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

4. The Prosperity of Sinners usually renders the means of Grace ineffectual, that should reclaim and reform them, and consequently their Destruction is remediless. The Means of Grace are Internal or External: Internal, the motions of the Holy Spirit, and the Convictions and Excitations of Conscience: External, the Ministry of the Word, and the Counsels of faithful Friends; all which are usually made frustrate and inefficacious by the Vices and Lusts of the Prosperous.

1. Prosperity makes Sinners more uncapable of receiving the heavenly Impressions of the Spirit, ⟨p. 58⟩and obstinate in resisting his gracious working. The Flesh and ¹the Spirit are contrary: And accordingly as the carnal Appetite has dominion and over-rules in Men, such is their opposition to his restraints from Evil, or his motions to what is holy and good. The sensual have not the Spirit. ²They wilfully refuse to give admission to him, when by inward impulses he solicits them; and have a stubborn and active contrariety to his Attributes and gracious Operations. He is styled the Spirit of Power, and Love, and a sound Mind. He communicates a sacred Sovereign Virtue to the Soul, whereby the irregular Passions are reduced to the obedience of the sanctified Mind, and the reigning power of Sin is dissolved. He is a free Spirit, and restores ⟨p. 59⟩the Soul to true and perfect Liberty, by enlarging the Will, and making it commensurate with the Divine Will: and from hence it is the inseparable Character of a converted Person, he is willing to do what God will have him do, and to be what God will have him be. But sensual Persons, by the pleasant infusions of servility from the Tempter, and carnal Objects, have lost their power and ^*desire of spiritual Liberty, and resist the holy Spirit, when he offers to break the Bands of their Lusts. The Spirit in converting the Soul, inspires it with heavenly Love to God for the ever-satisfying beauty of his Perfections; and from Love proceeds intellectual delight in communion with him, in affectionate ascents to him, and his gracious