MANY Things were amiss in the Church of Corinth, when Paul wrote this Epistle to them. There were envyings, strife and divisions among them, on account of their ministers. Some cried up one, o­thers another: one said, I am of PAUL, another I am of APPOLLOS. They had form'd themselves into parties, and each party so admired the teacher they fol­lowed, as to reflect unjust contempt on the other.

Nor was this their only fault. A spirit of pride pre­vailed exceedingly among them. They were conceited of their gifts, and too generally dispos'd to make an os­tentatious [Page 2] shew of them. From this vain glorious tem­per proceeded the forwardness of those that had the gift of tongues, to speak in languages which others did not understand, to the disturbance, rather than edification of the church: And from the same principle it arose, that they spake not by turns, but several at once, in the same place of worship, to the introducing such confusion, that they were in danger of being tho't mad.

Nor were they without some pretence to justify these disorders. Their great plea was, that in these things they were guided by the Spirit, acted under his imme­diate influence and direction. This seems plainly insi­nuated in the words I have read to you. If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknow­ledge that the things that I write unto you are the com­mandments of the Lord. As if the apostle had said, you may imagine your selves to be spiritual men, to be un­der a divine afflatus in what you do; but 'tis all ima­gination, meer pretence, unless you pay a due regard to the commandments I have here wrote to you; receiv­ing them not as the word of man, but of GOD. Make trial of your spiritual pretences by this rule: If you can submit to it, and will order your conduct by it, well; otherwise you only cheat yourselves, while you think yourselves to be spiritual men, or prophets: You are nothing better than Enthusiasts; your being acted by the SPIRIT, immediately guided and influenced by him, is meer pretence; you have no good reason to believe any such thing.

From the words thus explained, I shall take occasion to discourse to you upon the following Particulars.

I. I shall give you some account of Enthusiasm, in its nature and influence.

II. Point you to a rule by which you may judge of persons, whether they are under the influence of Enthusiasm.

III. Say what may be proper to guard you against this unhappy turn of mind.

[Page 3]The whole will then be follow'd with some suitable Application.

I. I am in the first place, to give you some account of Enthusiasm. And as this is a thing much talk'd of at present, more perhaps than at any other time that has pass'd over us, it will not be tho't unreasonable, if I take some pains to let you into a true understanding of it.

The word, from it's Etymology, carries in it a good meaning, as signifying inspiration from GOD: in which sense, the prophets under the old testament, and the a­postles under the new, might properly be called Enthu­siasts. For they were under a divine influence, spake as moved by the HOLY GHOST, and did such things as can be accounted for in no way, but by recurring to an immediate extraordinary power, present with them.

But the word is more commonly used in a bad sense, as intending an imaginary, not a real inspiration: accor­ding to which sense, the Enthusiast is one, who has a conceit of himself as a person favoured with the extra­ordinary presence of the Deity. He mistakes the work­ings of his own passions for divine communications, and fancies himself immediately inspired by the SPIRIT of GOD, when all the while, he is under no other influence than that of an over-heated imagination.

The cause of this enthusiasm is a bad temperament of the blood and spirits; 'tis properly a disease, a sort of mad­ness: And there are few; perhaps, none at all, but are subject to it; tho' none are so much in danger of it as those, in whom melancholy is the prevailing ingredient in their constitution. In these it often reigns; and some­times to so great a degree, that they are really beside themselves, acting as truly by the blind impetus of a wild fancy, as tho' they had neither reason nor understanding.

And various are the ways in which their enthusiasm discovers itself.

Sometimes, it may be seen in their countenance. A certain wildness is discernable in their general look and [Page 4] air; especially when their imaginations are mov'd and fired.

Sometimes, it strangely loosens their tongues, and gives them such an energy, as well as fluency and volu­bility in speaking, as they themselves, by their utmost efforts, can't so much as imitate, when they are not un­der the enthusiastick influence.

Sometimes, it affects their bodies, throws them into convulsions and distortions, into quakings and tremblings. This was formerly common among the people called Quakers. I was myself, when a Lad, an eye-witness to such violent agitations and foamings, in a boisterous fe­male speaker, as I could not behold but with surprize and wonder.

Sometimes, it will unaccountably mix itself with their conduct, and give it such a tincture of that which is freakish or furious, as none can have an idea of, but those who have seen the behaviour of a person in a phrenzy.

