I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Object. 1 But (will some say) I am in a poor, low, mean, base, and despised condition, and therefore I am thus disquieted; as for those that are in a prosperous estate and condition, they may well bear up their heads, and be of good comfort: Rich men indeed, and those that are in a prosperous condition, have many opportunities of serving God, publicly, and privately, which a poor man hath not; they have time to frequent the Ordinances in the week, to converse much with God in private, whilst the poor man is fain to be at work for his living, and glad he can get his living too; ⟨p. 308⟩there is no man knows the misery of a poor condition, but those that are in it: and such is my condition and, therefore I am thus discouraged; have I not cause and reason for it?

Object. 1 But (wil some say) I am in a poor, low, mean, base, and despised condition, and therefore I am thus disquieted; as for those that are in a prosperous estate and condition, they may well bear up their heads, and be of good comfort: Rich men indeed, and those that are in a prosperous condition, have many opportunities of serving God, publickly, and privately, which a poor man hath not; they have time to frequent the Ordinances in the week, to converse much with God in private, whilst the poor man is fain to be at work for his living, and glad he can get his living too; ⟨p. 308⟩there is no man knows the misery of a poor condition, but those that are in it: and such is my condition and, therefore I am thus discouraged; have I not cause and reason for it?

Answ. No: for whosoever you are that speak, or think thus; Do you know what the burden of Prosperity is? You see a Town sometimes upon the side of a Hill, and you say, what a fine Town is there, what pleasant Meadows are about it, what excellent Woods, what clean Ways unto it: Thus you speak at a distance: But when you draw near unto this Town, and go through some of the Lanes, you find them very dirty, and then you say, I did not think at a distance, that there had been such a dirty Lane about this Town; I saw nothing but fine, and clean Meadows when I was at a distance, I did not think there had been such dirty passages to it. So, when you look upon Prosperity at a distance, you think there is no dirty Lanes, no foul Passages to it, and from it; but when you come near unto it, then you find many a dirty passage, and you say, O! what dirty sloughs are here? The Truth is, the more Prosperous (I speak now of outward Prosperity) a mans Condition is, the more opportunities he hath, of doing, and receiving good. But if you look into