Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

Whatever success, prosperity or comfort men acquire by sinful mediums, and indirect courses, are not sanctified mercies to them. This is not the method in which those mercies are bestowed. Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right, Prov. 16. 8. better upon this account, that it comes in Gods way, and with his blessing, which never follows the way of sin. God hath cursed the ways of sin, and no blessing can follow them.

Whatever success, prosperity or comfort men acquire by sinful medJums, and indirect courses, are not sanctified mercies to them. This is not the method in which those mercies are bestowed. Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenews without right, Prov. 16. 8. better upon this account, that it comes in Gods way, and with his blessing, which never follows the way of sin. God hath cursed the wayes of sin, and no blessing can follow them.

Whatever prosperity and success makes men forget God, and cast off the care of duty, is not sanctified to them. It is unsanctified prosperity which lulls men asleep into a deep oblivion of God, Deut. 32. 13, 14, 15, 18. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock, butter of Kine, and milk of Sheep, with fat of Lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and Goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat, and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape; but Jesurun waxed fat and kicked; thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness: then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his Salvation. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. Rare fumant foelicibus arae.