Sometimes, it appears in their imaginary peculiar inti­macy with heaven. They are, in their own opinion, the special favourites of GOD, have more familiar con­verse with him than other good men, and receive immediate, extraordinary communications from him. The tho'ts, which suddenly rise up in their minds, they take for suggestions of the SPIRIT; their very fancies are divine illuminations; nor are they strongly inclin'd to any thing, but 'tis an impulse from GOD, a plain re­velation of his will.

And what extravagances, in this temper of mind, are they not capable of, and under the specious pretext too of paying obedience to the authority of GOD? Many have fancied themselves acting by immediate warrant from heaven, while they have been committing the most undoubted wickedness. There is indeed scarce any thing so wild, either in speculation or practice, but they have given unto it: They have, in many instances, [Page 5] been blasphemers of GOD, and open disturbers of the peace of the world.

But in nothing does the enthusiasm of these persons discover it self more, than in the disregard they express to the Dictates of reason. They are above the force of argument, beyond conviction from a calm and sober ad­dress to their understandings. As for them, they are distinguish'd persons; GOD himself speaks inwardly and immediately to their souls. ‘They see the light infu­sed into their understandings, and cannot be mistaken; 'tis clear and visible there, like the light of bright sun­shine; shews it self and needs no other proof but its own evidence. They feel the hand of GOD moving them within, and the impulses of his SPIRIT; and cannot be mistaken in what they feel. Thus they support themselves, and are sure reason hath nothing to do with what they see and feel. What they have a sensible experience of, admits no doubt, needs no probation’. And in vain will you endeavour to con­vince such persons of any mistakes they are fallen into. They are certainly in the right; and know themselves to be so. They have the SPIRIT opening their under­standings and revealing the truth to them. They be­lieve only as he has taught them: and to suspect they are in the wrong is to do dishonour to the SPIRIT; 'tis to oppose his dictates, to set up their own wisdom in opposition to his, and shut their eyes against that light with which he has shined into their souls. They are not therefore capable of being argued with; you had as good reason with the wind.

And as the natural consequence of their being thus sure of every thing, they are not only infinitely stiff and tenacious, but impatient of contradiction, censo­rious and uncharitable: they encourage a good opinion of none but such as are in their way of thinking and speaking. Those, to be sure, who venture to debate with them about their errors and mistakes, their weak­nesses and indiscretions, run the hazard of being stig­matiz'd by them as poor unconverted wretches, with­out the SPIRIT, under the government of carnal reason, enemies to GOD and religion, and in the broad way to hell.

[Page 6]They are likewise positive and dogmatical, vainly fond of their own imaginations, and invincibly set up­on propagating them: And in the doing of this, their Powers being awakened, and pu [...] as it were, upon the stretch, from the strong impressions they are under, that they are authorized by the immediate command of GOD himself, they sometimes exert themselves with a sort of extatic violence: And 'tis this that gives them the advantage, among the less knowing and judicious, of those who are modest, suspicious of themselves, and not too assuming in matters of conscience and salvation. The extraordinary fervour of their minds, accompanied with uncommon bodily motions, and an excessive con­fidence and assurance, gains them great reputation a­mong the populace; who speak of them as men of GOD in distinction from all others, and too commonly heark­en to, and revere their dictates, as tho' they really were, as they pretend, immediately communicated to them from the DIVINE SPIRIT.

This is the nature of Enthusiasm, and this its opera­tion, in a less or greater degree, in all who are under the influence of it. 'Tis a kind of religious Phrenzy, and evidently discovers it self to be so, whenever it rises to any great height.

And much to be pitied are the persons who are seiz­ed with it. Our compassion commonly works towards those, who, while under distraction, fondly imagine themselves to be Kings and Emperors: And the like pity is really due to those, who, under the power of enthusiasm, fancy themselves to be prophets; inspired of God, and immediately called and commissioned by him to deliver his messages to the world: And tho' they should run into disorders, and act in a manner that cannot but be condemned, they should notwithstanding be treated with tenderness and lenity; and the rather, because they don't commonly act so much under the influence of a bad mind, as a deluded imagination. And who more worthy of christian pity than those, who, under the notion of serving GOD and the interest of religion, are filled with zeal, and exert themselves to the utmost, while all the time they are hurting and [Page 7] wounding the very cause they take so much pains to ad­vance. 'Tis really a pitiable case: And tho' the honesty of their intentions won't legitimate their bad actions, yet it very much alleviates their guilt: We should think as favourably of them as may be, and be dispos'd to judge with mercy, as we would hope to obtain mercy.

