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

2. Prosperity makes Men unthoughtful and careless of Evils that may happen. I said in my Prosperity, I shall never be moved. Carnal Joy (the Affection of Prosperity) and Folly are nearly allied, and flatter Men as if their Ease and Calm would never be disturbed: and by supine negligence, they are unprovided for the encountering with Evils. According ⟨p. 104⟩to our circumspection in Prosperity, such is our courage in Adversity; and by how much the less affliction is expected, so much the more are we perplexed when it seises upon us. The last Day, that shall strangely surprise the World in its deep security, is compared to Lightning for its suddenness and terror. Our Saviour therefore plainly has foretold, that the Cross is the Appendix of the Gospel, that 'tis the Property of Error to persecute, and the Lot of Truth to be persecuted: He counsels his Disciples to imitate a wise Builder, that computes the Expense before he begins the Fabric, lest having laid the Foundation, and not being able to finish it, he be exposed to the just Censure of Folly. So Christians are to forecast the Injuries and ⟨p. 105⟩Troubles they are likely to suffer for Religion, lest when the Tempest threatens, they shamefully desert it. And how heavy will their Doom be? The fearful, that¹ are not storm-proof, and the Liars, that openly renounce what they believe, and profess what they do not believe, shall be with Infidels, Idolaters, and Murderers, cast into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone.

2. Prosperity makes Men unthoughtful and careless of Evils that may happen. I said in my Prosperity, I shall never be moved. Carnal Joy (the Affection of Prosperity) and Folly are nearly allied, and flatter Men as if their Ease and Calm would never be disturbed: and by supine negligence, they are unprovided for the encountring with Evils. According ⟨p. 104⟩to our circumspection in Prosperity, such is our courage in Adversity; and by how much the less affliction is expected, so much the more are we perplex'd when it seises upon us. The last Day, that shall strangely surprize the World in its deep security, is compar'd to Lightning for its suddenness and terror. Our Saviour therefore plainly has foretold, that the Cross is the Appendix of the Gospel, that 'tis the Property of Error to persecute, and the Lot of Truth to be persecuted: He counsels his Disciples to imitate a wise Builder, that computes the Expence before he begins the Fabrick, lest having laid the Foundation, and not being able to finish it, he be exposed to the just Censure of Folly. So Christians are to forecast the Injuries and