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

THE DANGER OF PROSPERITY.

PROV. 1. 32. The Prosperity of Fools shall destroy them.

IN the former Verses, the Divine Wisdom is introduced in a very elegant and pathetical manner, reclaiming Men from their miserable Errors, to partake of Light and Felicity. The Address is ⟨p. 2⟩directed to them with Upbraidings and Indignation at their Folly, and with tender compassion for their Ruin. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity? and Fools hate knowledge? Thus 'tis said of our Saviour, the Incarnate Wisdom of God, That ^*he looked on the Pharisees with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts. We have also expressed, an earnest desire of their Conversion, Turn ye at my Reproof. And that is seconded by a gracious Promise, I will pour out my Spirit upon you, to illuminate and conduct you in the way of Life. But for their stupid obstinacy in despising the Counsel, and rejecting the Reproofs of Wisdom, they are surprised with utter destruction. This is described with that Train of killing Circumstances, that are ⟨p. 3⟩the most forcible Excitations timely to prevent that Evil, which neglected, will be remediless: Because I have called, and ye refused, ²I have stretched out my hand, and no Man regarded; I will also laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh: When your fear cometh as a Whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call on me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and despised the fear of the Lord. In their distress they supplicate for Mercy; but as they were unchanged, notwithstanding all the gracious Calls of God to Repentance, so he is not moved by all their mournful Entreaties, and takes pleasure in his Righteous Judgments upon them. Their final Ruin is resolved into its proper