But I come

II In the second place, to point you to a rule by which you may judge of persons, whether they are enthusiasts, meer pretenders to the immediate guidance and influence of the SPIRIT. And this is, in general, a regard to the bible, an acknowledgment that the things therein contained are the commandments of GOD. This is the rule in the text. And 'tis an infallible rule of tryal in this matter: We need not fear judging amiss, while we keep closely to it.

'Tis true, it wont certainly follow, that a man, pre­tending to be a prophet, or spiritual, really is so, if he owns the bible, and receives the truths therein reveal­ed as the mind of GOD: But the conclusion, on the other hand, is clear and certain; if he pretends to be conducted by the SPIRIT, and disregards the scripture, pays no due reverence to the things there delivered as the commandments of GOD, he is a meer pretender, be his pretences ever so bold and confident, or made with ever so much seeming seriousness, gravity, or solem­nity.

And the reason of this is obvious; viz that the things contained in the scripture were wrote by holy men as they were moved by the HOLY GHOST: they were received from GOD, and committed to writing under his immediate, extraordinary influence and gui­dance. And the divine, ever-blessed SPIRIT is con­sistent with himself. He cannot be suppos'd to be the author of any private revelations that are contradictory to the public standing ones, which he has preserved in the world to this day. This would be to set the SPI­RIT of truth at variance with himself; than which a greater reproach can't be cast upon him. 'Tis there­fore as true, that those are enthusiastical, who pretend [Page 8] to the SPIRIT, and at the same time express a disregard to the scripture, as that the SPIRIT is the great revealer of the things therein declared to us. And we may de­pend upon the certainty of this conclusion. We have warrant to do so from the inspired Paul; and we have the more reason to rely upon the rule he has given us, as he has made it evident to the world, that he was a prophet, and spiritual, by signs and wonders which he did before the people, by the power of the SPIRIT of GOD.

But the rule in the text is yet more particular. It refers especially to the things wrote by the apostle PAUL, and which he wrote to the church of Corinth, to rectify the disorders that had crept in among them. And who­ever the person be, that pretends to be spiritual, to be under the extraordinary guidance of the SPIRIT, and yet acts in contradiction to what the apostle has here wrote, he vainly imagines himself to be under the spe­cial guidance of the SPIRIT; he is a downright enthu­siast.

And here suffer me to make particular mention of some of the things, the apostle has wrote in this Epistle, which, whoever will not acknowledge, in deed as well as word, to be the commandments of GOD, they are not guided by the SPIRIT, but vainly pretend to be so.

The first thing, in this kind, I would mention, is that which relates to Ministers; condemning an undue preference of one to another, the holding one in such admiration as to reflect disgrace on another. This was one of the disorders the Apostle takes notice of, as pre­vailing in the church of Corinth; and he is particular in his care to give check to this unchristian spirit, which had crumbled them into parties, and introduced among them faction and contention.

Now, whoever, under the pretence of being guided by the spirit, set up one minister in opposition to ano­ther glory in this minister to the throwing undue con­tempt on that, thereby obstructing his usefulness, and making way for strife and divisions, they are not really [Page 9] acted by the SPIRIT, whatever they may pretend. For they evidently contradict what the apostle has wrote upon this very head: And if he was inspired, the spirit they are influenced by, cannot be the SPIRIT of GOD.

Not that one minister may not be preferr'd to ano­ther; this is reasonable: But no minister ought to be regarded, as tho' he was the author of our faith; nor, let his gifts and graces be what they will, is he to be so esteemed, as that others must be neglected, or treated in an unbecoming manner. But I shall not enlarge here, having spoken fully to this point, in a Sermon you may, some of you, have in your hands.

