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

Now the consideration of the designed Benefit by Afflictions, should reconcile them to our Wills, and persuade us, with patience and thankfulness, to accept of them as the Testimonies of God's peculiar favour. Our Saviour declares, As many as I love, I ⟨p. 191⟩¹rebuke and chasten; be zealous and repent. God is often most angry, when he makes no sensible discovery that he is so: thus he threatens the rebellious Jews, I will ²make my Fury towards thee to rest, and my Jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry: implying a final divorce, a leaving them to their impure Idolatries, without more correction. If there be such a hardness of heart as the Fire cannot melt, such a rust that the Fire cannot purify, God will not waste his Judgments on such desperate Sinners. He withdraws his chastising hand, as hopeless of their amendment, and that desertion is a fatal signature of Reprobation. And on the contrary, many times God's Love is most tender and compassionate to us, when to Sense ⟨p. 192⟩there is the least evidence of it. Even the Heathens, in the twilight,³ between the darkness of Idolatry, and the light of Nature, discovered that Afflictions were the privilege of those that are singularly beloved of God. And Christians have a more sure word for their instruction, Whom the ⁴Lord loves he chastens, and scourgeth every Son whom he receives. There is not a stronger evidence of his fatherly wise Love, than the discipline of the Rod; and the afflicted returning Sinner may, with an adoptive assurance come to the Throne of Grace. By afflictions the World is less enticing and hurtful to us, and Heaven is more amiable and desirable: the things that are seen, are vilified and distasted; and invisible things are sought with our highest ⟨p. 193⟩esteem and respect, and zealous endeavours. Those Lusts that spring, and grow, and flourish in Prosperity, are blasted and wither, and die in adversity. Those who forget God when prosperous