ings in our Spirits, and all finking discouragements, in fuch a day, and hour of try al, come not from our condition, how fad foever it be, or in how great danger foever, we may apprehend our felves to be, of lofing all we have; as from our Corruption, because our Souls profper no more. It is ob fervable, what we have to this purpose, in Matth. 5, Blessed (faith our Saviour) are the poor in Spirit, verf. 3. The meek, the mourners, the pure in heart, and those that hunger and thirst after righteoufnefs, in the following verfes. And then, verf. 10, Blessed are they that are perfecuted, for righteousness fake. And why is this put in the last place, but to fhew unto us, that now the Soul profpers? There is poverty of fpirit: there. is purity of heart; there is meeknefs, and hungring and thirsting after righteousness. Now fuffering in thefe, is such as becomes a Christian. This is enough to prove this, That the more the Soul profpers, there will be the more peace, because the more agreement betwixt a Man's Refolution, and Performance, both in respect of Active and Paffive obedience. A profpering Soul makes this his business, To magnifie Chrift, whether it be by life, or by death, Phil. 1. 20.

(5.) There is much fweet peace in a profpering Soul, because of that sweet agreement which there is between God, and fuch a Soul;

which, if it be felt, paffeth all understanding, Phil. 4. 7. and therefore, all expreffion. But poffibly, this Peace may not be proclai med, fo as every profpering Soul may hear it, and believe it, rather often doubting, that it is not concluded. But for certain it is, and in due time God will let them know it,Pfal. 85.8, I will hear, what God the Lord will fpeak, for he will speak peace to his People, and to his Saints. And it is as certain, fuch Souls are at peace with God, for then they follow hard after God, as Pfal. 63.8. defiring nothing more then reconciliation with him; their eyes dropping down tears, as Lam. 1.16,-because the Comforter, which fhould relieve my Soul is far from me. Blef fed are fuch mourners, for they shall be comfor ted, Matth, 5.4.

Thus we have fome of the defirable effects of Soul profperity, in this life.

(2.) For the effects, and confequents of Soul-profperity for the future, in reference to the World to come, thus in a word; it hath a moft bleffed influence into Eternity; Then Soul-profperity is perfected in holynefs, Heb. 12. 23,- The Spirits of just Men made perfect. Ephef. 5. 27, Without Spot, or wrinkle. And perfected in happy nefs, in the full enjoyment of God. It fees God fo far, as feeing imports enjoy ing; Then it may be faid without a fi

gure

gure to fuch a Soul, as Ifa. 60: 1, Arife, and Thine, thy light is come, the glory of the Lord iş rifen upon thee.

Thus ye have the reasons of the point,

SER

SERMON VI.

Vse. I.

I

F this be fo,That of all profperities, Soul profperity, is the most defirable profperity. Then from hence, we may infer: That it is the most rational thing in the World, for all those, that believe they have immortal Souls, in mortal Bodies, to mind the well-fare, and profperity of their Souls, above all things elfe in the World. This is certainly to act, according to the best, and highest principles of reafon, that ever any Man did from the beginning of the World to this day.

It may be fuppofed, by what ye have heard, that ye are now fully fatisfied in the truth of the Doctrine, and believe that nothing profpereth in your hand, with profperity truly fo called, and as it is a bleffing, but when, and where the Soul profpereth; therefore none to be minded like that, none but in fubordination to that. And feeing it is a principle planted by the God of Nature, in the heart of Man by Nature, to mind that above all things elfe, wherein he firm

ly

ly believes his happiness, above all things, doth confift. And withal, feeing to Prof per, and to be happy, though the words be two, are but one and the fame thing: And that ye are perfwaded, a Man is only fo far really happy, as his Soul profpers: Thefe things being fo, one would think, I might forbear to prefs any thing farther, and might fay concerning this duty of minding Soulprofperity, as the Apoftle doth of Brotherly love, 1 Thef. 4.9. ye need not that I should write any more concerning it.

But confidering what a deep, inward, rooted refpect for, and reaching after the things of the World, there appears to be in fome, who yet profefs, they are fully convinced of the vanity thereof, and fuch a strong byafs in others, turning them afide into ways that are not good: So far it may be charged upon them, as Rom. 1. 18. They hold the truth (they believe) in unrighteousness; not suffering it to exercife its au tority in their Confciences: And feeing it is fo difficult a thing, yea impoffible, without the Almighty power of the Spirit ofGod, to raise up a drofly, earthy fpirit, funk into the world, to look after things that are not feen; to mortifie the deeds of the flesh, and to fet their affections on things that are above; or to fix a vain,light fpirit,fo as to reduce it, to a fober and ferious confideration of the