Another thing the apostle is particular in writing up­on, is the commandment of charity. And this he de­clares to be a matter of such essential importance in true christianity, that if a man is really destitute of it, he is nothing in the sight of GOD: Nay, tho' his pretences, his attainments, his gifts, be ever so extraordinary or miraculous; still, if he is without charity he will cetainly be rejected of GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. This is beautifully represented in the three first verses of the 13th chapter of this Epistle, in some of the boldest figures. "Tho' I speak, says the apo­stle▪ with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tink­ling cymbal. And tho' I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and tho' I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And tho' I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and tho' I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me no­thing." As if the apostle had said, tho' a man had the languages of all nations, and could speak with the elo­quence of angels; tho', like an inspired prophet, he had understanding in the deep counsels of GOD, and knew even all things sacred and divine; tho' he had the faith of miracles, and could do impossibilities; tho' he had the zeal of a martyr, and should give his body to be burned; tho' he had a disposition to alms-giving, and should bestow upon the poor his whole substance; [Page 10] still, if he was without charity, "that charity which suffereth long, and is kind; that charity which envyeth not, vaunteth not it self, is not puffed up; that charity which behaveth not it self unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; that charity, in fine, which beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things"; I say, if he was without this charity, this love of his neighbour, these things would be all nothing; he would notwith­standing be out of favour with GOD, without any inte­rest in CHRIST▪ and in such circumstances, as that un­less there was a change in them, he would certainly perish.

This, in sum, is what the apostle has, in a distinct and peremptory manner, delivered concerning charity.

And in vain may any pretend to be under the ex­traordinary guidance of the SPIRIT, while in their practice they trample upon this law of christian love. Men may talk of their impulses and impressions, con­ceive of them as the call of GOD, and go about, as moved by them, from place to place, imagining they are sent of GOD, and immediately commissioned by him: But if they are censorious and uncharitable; if they harbour in their minds evil surmisings of their bre­thren; if they slander and reproach them; if they claim a rights to look into their hearts, make it their business to judge of their state, and proclaim them hy­pocrites, carnal unregenerate sinners, when at the same time they are visibly of a good conversation in CHRIST; I say, when this is the practice of any, they do not acknowledge what the inspired PAUL has here wrote as the commandment of GOD: They are not therefore acted by the same SPIRIT with which he spake; but are evidently under a spirit of delusion: And this is so obviously the case, that there is no reasonable room to doubt upon the matter.

Charity, my brethren, is the commandment of the gospel by way of eminence. 'Tis the grand mark by which christians are to distinguish themselves from all [Page 11] others. By this, says our SAVIOUR^*, shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love to one another: Yea, this is the grand criterion by which we are to judge, whither GOD dwelleth in us by his SPIRIT. If we love one another, GOD dwelleth in us ^‖. And in the following Verse, Hereby, i e. by our loving one another, we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his SPIRIT. To pretend therefore that we are led by the SPIRIT, and are un­der his extraordinary influence, when, in contradicti­on to the plain laws of JESUS CHRIST, revealed by the SPIRIT, we judge our brother, and set at naught our brother, and plead a right to do so, and are in a disposi­tion TO THANK GOD, THAT WE ARE ENABLED TO DO SO; there is not a more sure mark, in all the revelations of GOD, of a BAD HEART, or a DISTEM­PERED MIND. If any thing will evidence a man to be a prophet and spiritual, only in his own conceit, this must do it: And if this is not allow'd to be sufficient proof, there is no knowing, when a man is under the influence of enthusiastick heat and zeal.

Another thing the apostle bespeaks this church upon, is that self-conceit which appear'd among them in the exercise of spiritual gifts: And 'tis more than probable, there were those among them, who being vainly puffed up in their minds, behaved as tho' they were apostles, or prophets, or teachers; leaving their own station, and do­ing the work that was proper to others. It was to rectify such disorders, that the apostle, in the 12th chapter, addresses to them in that language, v. 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? The question carries with it it's own answer, and means the same thing, as when he affirms in the foregoing verse God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, and so on. 'Tis evident from what the apostle here writes, and indeed from the cur­rent strain of this whole chapter, that there is in the body of CHRIST, the Church, a distinction of members; some intended for one use, others for another; and that it would bring confusion into the body mystical, for one [Page 12] member to be employed in that service which is adapt­ed to another, and is its proper business.

'Tis not therefore the pretence of being moved by the SPIRIT, that will justify private christians in quit­ing their own proper station, to act in that which be­longs to another. Such a practice as this naturally tends to destroy that order, GOD has constituted in the church, and may be followed with mischiefs greater than we may be aware of.

