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

The Rules how to manage Prosperity for our everlasting Good, are,

1. Let us preserve an humble sense of our original meanness, continual frailty, and sinful unworthiness in the midst of Prosperity. Men are apt to be high-minded, and to cherish undue Conceptions of their worth when raised in the World: as if they were not as inferior to the Majesty of God, and as liable to his impartial Justice as others: they lose the knowledge of themselves in a Mist of Vanity. This provokes the high and ⟨p. 202⟩holy One that inhabits Eternity, to blast them in their most flourishing and secure state, and convince them how deceitful and insufficient the grounds of their pride are. He puts them in fear, ¹that they may know themselves to be but Men. There are such great and just Allays of the vain Mind, such Correctives of Pride, that it is strange that any temporal Prosperity should occasion swelling Arrogance. The Psalmist considering the Glory of God shining in the Heavens, is in an ecstasy at his condescending Goodness. What is Man that thou art mindful of him? or the Son of Man that thou regardest him? His Original is from the Earth, the lowest Element: all that he possesses, to supply his want and satisfy his desires, is from pure Mercy: and ⟨p. 203⟩the more eminent the advantage of some is above others in this World, the greater are their Receipts and Obligations: and who would be proud that he is in a mighty Debt? rich and poor, honourable and mean, are distinctions among Men; but in respect to God all are equally mean and low. Neither do these things give any inherent worth, and make Persons more acceptable to God. Poor Lazarus who was a miserable Spectacle, his Body corroded with Ulcers, yet had a precious Soul under it: the glorious Angels descended from Heaven to receive it at the point of Death, and convey it to the reviving presence of God: but the rich Man was cast into Hell. Besides, how uncertain are all the admired things of this World!