k Per.;. i· Zach. 9· 9· Tir. J.J· The Danger of Profperity. 'the great in the 'V odd, ·rejOice in. tbat be i~ ma.de loiV 1 : b.ecaufo as the F_Lower of the .Grafj be jba!l pafs mv.ry : When the Bond Bcauty1S dt!played, tt prcfenrly wtrhcr>. How ma: ny furvn'c rhctr Efiatcs and Digllltl~S, ~nd by unfQ,:efeen Rcyqluttot\~ l>ccome poor and low. Many that \~c~e ovcrflO\~ing 111 Riches and PleaiUrcs, ate .. ~~ dry q.nd dcfolarc as rh~ ~c[m:. And IS It 1? ~r a dtfparagcmem to our ~cafon .ro adm1rc ST1adows, and be prouct of rranftc nt V a_nmes ? ·Bur fuppofc they conrmuc With Men here; pn they prc~ i~~vc r_hc Body from D1f~aiCs and Death_, or the Soul from. opprcfi!ng_ ~orrows? And is it ,nor n11lcrable fo llf m pnde rhc~felvcs tn. fccula r ~rearneis, that IS _1? mfufficic11t ro prevent the. wor!l: Evtl s? Bur cfpcctally rhcconfidcrauon how,·Man is Y1hfied by_ Sin, fhould make hnn be abafed and lo~ in Jus own Eyes. As tliar Bl~ifed Marryr, Btlhop Hooper 1ays, Lord1 I am Hell, tiJou fl!' Heaven; I ~m ·a Smk of Sin, thou art tbe Fountain of f.lolinefs. And the more gracious and bo.unuful God is to M~n, the more fmful ihould rhcy appear _ro themiClvcs. _Humili_ty d1fcovcrs our nati~e PC?vcrry, in the midft of rich Abundance; o~r true V1lenefs m the mid{( of glitt~r~ng Honours, that nothing is o.urs but Sin and M1fery; and makes us fay, with the Spmt of that h.umble .Sainr Wt ilre lefs than tbe /raj/ of all God's lU<rcies. Now rhc more of Humtliry, the m~re of Heaven is )n the Sou~: 'ns that dtfpofitton that prepares it to recqvc the Graces and. Comforts of rhe Spint in an excellent degree. God refifls tbeProud; the Self-conceited 31\d afpiring he is at defiance with, and a!Jbors .the':"; he juilly deprives them of Spirirual Trcafi1res, who value thcmfelvcs and bear_1t l}1gh for the abundance of this World: Bllt be gives Grace to the humble. The due iCnfc of our Wants and Unworthin"efs makes liS fit to partake of Divine Bleiiings. 2. A meek temper and deportment, is iut excellent pref~rvative from rite Evi\ of Prof}Jcriry. Humility and Mcckncfs arc always in conjunction, and, mofr amiable in the Eyes of God and Men. . A m<ek and quiet Spirit, which is in the fight of God of f.reat prtce. T hey arc rhe bnghtefi: Jewels that adorn lfumamry , and ihm'd iO gloriouOy 111 ?ur bleJTcd Saviour, the fuprcam Pattern of PerfeCtion, and arc propounded.as fignally iQlltablc by us. Learn of. me for I am meek and lowly. When he came i1J his Regal Oflic·c, he he is thus delcnbed, Rejoice greatly, 0 Daughter of Sion: Behold thy King rometb. rmto thee : he is jujl, and htruing_ Salvation, lowly. The Church is e~c1ted ro rejoice 111 his mild Monarchy. And Chnilians, who in. P~ofcfiion: arc his .D1fciplcs, are colnm~ndcd to be gentle, and to jhew all meeknefs to all Men. This cfpeci~ily concerns thofc who arc in a fuperior Order: for Profperity is apt to make Men infolcnt and intolerable, an~ to treat with an haugh~y roughnefs thofc that are bclqw them. BUt there is notlung more becoming . Men 111 Profpcrity and Power, than a fweernefs of Spirit, not eafily provok'd by Injuries, and eafily pardoning them; a ~racious condefecnfion cxprefr in Words and Atl:ions, even. to all ~feriors. And efpcc1~Y mcekncfs is necclf.1ry in a fubmi!live receiving Reproofs for St n, whether by rhe Mmi11ry of the Word , or by a faithful Friend. Profperity is never more dangerous, rhan' when Sin takes fanCtuary m tt, when Men dunk Riches and Power to b~ a privilege to free them from fOund and iCarching Reproof, and damn themfelves with lcfs contradiction. A,nd an hqmble fubmi!lion, with refpect to the Authority of God and an ingenious rractablciicfs, with refpect to rhe lineere affection of rhofe who are faithful in their Counfcls for our Souls, is an Emincht infl:ance of Meeknefs, and pre1crves from the danger of Prolperit;y. J· Solemn and affcdionate Thanksgiving to God for his Mercies, fanctifies Profpe~~J~ is the certain eonfequent of an humble di!'pofttion of ScQl. Pride finothers the Receits of God·s Favours: Thankfulnefs is the homage of Humility, This is infinitely due to God, who renews our LiVes as often as we breathe, and renews his Mcrctes ever'y moment; yet fo unju11 and ungratefulare Men, efpecially in Profperity, rhatthey firahgely neglect it. From hence are rhofc Divine Warnings fo folcnmly repeated to the. beur. 6. r 1, Hi-acliccs, When thou /halt ba7Je eaten , and art full, tben /Jeware left thou forget tht fi;u, 8 · ' , . ~:;/.;.,A;~~~ ~~ ;:::~ 1~'"/i},"!'J:;,u;.d:~::j!:;,~ :;{~:~d~X~~~d.dlyT~:·~;s ~1~~,~~:{~ HOC: 11 . 6. ed effeCt of their Profperity: According to t4eir pa/htre fo were they filled; _tbey were .fillel11 and tbeir heart was exalted, therefor~ bave tbey forgotten me. Tl~cre IS a_ grear backwardnefs in a carnal heart to thankfg1ying for Mercies. Prayer 111 our dtftrefs, is a Work of Necellity, but thankful Pra(fe is an act of Duty; carnal Love is rho caufe of the one, divine Love of the other. Even David how ardently does lte Pfal.1oa . 1,1. excite· his -Soul to the performing this Duty; Blefs the Lord, 0 my Soul, and all tb~:
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