'Tis indeed a powerful argument with many, in fa­vour of these persons, their pretending to impulses, and a [...] from GOD; together with their insatiable thirst to do good to souls. And 'tis owing to such pretences as these, that encouragement has been given to the rise of such numbers of [...]ay-exhorters and teachers, in one place and another, all over the land. But if 'tis one of the things w [...]e by the apostle as the commandment of GOD, that there should be officers in the church, an order of men to whom it should belong, as their proper, stated work, to exhort and [...]each, this cannot be the business of o­thers: And if any who think themselves to be spiri­tual, are under impressions to take upon them this mi­nistry, they may have reason to suspect, whether their impulses are any other than the workings of their own imaginations: And instead of being under any divine extraordinary influence, there are just grounds of fear, whether they are not acted from the vanity of their minds: Especially, if they are but beginners in religion; men of weak minds, babes in understanding; as is most commonly the ease. The apostle speaks of novices, as in danger of being lifted up with pride, and falling in­to the condemnation of the devil: And it is a seasonable caution to th [...]s kind of persons. They should study themselves more, and they will see less reason to think their disposition to exhort and teach to be from the SPIRIT OF GOD. And indeed, if the SPIRIT has bid men to abide in their own callings, 'tis not conceivable he should influence them to leave their callings: And if he has set a mark of disgrace upon busiy-bodies in other men's matters, 'tis impossible he should put men upon wa [...]ing about from house to house, speaking the things they ought not.

[Page 13]And it deserves particular consideration, whether the suffering, much more the encouraging WOMEN, yea, GIRLS to speak in the assemblies for religious worship, is not a plain breach of that commandment of the LORD^*, wherein it is said, Let your WOMEN keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak — It is a shame for WOMEN to speak in the church. After such an express constitution, designedly made to restrain WOMEN from speaking in the church, with what face can such a practice be pleaded for? They may pretend, they are moved by the SPIRIT, and such a tho't of themselves▪ may be encouraged by others; but if the apostle spake by the SPIRIT, when he delivered this commandment, they can't act by the SPIRIT when they break it. 'Tis a plain case, these FEMALE EXHORTERS are condemned by the apostle; and if 'tis the command­ment of the LORD, that they should not speak, they are spiritual only in their own tho'ts, while they attempt to do so.

The last thing I shall mention as written by the apo­stle, is that which obliges to a just decorum in speaking in the house of GOD. It was an extravagance these Co­rinthians had fallen into, their speaking many of them together, and upon different things, while in the same place of worship. How is it, brethren, says the apostle? When ye come together, every one hath a psalm; hath a doctrine; hath a tongue; hath a revelation; hath an in­terpretatien. It was this that introduced the confusion and noise, upon which the apostle declares, if an unbe­liever should come in among them, he would take them to be mad^†. And the commandment he gives them to put a stop to this disorder, is, that they should speak in course, one by one, and so as that things might be done to edifying ^‖.

And whoever the persons are, who will not acknow­ledge what the apostle has here said is the commandment of GOD, and act accordingly, are influenced by another [Page 14] spirit than that which moved in him, be their impressions or pre [...]ences what they will. The disorder of EXHOR­TING, and PRAYING, and SINGING, and LAUGHING, in the same house of worship, at one and the same time, is as great as was that, the apostle blames in the church of Corinth: And whatever the persons, guilty of such gross irregularity may imagine, and however they may plead their being under the influence of the SPIRIT, and mov'd by him, 'tis evidently a breach upon common or­der and decency; yea, a direct violation of the com­mandment of GOD, written on purpose to prevent such disorders: And to pretend the direction of the SPIRIT in such a flagrant instance of extravagant conduct, is to reproach the blessed SPIRIT, who is not, as the apostle's phrase is, the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

In these, and all other instances, let us compare men's pretences to the SPIRIT by the SCRIPTURE: And if their conduct is such as can't be reconcil'd with an ac­knowledgment of the things therein revealed, as the com­mandments of GOD, their pretences are vain, they are prophets and spiritual, only in their own proud imagina­tions. I proceed now to

III. The third thing, which is to caution you a­gainst giving way to enthusiastic impressions. And here much might be said,

