THE PREFACE. THE Experience of all .dgp bai 'tJtrijied, .that vone are expofeJ to more dangerous Trials tban tbe Profpefous rn tlm World. Tbe great Tempte~ lw found the Temptations of Profperity fo in(.nuatil>e and prel>azling, witb Men, that he attempud our bleffed Sal>tour; expeamg, by tbe p!eajant Profpe[l of.tbe Kingdoms of this Wo~ld, and their_ Glory, to. baw foffnei( an lmprefFon upon brs Spzm, and tarnted bu znl>zolable Pumy. . But he found noc thing in our Saviour, not tbe feafl zrreg~lar lnclznatzon to hu .dlluremems, an_d could work_ nothing upon hzm. Tu •tberwife wub Men born of the Fleih, zn wbom t/jcre is a carnal Heart (tbe Centre of .dpojlacj and Corruption) tbat iseajily e•ticed and ol>ercome by cbarmzng Complacencies. Profpericy iJ a difi,uifed Poifon, pleafant to tbe unwary Jenfe, but dead'! in tbe Operation; and tbem~re pern!ciot'U; in tbe Ejfeas, becaufe lefs dttngerous zn tbe Opzmons of M:n• . Tbe Temptations of Profperiry are fo frequent and j:rvour'd by us, tbat they_ gil>e 'tJigour ro tbe inward EnemJ'> the fenfoa! .djfe[/rons, a11d boldnefs to the malzctous Tempter. They foment tbe carrJA! .dppetites, tbat defile and debafe tbe Soul; and are the more rebellzous aml exorbitant tbe mort they are gratified. Profperity is the Jlronge{l Objlaclt againjl the Con1>er{1011 a11d Reformation of Sin: ners. Wbiljl they are plyint,_ tbeir l>ario.us Pleafures, tbey ba'tJe 11eitber will nor lei~ Jure to adl>ert to tbe Vozce of Confcience, Jo reproacbfu! and flinging to tbem. .dnd many tzmes Profpmty Jlupifies Conji:ience; tbat Men are fearlejs of Dii!ine Judg: ments, in11ol1>'d m fenfual Securit:J. They wiO not rel>erence and obey God's .dutbo~ rity, ti/J, tbey foe/ his Power; tbey abufe his BleJFngs to Pride and Vanity, Idlenefs . and Luxur)', and are bardned in tbeir Impenitence, died witb the deepefo tinfJ~re of lngwitude: they driw on tbrougb a courje of Sin, till Death puts a l;eriod to tbezr Lufts. How deflru[lil>e, how penal is Profperiry to focb gracef,Js Souls.? Whed God rains Snares upon the Wicked ; wben tbe affluence of tbu World is abufed to (atiJjie their l>icious Dejim, 'tis a fad forerunner of the Shower of Fire and Erimftone, and the horrible Tempeft thac ihali overwhelm them at !aft. . . Others in Profpcrity are not openly Prophane, and boldly Vicious, yet are corrup~ ted, and injenjibly dejlroyd by it. Tbey ol>er-l>alue and ol>fr-delight iT! tbe gocd tbings of this World, and pleafe themfell>u in an opinionatil>e Fe licit; in their.prefent State. They enjoy the World wztb more appearance of Rea{m, and lejs Senjualzty than the Riotous and Luxurious; but their Con"Verjarion with fo many cbarming Objeasc alienates them Jrom God. TbeJ_ do not fanctifie him in their Hearts, placing thei; hzgbejl ejlecm upon bzJ mojl amzable Excellenczes, and tbm dearejl delzgbt in Communzon wztb hzm. . Tbey look upon Relzt,_zon as aJour Sel>erziJ•, and coimt notbing deltgbt{zti, but whatzs Jwtable to tbe ftefhly .djfe[lions. .d Deceit li~e that of a jick.. PerJon, wbo foelzng, no pleafure but m the eajie imeri!als beiween bis Fits, and tbe rcmiJFonof bis Dijlemper, jhould imagine tbat if be were foeed from his Difeafe, hi fbould lofe a/1, Pleafurt: Whereas the Delights of Health are more full and durable. The Angels are uncapab/e of fenfua! Pleafom; tbeir Happinefs arifes from tbi R ~ Perfeaio..t
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