J t im.6. M:au.u. The Danger of Pro[perity. Spirimal Joy purifies and forri_fies the So~l aga~nil: the infnaring and co~rupting Alluremcnrs of the World . The JOJ. of tbe Lord 1S thm f/re11gtb; that of wluch he is the Author and Object, 1s both pro~u,~hvc and prcfervanvc of the V 1gour of t1_1c Soul, ro rc{ift th_e Charms of the World. Tis faid of Orpbeus, when he pall by the Syrcns, who by the d_tarnli ng V oiccs il1bducd Men to Occp, and then defiroyed them, T hat he played o:r h1s Harp, an9 rh~ 1\vcct Sound made him. defpife their finging, and prevented rhe Dan~ gcr. The Fable ~s firly mo:alize~: J~y m the Lord, as 0ur Portion, and that infinite 1\\'c:rncfs .rha'r is m commumon With hun, makes fuch an impre!Tion ~pon the Soul that rhc.mfhanng and defiruCtive Plcafi.ucs of the ~World are ~bhorr'd m comparifo1; wi~h them. That firm Peace and pure Joy, paf{es the Untlerflan~mg, our mofi comprehcnfive Facil lty; whereas all the Plcafurcs of the World do no~ fausfic our Scnfcs. 7. When Riches and Power arc employed for the Glory of God and the good ofothers they arc a happy Advantage to thofc that polfefs them. All Benefits are virtual Obli: gations; and the greater our Receipts are, the greater our Accounts will be. Got! has a fOverc ign Right in all thing~ we hav.e, a~1d they arc not to be employed meerly for our Pleafurc or Pr~fit, b~tt accordmg to Ius W1ll, and for his Honour. 'Tis true, he enjoys his own Etcr.mry, h~s own Glory and Blcffednefs, to which the!e JS no pofiibiliry of ~ccc~lon : H1s cffennal Glory cannot be inc~eas' d, bu~ his declaratiVe Glory may be more maiufcil:cd in the Eyes of Men ; and he il:nctly rcqmres that we lhould ufe his Gifts fo as to fl1ew forth his Glory, to declare how highly we value his Glory, and how arde~tly \vc defirc and endeavour that others lhould blefs and pra1fc him. Thus Men in high D1gnlry fh ould go'vern their Grcarnefs fo, as to make it fi1bfervient to this blelfcd End that the ' Vifdom, Power, Holinefs, JuO:icc, and Mercy of God, ·may be manifefl:cd in rhci~ :Admin.i.flratio ~l . And thofe who enjoy a prefent Abundance, fl10uld, according to their Capacrty, relieve t he W~nts of ochers. The wife God has order'd feveral degrees in the Soc1ety of Men, the R1ch and Poor; that the inequality may be an occafion of the Exerci1C of Charity. And 'tis a :fpecial favour, that he is pleafed to make fome his Trcaiiirers to difpenfe his Benefits to his Family. Whil£1: others can only be charitable in thcii compaf!ionat.c Defires, he g1ves to fome an ability ~f d1flulive Goodnefs: and '-ris Inju. ~~':r ~~lX~cj11i~\{~~!i~~~:~t~~1td;~ ~~~~~dp~~ ~~~~~~i~:,0~~:~~i1r~~e f~~: !~ltfr~~da~~ fpecial Favour, he enables Men to imitate and honour him who is rich in Mercy. 'Tis more /;/ef{ed to g,i'Ve thmt to receive. The prefenr Reward is excellent: 'tis our Saviour's ~:~J'r:fte~~=~~ ~::~~~~m:n%~::. th~;su~£e;ut~;v{;;~c~;d:ft~:i~1l~l~: ~(f~~~~[;~ f::acte~ Temple, the whole Harve!l was confecrated an~ blefs'd; fo b:y: a charitable Difl:ribution, the Rich have a pure and comfortable EnJoyment of the~t Eil:ates. And the Reward hercafrcr will be glorious by infinite Degrees, exceeding t he mo£1: coil:ly and liberaJ Charity. 'Tis the Encouragement ufed by the Apo!l:le, C!Jarge tbem that are rich in this World, that they tlo good, tbat they be ricb in good Works, ready to dif/ribut.e, willi11g to communicate ; laying up infl_ore for themfelves a good fou~dat~on for the time to come, that tbey mqy lay };old on eternal Life. Some by corrupt Prodigality waflc their Efl:ates, are profufc as the Sea ; fome heap up Riches as the Sand, and both mu£1: be refponfible to the Righteous Lord, who will fevcrcly call them to an account for the abufe of lusBlcf- ~~~5by ~~~~i~1C~ea~~0a~dc~re~~~Nc~~~~e~~~~mtl1~ ~~~:rs ~~~do~~~~i~f\\~~n~1~!~ ~l~a~~nf~~~ vings to God , /hall be accepted and rewarded from the Divine M ercy. Efpccially doing good to thofe whom God loves, who bear his Image, who are peculiarly related to him, /hall have an excellent Reward. The Apoil:lc tells us, That fome by entertaining Strangers, received Angels : The honour is incomparably greater, chat in relieving the Godly, Jcfus Chrill, the Lord of Angels, is fed and cloathcd in Ius Mem· bcrs. And or the Jail: Day he will publickly own thofc Acts of Mercy as done to him· felf: Theu he will give to the contented Poor the Crown of Patience, and to the chari· table Rich ·, the Crown of Liberality. In lhorr, Riches and Honour, Power and Profpc· i"ity, are Temptations to the Carnal, that draw forth their Lu!ls, and increafe their Guilt and Mifery; but to wife and faithful Chri!lians, they are Talents improved for their Mafi:cr's Honour, and their own cverlafl:ing Good. 8. A firm Refolurion to part with all Polfeffions and Dignities, when God"s Honour, and .the Tefl:imony of his Truth requires it, is an excellent Antidote againO: the Evil .of Profpcrity. God doth fomctimes call forth his Servams to hard Trials, to declare wirh inoro Strength and Evidence their Love to his Name, their Zeal for adnncwg Ius Glory: Satan
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