I. The habitual exercise of prayer counteracts the baneful influence of prosperity, or guards us from its dangers.

When a wicked man rises from a low to a lofty station; when his plans and projects succeed, and his possessions increase; when opposition gives way before him, and every thing yields to a compliance with his wishes; we generally see the most wanton and ungovernable passions let loose. Pride swells the heart, and arrogance lifts the head; levity and giddiness are impatient for the glittering novelties of fashion, and the fascinating scenes of dissipation; appetite and voluptuousness plunge him in rioting and excess.

Nor is it merely upon the wicked that prosperity produces effects to be deplored: the virtuous also, who stand high in the esteem of the more sober and circumspect part of society, too generally suffer much from the same cause. A sudden opening into the high road of preferment, with the tempting objects of ambition placed full in view; or a rapid influx of prosperity, through various channels; has dazzled the mental eye with a gorgeous and delusive splendour, and deteriorated the moral powers, by the infusion of a subtile and slow poison. Such persons indeed may, and it is probable usually do, enter the enchanted

circle of the gay world, with the intention of pursuing its amusements on a measured and moderate scale, and of tasting its delights without participating its vices. But it is diffi cult, if not impossible, to move in the smooth alluring walks of pleasure, without being captivated, ensnared, and deeply injured. How often have we known prosperity work an entire and most unhappy change in the character! When God raised Jeshurun from poverty and depression, and made him to ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; and gave him butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and caused him to drink the pure blood of the grape: what was the consequence of all this plenty? He became ungrateful and rebellious by indulgence; "then he forsook God that made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation." Deut. xxxii. 14, 15.

Even pious and good men, in the best sense of these terms, have no slight reason to dread prosperity. Its sweets for a time are delicious, but eventually dangerous; they gratify the inferior powers of human nature, but greatly impair the health and vigour. The two ex

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tremes of indigence and affluence, have their respective temptations and snares; yet, while most are tremblingly alive to the former, few feel any apprehension of the latter. The prayer of Agur furnishes a rare exception, and a pattern worthy of imitation. "Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name God in vain." Prov. xxx. 7-10. Habitual devotion keeps us alert and watchful. In times of prosperity, we are in great danger of being deceived with fair appearances and flatteries. Hollow professions of affection and esteem, inveigle and delude those who are not in other things deficient in acuteness and sagacity; for how frequently, while a smile plays on the countenance, and honey drops from the tongue, are rancour and gall in the heart! Dependants, whose sole object is the advancement of their own interest, have art enough to seem anxious only to raise and duly honour their patron's character. Those who can pay for homage, will always be surrounded with such as are ready to sell it in any form, gross or refined, in any quantity,

large or small, according to the taste or demand*.

The Christian who lives much in prayer, will be too well acquainted with his own heart, to thirst for, or drink in the luscious poison of flattery. Habitual devotion guards us against the intoxicating influence of pleasure. The epicure merges the man in the animal, enslaves reason and understanding to appetite and sense, and is either excited to extravagance and madness, or sunk to apathy and stupidity. No doubt can exist, but a taste for literature and science, serves in measure to restrain and correct the propensity to sensual indulgence; but where fortune's gifts are copiously poured around from plenty's overflowing horn, some more powerful antidote is necessary. The precious products of every climate can yield no enjoyment worthy to be compared to the delights of communion with God. Luxury becomes not only insipid, but even disgusting and abhorrent, where the exquisite pleasures of devotion are known and appreciated. He who feeds on angel's food, will not envy the brutes.

* An ancient poet has said

"Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos,
Tempora si fuerint, nubila solus eris."

OVID.

The gale is favouring, numerous friends you find,→←
From th' adverse storm they fly before the wind.

According to the degree in which our devotion rises, our active zeal will increase. Without these, the sun-gleams of prosperity weaken and relax the mind, and dispose it to rest on the soft pillow of ease. Our Lord enjoins watchfulness and prayer together, and they are both absolutely necessary.

II. The habitual exercise of prayer, gives a true zest, or relish, to prosperity.

It is a trite, but just observation, that happiness depends not so much on the external condition, as on the state of the mind. A man may be possessed of riches, crowned with honours, surrounded by delights, and served with diligence by obsequious crowds, and yet be a stranger to enjoyment; the eye may be sated with pomp and splendour, and the ear with music and adulation; the appetite may be blunted with dainties, and every sense cloyed, and worn, and wearied, by the objects intended to impart pleasure. How many of fortune's favourites, if we look beyond the surface, are far more to be pitied than envied! One while violent and impetuous, another listless and languid; they resemble a vessel alternately driven by the hurricane, and fixed in a dead calm. Can we conceive of a condition more deplorable, than to be amply stored with every