I might warn you from the dishonour it reflects upon the SPIRIT of GOD. And perhaps none have more reproach'd the blessed SPIRIT, than men pretending to be under his extraordinary guidance and direction. The veryest fancies, the vainest imaginations, the strongest delusions, they have father'd on him. There is scarce any absurdity in principle, or irregularity in practice, but he has been made the patron of it. — And what a stone of stumbling has the wildness of En­thusiasm been to multitudes in the world? What pre­judices have been hereby excited in their minds against the very being of the SPIRIT? What temptations have been thrown in their way to dispute his OFFICE [Page 15] as the SANCTIFYER and COMFORTER of GOD's people? And how have they been over-come to disown HIS WORK, when it has been really wro't in the hearts of men?

I might also warn you from the damage it has done in the world. No greater mischiefs have arisen from any quarter. It is indeed the genuine source of infi­nite evil. POPERY it self han't been the mother of more and greater blasphemies and abominations. It has made strong attempts to destroy all property, to make all things common, wives as well as goods. — It has promoted faction and contention; filled the church oftentimes with confusion, and the state sometimes with general disorder. — It has, by its pretended spiritual interpretations, made void the most undoubted laws of GOD. It has laid aside the gospel sacraments as weak and carnal things; yea, this superior light within has, in the opinion of thousands, render'd the bible a useless dead letter. — It has made men fancy themselves to be prophets and apostles; yea, some have taken themselves to be CHRIST JESUS; yea, the blessed GOD himself. It has, in one word, been a pest to the church in all ages, as great an enemy to real and solid religion, as perhaps the grossest infidelity. ^*

I might go on and warn you from the danger of it to yourselves. If you should once come under the influ­ence of it, none can tell whither it would carry you. There is nothing so wild and frantick, but you may be re­concil'd to it. And if this shou'd be your case, your re­covery to a right mind would be one of the most difficult things in nature. There is no coming at a thorow-pac'd enthusiast. He is proof against every method of dealing with him. Would you apply to him from reason? That he esteems a carnal thing, and flees from it as from the most dangerous temptation. Would you rise higher, [Page 16] and speak to him from Scripture? It will be to as little purpose. For if he pays any regard to it, 'tis only as it falls in with his own pre-conceiv'd notions. He inter­prets the scripture by impulses and impressions, and sees no meaning in it, only as he explains it from his own fancy.—'Tis infinitely difficult convince a man grown giddy and conceited under the false notion, that the good SPIRIT teaches him every thing. His apprehended in­spiration sets him above all means of conviction. He ra­ther despises than hearkens to the most reasonable advices that can be given him.

But as the most suitable guard against the first tenden­cies towards enthusiasm, let me recommend to you the following words of counsel.

1. Get a true understanding of the proper work of the SPIRIT; and don't place it in those things wherein the gospel does not make it to consist. The work of the SPI­RIT is different now from what it was in the first days of christianity. Men were then favoured with the extra­ordinary presence of the SPIRIT. He came upon them in miraculous gifts and powers; as a spirit of prophecy, of knowledge, of revelation, of tongue, of miracles: But the SPIRIT is not now to be expected in these ways. His grand business lies in preparing men's minds for the grace of GOD, by true humiliation, from an apprehension of sin, and the necessity of a Saviour; then in working in them faith and repentance, and such a change as shall turn them from the power of sin and satan unto GOD; and in fine, by carrying on the good work he has begun in them; assisting them in duty, strengthening them against temp­tation, and in a word, preserving them blameless thro' faith unto salvation: And all this he does by the word and paayer, as the great means in the accomplishment of these purposes of mercy.

Herein, in general, consists the work of the SPIRIT. It does not lie in giving men private revelations, but in opening their minds to understand the publick ones con­tained in the scripture. It does not lie in sudden impul­ses and impressions, in immediate calls and extraordinary missions. Men mistake the business of the SPIRIT, if [Page 17] they understand by it such things as these. And 'tis, probably, from such unhappy mistakes, that they are at first betrayed into enthusiasm. Having a wrong notion of the work of the SPIRIT, 'tis no wonder if they take the uncommon sallies of their own minds for his influences.

