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the things wherein they deal proudly, he is above them, ] Exod. 18. 11. [For every one that exalteth himfelf shall be abafed: and he that bumbleth himself shall be exalted, Luk. 18. 14.] For Godrefifteth the prond, but giveth grace to the humble, 1 Pet. §. 5.395

7. But no way doth their profperity fo defperately precipitate them, and make them the fcorn of heaven, and the foot-balf of Divine contempt, as by engaging them in oppofition to the word, and wages, and fervants of the Lord. When it hath drawn them to those fins which God condemneth, and his Minifters must reprove, and hath puft them up with pride, which makes them impatient of his reproofs, and hath increased their worldly intereft and treafure, and fleshly provifion, which be commandeth them to deny, this presently involveth them in a controverfie

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controverfie with Chrift, before they are aware, and cafteth them into the temptation of Herod when he was contradicted in his luft, and they think they are neceffitated to ftop the mouths that dare reprove them, and to keep under the people, and doctrine, and difcipline of Chrift, that are fo contrary to them, and cross them, and difhonour them in their fin and to pluck away this thorn out of their foot, and caft it from them. And thus their profperity and carnal wisdom that is imployed to fecure it, engageth the earth-worms in a war with Chrift: and then you may conjecture how long they can endure to kick against the pricks, and irritate the juftice and jealoufie of the Almighty, and prefume to abuse the apple of his eye; and who will have the better in the end? ble is more able to

The ftub

refift the

flames,

flames, and a fly to conquer all the world, then thefe daring lumps of walking clay, to conquer God, or scape his vengeance. Ifa. 27.4. [Who would fet the bryers and thornes against me in battel? I would go through them: I would burn them together.] Ifa. 45.9. [Wo to him that striveth with his Maker: let the potsherds frive with the pot herds of the earth.] Job 9.4. [who hath hardened himself. against him and hath profpered?] They all imagine a vain thing, that fet themselves and take counsel together against the Lord, and his anointed, to break his bonds,and caft away his cords from them. He that fitteth in beaven, will laugh, the Lord will have them in derifion : then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his fore difpleasure.- He shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potters veffel.

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Be

Be wife now therefore Oye Kings! be inftructed ye fudges of the earth: ferve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling:kifs the fon left be be angry, and ye perifh in the way, when his wrath is kindled, but a little, bleffed are all they that put their trust in him, Pfal. 2.] They think it is but a few contemptible or hateful men that they fet themfelves againft; forgetting Act. 9. 4, 5. Luk. 10.16. 1 Thef.4.8. that tell them all is done to Chrift. And Mat.18.6. [Who fo fhall offend one of thefe little ones which believe in me,it were better for him that a milftone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the fea,] Mat.21.44. [And whofoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomfoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.]I will conclude this with Amaziah's cafe, 2 Chron. 25. 16. [Art thou made of the Kings counfel? forbear:

why

why should'st thou be fmitten? Then the Prophet forbare,and faid, I know · that God hath determined to deftroy. thee, because thou hast done this,and haft not hearkened, &c.]

III. Before I tell you what se

to make of the Doctrine of this text, I shall firft tell you by way of caution, what fe you fhould not make of it.

1. Though the profperity of fools deftroy them, do not hence accuse God that giveth them prosperity. 2. Nor do not think to excufe your felves. 3. Nor do not think that riches are evil: for the things are good, and mereies in themselves,and being rightly used, may further their felicity. But it is the folly and corruption of their hearts, that thus abufeth them, and maketh good an occafion of evil. I may allude to Pauls words conP 2 cerning

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