412 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. hurt. Riches have been kept for men to their hurt; wis- dom and high places have been the ruin of many; liber- ty and plenty are to most a snare ; prosperity slays the foolish. And we are not of ourselves, in any measure, able to secure ourselves from the hurt and poison that is in any of these things, but that they may be our ruin also, as they have already been, and every day are, to multitudes of the children of men. It is enough to fill the soul of any man with horror and amazement to consider the ways and plans of most of those who are intrusted with this world's goods. Is it not evident, that all their lives they seem industrious- ly to take care that they may perish eternally l Lux- ury, riot, oppression, intemperance, and of late especial- ly, blasphemy and atheism,, they usually give up them- selves to ; and this is the fruit of their abundance and security. What now, if God should deprive us of all these things 1 Can any one certainly say that he is in- jured thereby 1 Might they not have turned to his ever- lasting perdition, as they do to thousands as good by nature, and who have had advantages to be as wise as we 1 And shall we complain of God's dispensations about them I And what shall we say, when he himself has undertaken to make all things work together for our good 1 Anxieties of mind and perplexities of heart about our losses, is not what we are called to in our trouble; but this is our duty : let us consider whether we love God or not, whether we are called according to his purpose; if so, all things are well in his hand, who can order them for our good and advantage. I hope many a poor soul will from hence, under every trouble, be able to say with him that was banished from
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