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

But when in the midst of Prosperity the Soul is filled with a noble admiration of the Divine Excellencies, when it tastes incomparable ⟨p. 232⟩more sweetness in the Love of God, from whence outward Blessings are derived, than in the things themselves, when the chief Joy arises from the contemplation of his Favour in Christ, whereby we are pardoned, and preferred to be his Brethren, Coheirs with him of the immortal and undefiled Inheritance, then we know how to abound. Our Saviour commands his Disciples not to rejoice that ¹Spirits were subject to them, tho an admirable testimony of his Favour, but that their Names were written in Heaven. Much less should this perishing World be the matter of our Joy, in comparison of our Title, and the blessed hope of Heaven. Spiritual Joy purifies and fortifies the Soul against the ensnaring and corrupting ⟨p. 233⟩Allurements of the World. The Joy of the Lord is their strength; that of which he is the Author and Object, is both productive and preservative of the Vigour of the Soul, to resist the Charms of the World. 'Tis said of Orpheus, when he past by the Sirens, who by their charming Voices subdued Men to sleep, and then destroyed them, that he played on his Harp, and the sweet sound made him despise their singing, and prevented the danger. The Fable is fitly moralized: Joy in the Lord, as our Portion, and that infinite sweetness that is in communion with him, makes such an impression upon the Soul, that the ensnaring and destructive Pleasures of the World are abhorred in comparison with them. That firm Peace and pure Joy, passes the ⟨p. 234⟩Understanding, our most comprehensive Faculty; whereas all the Pleasures of the World do not satisfy our Senses.

But when in the midst of Prosperity the Soul is fill'd with a noble admiration of the Divine Excellencies, when it tastes incomparable ⟨p. 232⟩more sweetness in the Love of God, from whence outward Blessings are derived, than in the things themselves, when the chief Joy arises from the contemplation of his Favour in Christ, whereby we are pardon'd, and preferr'd to be his Brethren, Coheirs with him of the immortal and undefiled Inheritance, then we know how to abound. Our Saviour commands his Disciples not to rejoyce that