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

1. Unfeigned Faith of the Rewards of the Gospel, is necessary to keep a Christian steady in his course, through all the Storms ⟨p. 107⟩and Tides of this mutable World. It is a faithful saying, If we die with ¹him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. The Apostle usually prefaces with that strong assurance, It is a faithful saying, when the Truth is of eminent importance, and contrary to the Sentiments of Carnal Nature, If we die with him, we shall also live with him. Our Saviour dedicated Martyrdom in his own Person: His Death was a Ransom for us to God, and a sealing Testimony of the Gospel to Men: He witnessed ²before Pontius Pilate a good Confession. The Terror of the Roman Tribunal, nor the Rage of the Jews, could not make him retract the Divine Truth which he had so often declared, that he was the Son of God, come from ⟨p. 108⟩Heaven to save the World: and when the Cross with its Infamy and horror was in his view, he avowed his Heavenly Kingdom. And all those who suffer with him, for his Truth, and in conformity to his Pattern, with his Meekness and Patience, his Charity and Constancy, shall reign with him. And what is more powerful for the consolation and establishment of Christians, than that their Sufferings for Christ shall end in Glory. This is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith. ³This did Miracles in the first Ages of the Church, conquering all that was terrible to Flesh and Blood. The Heathens despised the Hopes of Christians as wretched Illusions, and with impious scorn upbraided them for their constancy under Persecutions: ⟨p. 109⟩Where is the God that can ⁴raise the dead, and not rescue the living? Unbelief is blind, and cannot see beyond this World to the Eternal State. But Faith in the blessed Redeemer, opens a Prospect into the World to come, so full of Glory, that no Person that has an understanding and will to discourse and choose, if he steadfastly believes it, but must despise all the Evils that the wit and strength of Persecutors can inflict in comparison of it. I reckon, saith the