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hath, may raise his esteem in the World, yet no real worth is added unto him thereby. It is well, if they do not make him worse. The valuation of Gold is raised fometimes from twenty, to twenty four, or twenty five fhillings, yet the piece is the fame ftill. Dan. 11. 21. And in his eftate, shall stand up a vile perfon. Prov. 10. 20,— The heart of the wicked is little worth. What therefore, if the Man St. James fpeaks of, comes in, with a Gold-ring, if that be his beft, wherein is he to be esteemed Many things more might be faid to this purpose, but this is enough to fhew, that in refpect even of the choiceft materials thereof, Worldly profperity is no way defirable, in compa rifon of Soul-profperity. If that be all a Man hath to rejoice in, he rejoiceth in a thing of nought, Amos 6. 13. It may be faid of all fuch, as Pfal.39.6. They walk in a vain fhew, and furely difquiet themselves in vain, heaping up riches (which are accounted, the chiefeft materials of Worldly profperity) when he knows not who fhall gather them, a wife man, or a fool. For any Man then to prejudice his Soul-profperity, in the purfuit of these things, contracts that guilt charged upon them, fon. 2. 8, They follow lying vanities, and forfake their own mercies.

3. A third reason is this. Of all profpe rity, Soul-prosperity is the most defirable

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profperity, because the effects, and confequents thereof, are the beft, and moft defirable effects; far beyond the effects of Worldly profperity, feparated from Soulprofperity: For then they are both,fad,& finful. It is feen to be fo,in respect of the effects thereof, in this World, and it would be found to be fo, for the future, in the World to come:

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(1.) In this World: Thereby, the wickednefs that is in the heart appears; half whereof would not have been fo manifeft, if they had not profpered fo much in the World. It proves but fuel for their lufts; drawing out multiplied acts of fin, which is charged upon them, Jam. 2.7, Do not they (rich Men) blafpheme that worthy name by which ye are called? Riches beget pride,Luk. 16.19. There was a certain rich Man, which was clothed in Purple, and fine Linnen, and fared sumptuouf ly every day. Pride begets cafting off truft in God, 1 Tim. 6. 17, Charge them that are rich in this World that they be not high minded, nor truft in uncertain riches, but in the living God. Carnal boafting,with contempt of others, Jer. 9.23,-Let not the rich Man `glory in his riches. Carnal confidence, Pfal: 62.10,-If riches increafe, fet not your heart upon them. Oppreffion, Jam. 2.6, Do not rich Men opprefs you? Thefe are fome of thofe evil fruits, which a profperous state produceth, when Mens lufts are not fubde

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ed, and mortifyed by Soul-profperity. Men being charged to take heed of them, that fhews their proneness to them. So that if the Angels were called to give fuch an account, as they were, Zech. 1. 10,11. doubtless they would give this account, that they never obferved more notorious neglect of what is of everlasting concernment, never more favouring the things of the flesh, never more prodigious Riot in fome, never more fordid Earthlinefs in others; the Earth they tread upon getting fo into their hearts, that they are more Earthy then the Earth it felf. Such an account of thefe, and fuch like abominations, the Angels would give, that they ne ver faw more of these impieties, then among thofe that profper in the World, whose Worldly profperity is feparated from Soulprofperity. This is their way, as is faid, Pfal. 49. 13. and this is their folly. Thefe are the effects of it, that are feen in this World. Not that all these fad effects are feen in every one, but fome in one, and fome in another.

(2.) The effects will be found to be as fad in the World to come. It is a fad fight to fee Men, undo themselves with their own mercies, as Bees that are drowned in their own Honey but fo it is, Prov. 1. 32,-The profperity of Fools fhall deftroy them. i.e. with everlasting deftruction from the prefence of

the Lord. It is evident from Scripture, that but few fhall be faved, Matth. 22. 14, Many are called but few are chofen. And it is as evident, that but few of thofe few, will be

found among the rich, and profperous, 1 Cor. 1.26, For ye fee your calling, Brethren, that not many wife Men after the flesh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are called. Yea, it is yet more evident, that the Spirit of God fpeaks in the Scripture, as if Salvation had been almost impropriated to the meaner fort of people; and that thofe who profper in the World, had been almost excluded. Jam. 4.5, hath not God chofen the poor of this World, rich in faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom, which he hath promifed to them that tove him. The Church is called the Congregation of the poor, Pfal. 74. 19. Such as were of the lower rank, deftitute of Worldly advantages. But for the rich, and prof perous, fee Luk. 6,24,25, Wo unto you that are rich, for ye have received your confolation. Wo unto you, that are full, for ye shall hunger. Wo unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn, and weep. Jam. 5. 1. Go to now, ye rich Men, weep and howl, for the miferies that hall come upon you. The Apostle fpeaks not by way of advice and counfel, to prevent their judg ment by godly forrow. The exercife of that grace it not expreffed by howling: but he fpeaks by way of threat'ning, and de

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nouncing wrath, and vengeance. They had their good things in this life: their pleafure upon Earth, verf. 5. Rev. 18. 7, By how much the glorified her felf, and lived deliciouly, fo much torment, and forrow give her. Yet this is not to be understood, as if God would condemn the rich, because they were rich, no more then he will fave the poor for their poverty: But he will condemn the rich for their fin, and fave the poor for their faith, and piety; through Jesus Christ.

Much more might be faid, to fhew that Worldly profperity separated from Soul-profperity, is by no means, a profperity to be defired. It is but Eternal mifery at a little diftance: Much less is it to be compared with Soul-profperity. This ye may judge by thofe effects of it, which are feen to be fo, in this World; and will be found to be fo in the World to come.

(2.) But now if we confider the Effects, and Confequents of Soul-profperity, we fhall find, they are every way moft defirable, whether we confider the effects thereof for the prefent, in this life; or for the future, in the life to come.

(1.) In this life. When the Soul profpereth, and the divine well-fare thereof is kept, in its heavenly temper, by divine influences from above; then there is fuch a glory and I 2 beauty

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