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

Besides; the happiest Condition here, as 'tis like the Moon, that at the brightest is spotted and imperfect; so Eclipses are not less strange to it than to that Planet. ⟨p. 132⟩The World is at the best of a transient use, and the pleasant Error of the Carnal Mind, will be of short continuance. Within a little while, that which was declared with such solemnity by the Angel in the Revelation; He lifted up his hand to Heaven, and swore by Him that lives for ever, that Time shall be no more; will be true of every mortal Person. The rich Man that was surveying his Estate with carnal complacency, and extending his hopes of voluptuous living to many Years, was surprised with the fatal Sentence; Thou Fool, this Night shall thy Soul, ¹be required of thee: then whose shall those Things be which thou hast provided? Now, can that be our Happiness that is of such an uncertain tenure, that every hour may be snatched from us, or we ⟨p. 133⟩from it? If one should with great Expenses build a Mansion-House, and plant Gardens in a place subject to frequent Earthquakes, that would overturn all into confusion; would not his folly be conspicuous? Yet how many practise themselves what they would deride in others? They set their Heart upon the things of the World, that are liable to a thousand changes, and must shortly be parted with for ever. The Slaves of Honour, that are so swelled with airy Titles of Greatness, and the flattering Respects of others, must shortly be devested of all; and when laid in their Tombs, the Trophies of Vanity, will be insensible of the renown and applauses of the World. ^*Alexander the Great is long since dead to the pleasure of ⟨p. 134⟩his Immortal Man. And Death will make a final separation between the Rich and their Treasures, and put an end to all the Delights of Men. Now what folly is it to prefer a Felicity, that is deceitful in the enjoyment, and leaves the Soul empty when it most fills it, that is so vain and transitory, before an Eternal Heaven; a blessedness that surpasses our Hopes, that secures our Fears, that satisfies our immense▪ Desires; a blessedness that the humane Understanding in all the capacity of its thoughts is not able to comprehend; a blessedness becoming the Majesty and Magnificence of God that bestows it.