The Da11ger o/ Pro[perity. The. Point I Jl1all in(rlt on, is this; ProJPeril) ahufed, is fatal and def/ruEiive to foolifh Sinners. In the treating on this Argument, I will, 1. Shew how Profperity is deflrucbve to the Wicked. •·. That 'tis folly and madnefs above all wonder, when Sinners abufe ~~d::,~:~~s :fil ~~.d to their Deflrucbon. 3. How jufl, and certain, and heavy their 1. I will fi1ew how Profpcrity is deflruchve to the Wicked. In order to the explicating of this Head, fome things are to be premifed. '· This great World, with all the Parts and Creatures of which 'tis compos' d, has ari inhcr~nt Goodnefs and PerfeClion convenienc tO the End for which 'rwas form' cl by rhe Creator; and that was to be ufeful and comfortable to Man in the Service of God. There is no Pdl:ilcnce and Contagion in the nature of things, that arc plcafmg to our Faculties: T hey are dangerous, nor as made by God, but as managed by Saran. They do not pervert the Mi~1ds of Men from any noxious inherent ~~ltries, ~u_r as they arc , corrupted by Concup1fc.ence. Upon .rhis accowlt Sr. John d~homng Chnfuans from the .. t]ohn 2 . 1.6. Love of rhc World, as mconfifient With rl~e Love of God, gtvcs tills rcafon of it, 'if For all tbnt is in tbe World, tbe luj/ of the Flejh, the lufl. of tbe Eyes, and the pride of Life, is not of tbe Fntber, but tS of the World. He fig111 fies rhe Objects, Riches, Honours and Plcafi~rcs, by the vicious Affections, that make rhem deadly to Men. The Poifod is not in the Flower, but in the Spider. And the Apofllc [peaking of the purifying V er- ~ z Pec. 1.; ... ~uc of the Gofpel, fays, That * exceed1~g _great and precz~us Promifes are gJven tour) ~bat by tbefe we may be partakers of tke DJ'!-'me Natur~, htnJmg eJc.aped the Corruption that rs in the Wo~ld tbrough Luj/. Tlus IS evident by v!fiblc Expenenee: for many Holy Men have enjoyed temporal Bletlings without the offence of God; and have been more holy and heavenly in themfclves, more beneficial and good to others by Mercies: whili\ the Scnfual, like the Ocean that changes rbe fweer Showersof Heaven into its falr QuaJity, turn rhe Divme Bletlings into Provilion for their brut1Jl1 Lulls. It appears there. fore that this Contranety of Effects IS pot to be attnbuted to rhc Qyaliry of worldly things that is always umform and alike,but to the dttfcrent Difpofinons ofthe Perfons that ufc them. As the fame Food is healrhful or hurtful, as the Stomach is clear or foul that ~~f1~i~e~t i~r~c;~~f~~nt~1!t fi~~f;~!~~e~!ole~d~~tc5bW:~fc~~~~,~~:~~s3~~i;l~:;;: ~ii~~JJ~ and fpecdily. . o. The primary dcfign of God in his mofl free and rich Ben~: is to endear himfelf to us, and bind us to his Service : for they arc the moil: proper anC!-'convincing expreffcs of his Love and Goodnefs, and powerful Motives and Perfwafivcs to a grateful Corre· • Hof. ' '· i· fpondcncc of Love and ObedieD.ce. I* drew them, fatth God, witb the Cords of a Man, with Bands of LIYUe. Goodnefs duly confider'd, engages to pleafe the Benefactor. 'Tis Rom. ' · therefore faid by St. Paut, lhat the goodnefs of God leads Sinners to Repentance. 'Tis the mofi natural unconfirained Confequencc that the Mind can regularly infer from his Cle~ mcnc}' and Bounty.The Hearts of Men fhould be melted in tender Rcfentincnts of their unworthy ConVerfJtion towards him, and encouraged to return to their Duty , 1incc he will gracioufly receive thofc who unfeignedly repent of their Sins: But rhc Event does not uft!ally anfwer God's Ai111. Men arc harden'd in Sin by his Mercies. l· When rhe Wicked abufe God's Bletlings, defeat his Kindnefs, and fmflratc rbe ex· ccllent Ends of it, he mofl rlghteoafly and feverely continues their Profperity, rhat foments their Lufis, and renders them more wilful and incorrigible, and the more guilty of their own Damnation. What was faid by Sjmeon, concerning the mofi: glorious Gift of God, our Saviour, is applicable in this Cafe ; Behold, this Cbild is Jet for t/;e fall of i~a;~e;~ZF;:t: :;: I~~~t~·a~'d~!'::~J~(tj;; b~tJ·s~~~~',t~~ 5~~~~~ ~fn~~1~~:l~~; damcd to be the occa1ion of their forcr Pumfhment. So whenthe common Benefits and ~ecrb~s;i~~~~:~c~:~~~~~~~ll~rd:::d~~~rbifl~:;ir~~::~~gdi~}0~l~~~ ~:n~1~n~i;~~t;~~{. Prof}Jerity is a £'1tal Ambufh for their furpriZal and ruin, according to that heavy Imprc~ • Pfal. 69. 2~. cation of the Pfalmiil:, * Let thejr Table become a fnare to them: and tbat whicJJ jhou!d ba:ve been for tbere welfare, let it become a trap, an occafrm' of tbeir firlli11g. This judgment proceeds from the mofl: terrible and inexorable Difplcafu.re : 'tis better an? m~re ~~g~b~~o[p~~oc~suS~~~l:r~ tl~o~~~:~~~: ~fNiid~~~~l~;ct;n~~~~:lJrl~ ~~~~;eal~~r:I~~ 1acr~u~~; oddrd fcs
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