The prosperity of the wicked – Thomas Brooks

Oh you who have God for your portion, do not envy, do not fret and vex, at the prosperity of the wicked; for even though they have more than their heart can wish, even though they live in pleasure and wallow in all carnal and sensual delights yet they have a sad account to give to God, and they shall pay dearly at last for all their worldly enjoyments! For without sound repentance on their part, and pardoning grace on God’s part, they shall forever lose their immortal souls!

O sirs, remember that Lazarus did not fret nor fume because Dives had robes for his rags; and delicacies for his scraps. Lazarus very well knew that though he was without any earthly good yet he was not without God. He had a guard of glorious angels to transport his holy, precious, heaven-born soul into Abraham’s bosom. He knew that it was better to beg on earth, than to beg in hell.

O sirs, what is . . .
darkness compared to light,
earth compared to heaven,
chaff compared to wheat,
tin compared to silver,
dross compared to gold, or
pebbles compared to pearls?
No more are all earthly portions compared to that God who is the saints’ portion; and, therefore, let not the saints, who have such a matchless portion, envy the prosperity and felicity of wicked men.