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

Prosperity is the strongest obstacle against the Conversion and Reformation of Sinners. Whilst they are plying their various Pleasures, they have neither will nor leisure to advert to the Voice of Conscience, so reproachful and stinging to them, And many times Prosperity stupefies Conscience, that Men are fearless of Divine Judgments, involved in sensual Security. They will not reverence and obey God's Authority, till they feel his Power; they abuse his Blessings to Pride and Vanity, ⟨image 3⟩Idleness and Luxury, and are hardened in their Impenitence, dyed with the deepest tincture of Ingratitude: they drive on through a course of Sin, till Death puts a period to their Lusts. How destructive, how penal is Prosperity to such graceless Souls? When God rains Snares upon the Wicked; when the affluence of this World is abused to satisfy their vicious Desires, 'tis a sad forerunner of the Shower of Fire and Brimstone, and the horrible Tempest that shall overwhelm them at last.

Prosperity is the strongest obstacle against the Conversion and Reformation of Sinners. Whilst they are plying their various Pleasures, they have neither will nor leisure to advert to the Voice of Conscience, so reproachful and stinging to them, And many times Prosperity stupifies Conscience, that Men are fearless of Divine Judgments, involv'd in sensual Security. They will not reverence and obey God's Authority, till they feel his Power; they abuse his Blessings to Pride and Vanity, ⟨image 3⟩Idleness and Luxury, and are hardned in their Impenitence, dyed with the deepest tincture of Ingratitude: they drive on through a course of Sin, till Death puts a period to their Lusts. How destructive, how penal is Prosperity to such graceless Souls? When God rains Snares upon the Wicked; when the affluence of this World is abused to satisfy their vicious Desires, 'tis a sad forerunner of the Shower of Fire and Brimstone, and the horrible Tempest that shall overwhelm them at last.

Others in Prosperity are not openly profane, and boldly vicious, yet are corrupted, and insensibly destroyed by it. They over-value and over-delight in the good things of this World, and please themselves in an opiniative Felicity in their present State. They enjoy the World with more appearance of Reason, and less Sensuality than the Riotous and Luxurious; but their conversation with so many charming Objects,