damnation in Sinners, whom Prosperity deceives and hardens, he cannot but be tenderly moved, and is obliged most earnestly to pray to the merciful Father of Spirits, whose Grace is Omnipotent, that he would recover their lapsed Souls, bleeding to eternal Death. If there be any heavenly Charity in our breasts, it will melt our hearts, and dissolve us in tears to prevent, or at least to solemnize and lament their heavy Destiny.

And when an illuminate Christian sees the Marks of Damnation in Sinners, whom Prosperity deceives and hardens, he cannot but be tenderly moved, and is obliged most earnestly to pray to the merciful Father of Spirits, whose Grace is Omnipotent, that he would recover their lapsed Souls, bleeding to eternal Death. If there be any heavenly Charity in our brests, it will melt our hearts, and dissolve us in tears to prevent, or at least to solemnize and lament their heavy Destiny.

5. From hence we are instructed to judg truly and wisely of Afflictions: they are the necessary and merciful Dispensations of ⟨p. 186⟩Heaven to recover Sinners corrupted by Prosperity, and to return them to God. Sense, tho its principal end is to preserve the Body, is not always a fit judg of things beneficial to it: the Appetites and Aversions are sometimes pernicious: One in a Dropsy drinks to quench his Thirst, and increases his Distemper. A bitter Potion is rejected by a sick Child, not considering that a Medicine, not Sweet-meats, can cure his Disease. The pleasure of the taste, is no certain indication of what is wholesome for Health: much more uncapable is Sense to judg of what is useful for the Soul. Reason is entirely renounced, and fallacious Sense is in the Throne, when Prosperity with its gaudy Allurements is esteemed as our Happiness, and ⟨p. 187⟩Adversity is abhorred as the worst Misery. The Wise Man instructed by dear Experience, tells us, It is better to go to the House of