The trial of prosperity?From Spurgeon's, "THE SCALES OF JUDGMENT"How many have been destroyed by prosperity!The fumes of popularity have turned the brains of many a man.The adulation of multitudes has laid thousands low.Many have I known who in a cottage seemed to fear God,but in a mansion have forgotten him.When their daily bread was earned with the sweat of their brow,then it was they served the Lord, and went up to his house withgladness. But their 'seeming religion' all departed when theirflocks and herds increased, and their gold and silver wasmultiplied.It is no easy thing to stand the trial of prosperity.When the winds of affliction blow on a Christian's head, he justpulls around him the cloak of heavenly consolation, and girds hisreligion about him all the tighter for the fury of the storm.But when the sun of prosperity shines on him, the traveler growswarm, and full of delight and pleasure, he ungirds his cloak, andlays it aside; so that what the storms of affliction never couldaccomplish, the soft hand and the witchery of prosperity hasbeen able to perform.Prosperity has been the Delilah that has shorn thelocks and taken away the strength of many a Samson.This rock has witnessed the most fatal wrecks.
_________________CHRISTIAN