Spiritual Pèrfecton. danger, left he fhould be corrupted by Profperity, or foil'd by Adverfity. There is great hazard in either, but more in Fuinefs than in Want, as was touch'd on before. He that rows in a Shallop neat the fhore, needs not the Skill and Cou- rage of a Pilot that direEts a Ship through Tempefluous Seas, and with his ill-go- vern'd Ship mull fink to the bottom. The Temptations of Profperity are more numerous : a fwarm of Flyes come to fweet things : and are very grateful to the fenfual Appetites : the Temptations of Adverfity are troublefome and griev- ous, and at their appearance Nature re- coils from them and accordingly the Tempter manages them : he infinuates into the Heart like a Serpent by Plea- fures, and transfufes his poifon indif- cerníbly, but like a Roaring Lion he purfues the Afflicted. Experience in- firu&s us that many have made an eafLe forfeiture of their Integrity, when Pro- fperous, and in fharp Afflictions have been recover'd. But in heavy Calami- ties, we are apt either to be fir'd with Difcontent , and conítruaively to dif- pute with God about the Righteoufnefs of his proceedings : or to faint and Ian- guifh by bleeding inwardly : Vexation and immoderate Sorrow hinder the free Exercifè 317
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=