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

The Objects that pleasantly affect the carnal Faculties, draw the Soul from God. This is the principal and universal temptation of the present World, by the corruption of our Hearts, and never so dangerous as in our Prosperity. 'Tis a rule in Building, that chief care must be taken for the contriving of Windows, for the transmission of a liberal Light to refresh the Inhabitants. Now to build in a Plain where the Heavens are open on all sides, and the pure Light shines, 'tis easy to make the House convenient: but to ⟨p. 229⟩raise a luminous Fabric in a City thick set with Houses, and straitened for room, requires Art, and the Building must be higher: thus a Person that is surrounded with the Honours, Riches, and Pleasures of the World, that are so apt to darken the Soul, and to exclude the Influences of Heaven, has need of holy Skill to preserve a free communication with God, and to be always receptive of his Grace. Then holy Duties should be frequent and fervent, wherein the Soul ascends to God by raised desires, and God descends into the Soul, by the Operations of his sanctifying and comforting Spirit. And as we see in Nature, the Flowers of every kind open their Leaves to the rising Sun, to be revived with his vital Heat; so we should every day open our ⟨p. 230⟩Hearts to God in Prayer and Praises. And since all his Mercies invite and conduct us to the blessed Author, and temporal Benefits are sensible Arguments of his Love; those who most richly enjoy them, are obliged infinitely more to value and delight in the Giver, than in the Gifts themselves. If the Heart be set upon Riches, which 'tis very apt to be when they increase, or upon pleasures, God is neglected and vilified: and tho many are not openly vicious and profane, yet so pleasantly the things of the World insinuate into their Affections, that they cannot taste how good the Lord is; a sad indication of their unregenerate state: for the Divine Nature in a Saint, inclines him to God as his supreme Good, his only Treasure and exceeding ⟨p. 231⟩Joy; and as soon as he begins to breath the Life of Holiness, he dies to the Vanities of the World. And when Prosperity alienates the heart from God, 'tis as surely destructive, as when it draws forth the sensual Appetites into exorbitant and foul actions. A Consumption kills as surely as a Calenture.