A26784:81

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

Name: The danger of prosperity discovered in several sermons upon Prov. I. 27 /
Author: William Bates

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

William Bates 1625–1699London: printed for Brabazon Aylmer, 1685

[8], 245, [2] p. · 32k words · Wing B1103 · ESTC R15611

Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

THE DANGER OF PROSPERITY.

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:78–93 of 167

:78p. 105–106

2. The special Reasons why Prosperity makes Men so disposed to quit the Truth in times of Danger, are, because it weakens the Principles from whence Christian Magnanimity springs; and those are unfeigned Faith, and divine Love. As in natural things the formative Virtue determinates the Matter to such a Being, and disposes to such Operations ⟨p. 106⟩in proportion to the Principles from which it results: So in moral things, the Soul is disposed and regulated in its Actings correspondently to its Principles, and is either Carnal or Spiritual. The universal Principle of Carnal Persons is to be happy here: their Eyes are ever engaged upon, and their Desires ever thirsting after sensual Satisfaction: Who will show us any good? and by consequence their main care is, to obtain and secure temporal things, the materials of their happiness. The supernatural Principle of a Saint is to please God, and enjoy his Favour. As Men believe they love, and as they love they live.

2. The special Reasons why Prosperity makes Men so dispos'd to quit the Truth in times of Danger, are, because it weakens the Principles from whence Christian Magnanimity springs; and those are unfeigned Faith, and divine Love. As in natural things the formative Virtue determinates the Matter to such a Being, and disposes to such Operations ⟨p. 106⟩in proportion to the Principles from which it results: So in moral things, the Soul is disposed and regulated in its Actings correspondently to its Principles, and is either Carnal or Spiritual. The universal Principle of Carnal Persons is to be happy here: their Eyes are ever engaged upon, and their Desires ever thirsting after sensual Satisfaction: Who will shew us any good? and by consequence their main care is, to obtain and secure temporal things, the materials of their happiness. The supernatural Principle of a Saint is to please God, and enjoy his Favour. As Men believe they love, and as they love they live.

:79p. 106–109

1. Unfeigned Faith of the Rewards of the Gospel, is necessary to keep a Christian steady in his course, through all the Storms

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