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

1. The living in Pleasures and soft Delicacy, enervates the masculine vigour of the Spirit, and damps Resolution, that it presently faints when assaulted with Difficulties. The Spirit of a Man, encouraged by just, and wise, ⟨p. 101⟩and generous Reasons, will stand firmly under heavy Troubles: But Fear breaks the native strength of Mind, and like a secret sudden Palsy, that slackens the Nerves, and loosens the Joints, causes a trembling and incapacity of bearing Evils. The least glimpse of Danger, makes the Fearful to retire: like some, that apprehensive of the rising Winds, will not venture any further in a Boat, than that one Oar may be on the Shore, whilst the other strikes in the Water. The Timorous, when Afflictions attend the faithful profession of the Gospel, usually are treacherous to God, to their Souls, and to the Truth. To God (whose Servants they are by the dearest Titles) by contradicting their Duty, which is to suffer cheerfully for his Gospel and ⟨p. 102⟩his Glory, when called forth: and by revolting from his Service, they occasion such dishonourable unworthy conceptions of him, as if he were regardless of his suffering Servants, and would not gloriously reward those who are faithful to the Death, the Seal of their Loyalty and Perseverance: they are treacherous to their Souls, by preferring the Interest of the perishing Flesh, before the happiness of the immortal Part: they betray the Truth, by exposing it to a suspicion of Falsehood; for as the confirming Religion by Sufferings, doth most effectually recommend it to the belief and affections of others; so the denial of it, or the withdrawing our Testimony in times of Danger, will incline others to judg that it is not the Truth, or at least of no great ⟨p. 103⟩moment, that the Professors of it do not think worth their Sufferings. How many faint-hearted Persons have thus betrayed the Son of God again, and their Consciences, and their Religion? Their Faith that sparkled in Prosperous times, when Troubles come, is a quenched Cole, raked up in the cold pale Ashes of distrustful Fears, without any Divine Light or Heat.

1. The living in Pleasures and soft Delicacy, enervates the masculine vigour of the Spirit, and damps Resolution, that it presently faints when assaulted with Difficulties. The Spirit of a Man, encouraged by just, and wise,