Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the dangereufiies of worldy profperit ie. 3 1 concupifcence and Panne. Vnto which abufe we are natural- ly exceeding prone for asfruiteisuntoachilde,libertic to the licentious,cockring loue to an vndutiful foune,a fword to a mad man,beautie to the lafciuious,and good drinke to afilthie drunkard,fuch is worldly profperitie voto vs. And hence it is that the Lord like a wife Phyfition (feeling our pulfe,andfinding that our nature inclineth vs to this pluri- rife of' profperitie, whereby our brames are fo intoxicated, as wee forget God and all goodn elk ) doth purpolelyla- bour to preuent ir,and maketh wholefome preferuatiues of admonitions to keepe vs from it, in many places of holie Scriptures, as hereafter we (hallfee. In the meane while we may obferue the exceeding corruption of our vile nature, which fo poyfoneth and infe&eth Gods good gifts & blef. fings,that they become caufes and occaftons of euitl : and whereas the Lord through the infinite goodneffe of his na- ture,bringeth good out of euill, and by affli &ions, which are ill in their own nature,worketh our good euen our con. uerfion,fan&ification & faluation,we contrariwifethrough the diuelli(h tainture of our (inne turne good into euill,and out of Gods benefits, and richblefíings, worke our owne woe, and haflen and fet forward (vnlefle God preuent vs with his grace) our owne defl:ru &ion and damnation.- CHAP. V. Of the dastgeroufnes of *oddly profperitie. Ow hauing feene what this worldly profperitie is, .SP¿i< y. and in what refpe &itis our enemy, namely,when thattt 1v r.'dr it is a tentation of the world to allure vs vnto fin, tentarto en (as it is veto all thofe who imiiioderately loue and Cet their the 'rigrt hand hearts vpon it, more then vpon heauenly and fpirituall dange- things)let vs in the next place confider of the dangeroufiaes of there worldly tentations which are on the right hand, that accordingly wee may prepare our fettles to maké refi- nance. The danger of worldly profperitie is excecdin great; for as by Hippocrates rule the height of health is th f:.il