3. Next, according to the method propounded, I proceed to point out those special seasons in the life of a Christian, which require and call for our utmost diligence in keeping the heart : for though (as we observed before) the duly binds ad semper, and there is no time or condition of life in which we may be excused from this work ; yet there are some signal seasons, critical hours, requiring more than a common vigilance over the heart. And the first,
1. Season. ' Is the time of prosperity, when providence smiles
* upon us, and dandles us upon its knee. Now, Christian, keep thy
* heart with all diligence ; for now it will be exceeding apt to grow ' secure, proud, and earthly, Rara. virtus est huimliias honorata,
* (saith Bernard) to see a man humble under prosperity, is one of the ' greatest rarities in the world. Even a good Hezekiah could not ' hide a vain-glorious temper under his temptation, and hence that ' caution to Israel, Deut. vi. 10, 11, 12. " And it shall be when the
* Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he
* sware to thy fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give thee ' great and goodly cities which thou buildest not, and houses full of
* all good things which thou filledst not, &c. Then beware lest thou
* forget the Lord:'' and indeed so it fell out, " for Jeshurun waxed ' fat, and kicked," Deut. xxxii. 15.'
Now then, the first case will be this, viz. Case 1. How a Christian mayheep his heart from pride and car^ nal security, under the smiles of providence, and constancy ofcrca^ tnre-coniforts.
There are seven choice helps to secure the heart from the dange- rous snares of prosperity ; the first is this,
\.To consider the dangerous ensnaring' templations attending apl-ea- sant and prosperous condition ;fiio, yea, very few of those that live in the pleasures and prosperity of this world, escape everlctsting perdi- ^io??,Mat. xix. 24. "Itiseasier(saithChrist)foracamel to pass through *' the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of " heaven ;" and 1 Cor. i. 26. " Not many mightv, not many noble are
438 HOW TO KEEP THE HEART HUMBLE IN I'KOSrERITY.
" called." It might justly make us tremble when the scripture tells us in general, that few shall be saved; much more when it tells us, that of that rank and sort of which we are speak- ing, but few shall be saved. When Joshua called all the tribes of Israel to lot upon them for the discovery of Achan, doubtless Achan feared ; when the tribe of Judah was taken, his fear in- creased ; but when the family of the Zarhitcs was taken, it was time then to tremble. So when the scripture comes so near as to tell us that of such a sort of men very few shall escape, it is time to look about ; Mir or si potest servari atiqius rector um^ saith Chrysostom ; I should wonder if any of the rulers be saved. O how many have been coached to hell in the chariots of earthly pleasures, while others have been whipped to heaven by the rod of affliction ! how few, like the daughter of Tyre, come to Christ with a gift ! how few among the rich in treat his favour !
2. It may Ize^p us yet more humble and icatcliful In prosperity, if we consider that among Christians many have heen much the worse
Jbr it. How good liad it been for some of them, if they had never known prosperity ! When they were in a low condition, how humble, spiritual, and heavenly, were they ! but when advanced, what an ap- parent alteration hath been upon their spirits ? It was so with Israel, when they were in a low condition in the wilderness ; then Israel was holiness to the Lord, Jer. ii. 23. but when they came into Canaan, and were fed in a fat pasture, then, " we are lords, we will come no " more unto thee,'** ver. 31. Outward gains are ordinarily attended with inward losses ; as in a low condition their civil employments were wont to have a tang and savour of their duties, so in an exalted condition their duties commonly have a tanff of the world. He in- deed is rich in grace, whose graces are not hindered by his riches ; there are but few Jehoshaphats in the world, of whom it is said, 2 Chron xvii. 5, 6. "He had silver and gold in abundance, and his heart " was lifted up in the way of God's commands :" Will not this keep thy heart humble in prosperity, to think how dear many godly men have paid for their riches, that through them they have lost that which all the world cannot purchase ? Then, in the next place,
3. Keep down thy vain heart by this consideration, that God values no man a jot the more for these things. God values no man by out- ward excellencies, but by inward graces : they are the internal orna- ments of the Spirit, which are of great price in God's eyes, IPet. iii. 4. He despises all worldly glory, and accepts no man''s person ; " but in '' every nation, he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is " accepted of him,"" Acts x. 35. Indeed, if the judgment of God went by the same rule that man's doth, we might value ourselves by these things, and stand upon them : But as one said (when dying) I shall not appear before God as a doctor, but as a man; tantus quisque est, quantus est apud Deum, So much every man is, and no more, as
HOW TO KEEP THE HEART HUMBLE IX rROSPF.RTTV. 439
he is in the judgment of God. Doth thy heart yet swell ? And will neither of the former considerations keep it humble ?
4. T her), fomthlf/f Consider, kozvbitterlr/ man?/ pc?'soiis have bewail- ed Ihcir folly when they came to die, that ever they set their hearts up- on these things, and heartily wished that they had never known them. What a sad story was that of Pius Quintus, who dying cried out despairingly, when I was in a low condition, I had some hopes of sal- vation ; but when I was advanced to be cardinal, 1 greatly doubted it; but since I came to the Popedom, I have no hope at all. ^Ir. Spen- cer also tells us a real, but sad story, of a rich oppressor, who had scraped up a great estate for his only son ; when he came to die, he cal- led his son to him, and said, son ; do you indeed love me ? The son answered, that nature, besides his paternal indulgence, obliged him to that. Then said the father, express it by this ; hold thy finger in the candle as long as I am saying a pater noster : The son attempt- ed, but could not endure it. Upon that the father broke out into these expressions, thou canst not suffer the burning of thy finger for me, but to get this wealth, I have hazarded my soul for thee, and must burn body and soul in hell for thy sake : Thy pain would have been but for a moment, but mine will be unquenchable fire.