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

Thankfulness implies a solemn recognition of the Mercies of God, with all the Circumstances ⟨p. 213⟩that add a lustre to them, to affect us in as vigorous a manner in our Praises for the Blessings we enjoy, as we are in our Prayers for what we need. Not only signal Mercies, but common and ordinary should be continually acknowledged by us. And since our Memories are so slippery as to the retaining of Favours, Injuries are inscribed in Marble, Benefits written in Dust: We should every day review the Mercies we enjoy, to quicken our Praises for them, and to make Impressions not soon defaced. Thankfulness implies a due valuation of God's Benefits: This will be raised, by considering the Author, the great God: the meanest Mercy from his Hand, is a high Favour. As the Guilt of Sin arises from the greatness of the ⟨p. 214⟩Object, tho some Sins are comparatively small, yet none is in its intrinsic Nature a small Evil: so tho of Mercies, some are in comparison eminent, and some are ordinary, yet every Mercy is great with respect to the Author from whence it comes: And the thankful esteem of Mercies, will rise in proportion to the sense of our unworthiness. A constant poverty of Spirit in reflecting upon our own vileness, that there is not merely a want of desert in us, with respect to God's Blessings, but a desert of his heavy Judgments, will heighten our esteem of them. For this end it is very useful, that the Prosperous would consider those below them, how many better than themselves are under oppressing Wants, tormenting Pains, heart-breaking ⟨p. 215⟩Sorrows, whom you may trace by their Tears every day; and what free and rich Mercy is it, that they enjoy the affluence of all things: this distinguishing Goodness, should be acknowledged with a warm rapture of affection to the Divine Benefactor. To compare our selves with those that excel us in Grace, will make us humble, and with those who are below us in outward Blessings, will make us thankful.

Thankfulness implies a solemn recognition of the Mercies of God, with all the Circumstances ⟨p. 213⟩that add a lustre to them, to affect us in as vigorous a manner in our Praises for the Blessings we enjoy, as we are in our Prayers for what we need. Not only signal Mercies, but common and ordinary should be continually acknowledged by us. And since our Memories are so slippery as to the retaining of Favours, Injuries are inscrib'd in Marble, Benefits written in Dust: We should every day review the Mercies we enjoy, to quicken our Praises for them, and to make Impressions not soon defac'd. Thankfulness implies a due valuation of God's Benefits: This will be raised, by considering the Author, the great God: the meanest Mercy from his Hand, is a high Favour. As the Guilt of Sin arises from the greatness of the