You cannot, my brethren, be too well acquainted with what the bible makes the work of the HOLY GHOST, in the affair of salvation: And if you have upon your minds a clear and distinct understanding of this, it will be a powerful guard to you against all enthusiastical im­pressions.

2. Keep close to the Scripture, and admit of nothing for an impression of the SPIRIT, but what agrees with that unerring rule. Fix it in your minds as a truth you will invariably abide by, that the bible is the grand test, by which every thing in religion is to be tried; and that you can, at no time, nor in any instance, be under the guidance of the SPIRIT of GOD, much less his extraordinary guidance, if what you are led to, is in­consistent with the things there revealed, either in point of faith or practice. And let it be your care to com­pare the motions of your minds, and the workings of your imaginations and passions, with the rule of GOD's word. And see to it, that you be impartial in this matter: Don't make the rule bend to your pre-conceiv'd no­tions and inclinations; but repair to the bible, with a mind dispos'd, as much as may be, to know the truth as it lies nakedly and plainly in the scripture it self. And whatever you are moved to, reject the motion, e­steem it as nothing more than a vain fancy, if it puts you upon any method of thinking, or acting, that can't be evidently reconcil'd with the revelations of GOD in his word.

This adherence to the bible, my brethren, is one of the best preservatives against enthusiasm. If you will but express a due reverence to this book of GOD, making it the great rule of judgment, even in respect of the SPIRIT's influences and operations, you will not be in much danger of being led into delusion. Let that be your inquiry under all suppos'd impulses from the SPI­RIT, [Page 18] What salth the scripture? To the law, and to the testimony: If your impressions, and imagined spiritual motions agree not therewith, 'tis because there is no hand of the SPIRIT of GOD in them: They are only the workings of your own imaginations, or something worse; and must at once, without any more ado, be rejected as such.

3. Make use of the Reason and Understanding GOD has given you. This may be tho't an ill-advis'd direction, but 'tis as necessary as either of the former. Next to the Scripture, there is no greater enemy to enthusiasm, than reason. 'Tis indeed impossible a man shou'd be an enthusiast, who is in the just exercise of his understanding; and 'tis because men don't pay a due regard to the sober dictates of a well inform'd mind, that they are led aside by the delusions of a vain imagination. Be advised then to shew yourselves men, to make use of your reasonable powers; and not act as the horse or mule, as tho' you had no under­standing.

'Tis true, you must not go about to set up your own reason in opposition to revelation: Nor may you enter­tain a tho't of making reason your rule instead of scripture. The bible, as I said before, is the great rule of religion, the grand test in matters of salvation: But then, you must use your reason in order to understand the bible: Nor is there any other possible way, in which, as a reasonable creature, you shou'd come to an under­standing of it.

You are, it must be acknowledged, in a corrupt state. The fall has introduc'd great weakness into your rea­sonable nature. You can't be too sensible of this; nor of the danger you are in of making a wrong judgment, thro' prejudice, carelessness, and the undue influence of sin and lust. And to prevent this, you can't be too sol­licitous to get your nature sanctified: Nor can you de­pend too strongly upon the divine grace to assist you in your search after truth: And 'tis in the way of due dependance on GOD, and the influences of his SPIRIT, that I advise you to the use of your reason: And in this way, you must make use of it. How else will you [Page 19] know what is a revelation from GOD? What shou'd hinder your entertaining the same tho't of a pretended revelation, as of a real one, but your reason discovering the falshood of the one, and the truth of the other? And when in the enjoyment of an undoubted revela­tion from GOD, as in the case of the scripture, How will you understand its meaning, if you throw by your reason? How will you determine, that this, and not that, is its true sense, in this and the other place? Nay, if no reasoning is to be made use of, are not all the senses that can be put on scripture equally proper? Yea, may not the most contrary senses be receiv'd at the same time since reason only can point out the incon­sistency between them? And what will be sufficient to guard you against the most monstrous extravagan­cies, in principle as well as practice, if you give up your understandings? What have you left, in this case, to be a check to the wantoness of your imaginations? What shou'd hinder your following every idle fancy, 'till you have lost yourselves in the wilds of falshood and inconsistency?

You may, it is true, misuse your reason: And this is a consideration that shou'd put you upon a due care, that you may use it well; but no argument why you shou'd not use it at all: And indeed, if you shou'd throw by your reason as a useless thing, you would at once put your selves in the way of all manner of de­lusion.

