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

What is a Reputation and Honour with the Worms and Moles of the Earth, compared with the Honour that comes from the esteem of God, and Angels, and other blessed Spirits above, who incomparably exceed all Mortals in number, and infinitely in understanding? What is a vanishing shadow of Reputation, against an eternal inestimable weight of Glory? What are the Riches of this World, Gold, and Silver, and Jewels, for gaining of which so many lose their Souls, but vile trash compared with the sacred Treasures of Heaven, the ⟨p. 139⟩Graces of the Saints? What are the empty delights of the Senses, compared with the Peace of Conscience, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, that can sweeten all our Sorrows here, and the fullness of Joy that springs from God's Presence in Heaven? If Men would make judicious Comparisons, their Affections would cool towards perishing Vanities. But they will only look upon what is pleasant and attractive in the World, without regarding its miserable Defects, without considering what is infinitely better, and most worthy of their ardent desires and vigorous endeavours. They are so pleased with their Error, so engaged in the sweet captivity of the World, that they cannot extricate themselves if they would, because they will not if they could.

What is a Reputation and Honour with the Worms and Moles of the Earth, compared with the Honour that comes from the esteem of God, and Angels, and other blessed Spirits above, who incomparably exceed all Mortals in number, and infinitely in understanding? What is a vanishing shadow of Reputation, against an eternal inestimable weight of Glory? What are the Riches of this World, Gold, and Silver, and Jewels, for gaining of which so many lose their Souls, but vile trash compared with the sacred Treasures of Heaven, the ⟨p. 139⟩Graces of the Saints? What are the empty delights of the Senses, compared with the Peace of Conscience, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, that can sweeten all our Sorrows here, and the fulness of Joy that springs from God's Presence in Heaven? If Men would make judicious Comparisons, their Affections would cool towards perishing Vanities. But they will only look upon what is pleasant and attractive in the World, without regarding its miserable Defects, without considering what is infinitely better, and most worthy of their ardent desires and vigorous endeavours. They are so pleas'd with their Error, so ingaged in the sweet captivity of the World, that they cannot extricate themselves if they would, because they will not if they could.