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

On the contrary, when Riches, Honours, and Pleasures, are the Idols of Mens Heads and Hearts, the chief Objects of their esteem and affections, they will sacrifice their Souls rather than lose the ⟨p. 114⟩World, their dear Felicity. Therefore St. John earnestly dehorts Christians, Love not the World, neither the things that are in the World. If any Man love the World, the love of the Father is not in him: they are utterly inconsistent; partly because the Heart cannot be entirely set upon contrary Objects, and partly because love to the one requires what is directly contrary to love to the other. From hence St. James vehemently upbraids carnal Professors, Ye Adulterers, and Adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the World is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God. The World is the powerful Star, whose Aspect he regards, and tho with the dishonour and displeasure of God, he will by irreligious compliance secure his ⟨p. 115⟩temporal Interests. The pure refined Truth of the Gospel, that has past the fiery Trial, he will corrupt and embase by carnal temperaments: the precious Truth so dearly bought by the Blood of the Martyrs, he will vilely sell for the things of this World. Nay of a Professor, he will by degrees turn Persecutor of those who steadfastly own the Truth. The love of the World so strangely enchants & infects the Mind, that a false Religion which a Man did abhor from, yet when recommended by secular Advantages, will appear tolerable, then eligible, then necessary; and consequently the divine Truth must be supperest that contradicts it.

On the contrary, when Riches, Honours, and Pleasures, are the Idols of Mens Heads and Hearts, the chief Objects of their esteem and affections, they will sacrifice their Souls rather than lose the ⟨p. 114⟩World, their dear Felicity. Therefore St. John earnestly dehorts Christians, Love not the World, neither the things that are in the World. If any Man love the World, the love of the Father is not in him: they are utterly inconsistent; partly because the Heart cannot be entirely set upon contrary Objects, and partly because love to the one requires what is directly contrary to love to the other. From hence St. James vehemently upbraids carnal Professors, Ye Adulterers, and Adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the World is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God. The World is the powerful Star, whose Aspect he regards, and tho with the dishonour and displeasure of God, he will by irreligious compliance secure his