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

3. Suppose in preaching the Word, a sharp ray of Truth darts through the deep and settled darkness of the Heart, yet 'tis soon damped, and without saving effect upon Sinners in their Prosperity. They may be terrified, but are not subdued by the Armour of Light; for they presently take sanctuary in the World, to escape the strokes of it. The carnal Passions dare not appear before such Objects as awaken the Conscience; the Senses strongly apply the Mind to things that touch them; the Fancy is the spring of of distraction in the thoughts, and ⟨p. 91⟩these reign in their full power in prosperous Sinners, so that they do not by serious consideration apply things of eternal consequence to themselves. The Heart of Man with difficulty changes its end; the outward actions may be suspended or over-ruled for a time, but the love that is natural and predominant in the Heart to the present World, cannot be purified and raised to Heaven, without the Divine efficacy of the Word, applied by most solemn and frequent thoughts. How plain and convincing are the words of our Saviour; What will it profit a Man, if he gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul? But how few in hearing them, have found their Souls that were lost in the corrupting Vanities of this World? The most seem not to ⟨p. 92⟩know they have immortal Souls, whilst they live as if they had none. The Reason is, they will not consider duly their unvaluable worth, and the woeful folly in neglecting them. When the Bird often straggles from the Nest, the Eggs are chilled and unprolific, for want of its warming incubation. Divine Truths are without life and vigour, when they only lie in the memory, without serious and frequent reflections on them. Many are enlightened, but not affected; or affected, but not resolved; or resolved, but their resolutions are not prevailing and permanent, because the Word does not sink into their Minds, by deep consideration.

3. Suppose in preaching the Word, a sharp ray of Truth darts through the deep and setled darkness of the Heart, yet 'tis soon dampt, and without saving effect upon Sinners in their Prosperity. They may be terrified, but are not subdued by the Armour of Light; for they presently take sanctuary in the World, to escape the strokes of it. The carnal Passions dare not appear before such Objects as awaken the Conscience; the Senses strongly apply the Mind to things that touch them; the Fancy is the spring of of distraction in the thoughts, and