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

1. The perfection of Man does principally consist in the excellencies of his spiritual & immortal part: As in the various kinds of Creatures, there is something that is their proper Excellency, for which they were made, and accordingly are valued: as Strength or Beauty, Swiftness or Courage: so, the first and chief and proper Excellency of Man, is the rational Mind, that distinguishes him from the Brutes, and gives ⟨p. 127⟩him a natural and regular dominion over them. 'Tis the highest and divinest Faculty of the Soul; and from hence the deduction is clear, that our Felicity consists in the perfection of the Mind. If the Excellencies of all other Creatures were united in Man, they could derive no true worth to him, because they cannot adorn and perfect what is his proper Excellence. Now, according to the quality of the Objects, about which the Mind is conversant, 'tis either tainted and depreciated, or purified and exalted. To apply it to sensual worldly things, how to increase Riches, and make provision for the Flesh, to fulfil its Lusts, is more truly vilifying, than if a Prince should employ his Counsellors of State, and the Judges of his Courts, in the Offices of his ⟨p. 128⟩Kitchen, or to dig in the Coalpits. The Mind is corrupted and debased by application to inferior perishing things, as Gold and Silver are allayed, and lose of their purity and value, by a mixture with Copper and Tin. God alone is the Sovereign Object of the Mind, with respect to its dignity and capacity, its superior and noblest Operations: and by contemplating his glorious Attributes and Excellencies, who is best in himself, and best to us; the Mind is enlightened and enlarged, renewed and raised, made holy and heavenly, full of Beauty, Order, and Tranquillity, and transformed into the likeness of the Divine Perfections.

1. The perfection of Man does principally consist in the excellencies of his spiritual & immortal part: As in the various kinds of Creatures, there is something that is their proper Excellency, for which they were made, and accordingly are valued: as Strength or Beauty, Swiftness or Courage: so, the first and chief and proper Excellency of Man, is the rational Mind, that distinguishes him from the Brutes, and gives ⟨p. 127⟩him a natural and regular dominion over them. 'Tis the highest and divinest Faculty of the Soul; and from hence the deduction is clear, that our Felicity consists in the perfection of the Mind. If the Excellencies of all other Creatures were united in Man, they could derive no true worth to him, because they cannot adorn and perfect what is his proper Excellence. Now, according to the quality of the Objects, about which the Mind is conversant, 'tis either tainted and depreciated, or purfied and exalted. To apply it to sensual worldly things, how to increase Riches, and make provision for the Flesh, to fulfil its Lusts, is more truly vilifying, than if a Prince should employ his Counsellors of State, and the Judges of his Courts, in the Offices of his