'7 he Danger of Pro/perity. Satan is an irreconcileable Enemy to God and his Saints; and infpircs the perverted World with his own Malice againfl: t hem. Rage has no Reafon : The Jews would excommunicate the bli nd Man, bccaufe he faw, and afcribed the Glory of rhe Miracle ro our Sm•iour: and Lazarus muft die, bccaufc he was raifed from rhe Grave. Now when a Chriflian is prepared for this noble Ad of Self-denial, to forfake all things when his Duty to Chrift requires ir; this IJtcferves him from the inii1aring Temptations of Profperiry. 33.£ 'Tis obfervable, the fame Divine Difpolirion of Soul, makes us temperate in the llfC of prcfent Abundance, and patient in the Lofs of it. T~1e low cficcm of earthly things, joyn'd with the lively hope of Heaven, renders the EnJoyment of the World lds ~~~~f~ltu~,::1t~h~h;a0:~ i~f ~~~s n~~~}p~~~i~~~~Pr ;r~~c~~ll~~~t~~~r ~~1~~e~~t:;i~~~~~o~[:~;!~6f~!~ and Riches with Honour_s ; and in rl~e change of his flare, t hey _were rathe_r ~aken c~fily li:~,:t 1;~;; ; ; ; away, than rent from l~un. Accordm~ to the temper of _the Mmd, rh~ dtffercnce IS as~vulji"t. fenlible in the paning Wtth outward rlungs, as between cltpping the Hatr, and tearing it Senec. _c,nf off with violence. Nay, the Glory of Heaven does fO eclipfe rhc faint and f.1ding luftre •d Htlv. of this World, that a Believer not only patiently but chearfully makes the exchange of the one for the other. Mofes preferred Ajf/i flion with the People of God hefore tbe Crown Heb. u. of Egypt, becaufe of tl~e Reward above that was in his view. And the Chrifl:ian Hebrews r.ook joyf ul!J t/;e fpoilmg of their Goods, knowing tbat tiJey bad in _Hea1)~11 a better and _an endurmg .fubf/ance. The bleffed Hope will preferve us from bemg f01l'd by Profpenry when it furrounds us, and from fmking in Adverfity. Like Mertyllu,r his S,hield, that feeur'd him in the Field, and f.1v'd him being Shipwraek'd at Sea, by wafting him to the Shore. Lafily, Earnefi and confl:ant Prayer to God for Divi ne Grace, is a fovercign means to . preferve thofC who arc in Profperiry from the Danger that attends it. I know bow to a- pnil. 4 !Jo~tnd, lays the Apoflle; and immediately adds, I can do all things through Chrij/ that jfrength~Ns m~. Supernatural Srren~h i~ an eminent degree is re9uifite to keep us enci re , , and upnghr 111 the dangerous conAtCt With the pleafant Temptations of the World : and ..£_1i%1111H•m that Strength is derived from Chrifi, and obtain'd by humble Prayer. 'Tis St. Aujliit's (;&[/. 1~;;r: Obfcrvation, T hat Elijha wanted a double portion of Elijah's Spirit, becaufe he was in r.it11 t1 ,~;7,ph&,. publick Honour; and expof.Cd to a m_ore dangerous Trial , and extraordinary Gface was ei~ •~~~m L~~ nccc1T.1ry for him : But Elias was under c?ntinual Perfecut~on.Thc ~rees that are cxpos'd j;~:~ £&1 :;;: toil:orms, arc firong and firm ; bur rhofe 111 the fu nny Valhcs are bn ttle;:tnd cafi ly blownjfnll uJ, down. \-Ve are direCted to ask Wifdom of God for t he governing of our fclves in Af- ~~~f~~~~b:/J~~u~n J~~:d~~S~eb:?rC:ilJ~fufie~0~~~J1:a;h~f:~~i~;~ll~af!~o~:1 r ~~~frir~~~ . and cr~rn:!l Good. And 'ris as neceffary to beg Heavenly Wiidom for governing our fclvcs m Profp~riry, that when Temptations a.re frc9uenr, and favour'd by our joyful Affections, wluch_are equally vehement and cxorbuanr as the fad Affections, Reafon m;~ y keep the Throne, and manage Profperity, fo as we may obtain our blefTed End. Such is the Malice of Satan, that he inccfTancly dcfires leave to tempt us, and love to our So_uls fh?tdd make us_ pray co~tin ually for confi rming Grace againfl: his Temptations. JlneAy, If the good thmgs of tlus World make us more humble and lioly, more fea rfu l ro oflcnd God, and ca_rcful to pleafe bun ; i f they are Mouves to renew ou ~ Homag~_ and _Th a1~kfulnefs_ to lum, if they are ufed in fubordination to his Glory, they are the Tefiunomes of Ius prefent Favour, and the Pledges of our future Felicity. Our bleffed Sanour keeps the bcfl Wine fo r his obedient Friends rill the lafl. SER MO N S
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