But, it may be, you will say, you have committed yourselves to the guidance of the SPIRIT; which is the best preservative. Herein you have done well; no­thing can be objected against this method of conduct: Only take heed of mistakes, touching the SPIRIT's guidance. Let me enquire of you, how is it the SPIRIT preserves from delusion? Is it not by opening the understanding, and enabling the man, in the due use of his reason, to perceive the truth of the things of GOD and religion? Most certainly: And, if you think of being led by the SPIRIT without understanding, or in opposition to it, you deceive yourselves. The SPIRIT of GOD deals with men as reasonable creatures: And [Page 20] they ought to deal with themselves in like manner And while they do thus, making is wise and good use of the understanding, GOD has given them, they will take a proper means to prevent their falling into de­lusions; nor will there be much danger of their being led aside by enthusiastic heat and imagination.

4. You must not lay too great stress upon the work­ings of your passions and affections. These will be exci­ted, in a less or greater degree, in the business of religion: And 'tis proper they shou'd. The passions, when suitably mov'd, tend mightily to awaken the reasonable powers, and put them upon a lively and vi­gorous exercise. And this is their proper use: And when address'd to, and excited to this purpose, they may be of good service: whereas we shall mistake the right use of the passions, if we place our religion only or chiefly, in the heat and fervour of them. The soul is the man: And unless the reasonable nature is suitably wro't upon, the understanding enlightned, the judgment convinc'd, the will perswaded, and the mind intirely chang'd, it will avail but to little purpose; tho' the pas­sions shou'd be set all in a blaze. This therefore you shou'd be most concern'd about. And if while you are sollicitous that you may be in transports of affecti­on, you neglect your more noble part, your reason and judgment, you will be in great danger of being carried away by your imaginations. This indeed leads directly to Enthusiasm: And you will in vain, endeavour to pre­serve yourselves from the influence of it, if you a'nt duly careful to keep your passions in their proper place, under the government of a well inform'd understanding. While the passions are uppermost, and bear the chief sway over a man, he is in an unsafe state: None knows what he may be bro't to. You can't therefore be too careful to keep your passions under the regimen of a sober judgment. 'Tis indeed a matter of necessity, as you would not be led aside by delusion and fancy.

5. In the last place here, you must not forget to go to GOD by prayer. This is a duty in all cases, but in none more than the present. If left to your­selves, your own wisdom and strength, you will be in­sufficient [Page 21] for your own security; perpetually in danger from your imaginations, as well as the other enemies of your souls. You can't be too sensible of this; nor can you, from a sense of it, apply with too much importu­nity to the FATHER of mercies, to take pity upon you, and send you such a supply of grace as is needful for you. You must not indeed think, that your duty lies in the business of prayer, and nothing else. You must use your own endeavours, neglect nothing that may prove a guard to you: But together with the use of o­ther means, you must make known your request to GOD by prayer and supplication. You must daily commit the keeping of your soul to him; and this you must particularly be careful to do in times of more special hazard; humbly hoping in GOD to be your help: And if he shall please to undertake for you, no delusion shall ever have power over you, to seduce you; but, posses­sing a sound mind, you shall go on in the uniform, steady service of your maker and generation, till of the mercy of GOD, thro' the merits of the REDEEMER, you are crowned with eternal life.

But I shall now draw towards a close, by making some suitable application of what has been said, And,

1. Let us beware of charging GOD foolishly, from what we have heard of the nature, and influence of en­thusiasm. This may appear a dark article in GOD's government of the world; but it stands upon the same foot with his permission of other evils, whether natural or moral. And, if we shou'd not be able to see perfect­ly into the reason of this dispensation, we shou'd ra­ther attribute it to our own ignorance, than reply a­gainst GOD. We may assure ourselves, a wise, and good, and holy GOD, would not have suffered it thus to be, if there were not some great and valuable ends to be hereby answered.

Greater advantages may, in the end, accrue to true religion, by the sufferance of an enthusiastic spirit, and the prevalence of it, at certain times, than we may be capable of discerning at present.

[Page 22]It may furnish both opportunity and occasion for the trial of those, who call themselves christians; whe­ther they have just notions of religion, and courage and faithfulness to stand up for real truths, against meer imaginary ones.—It may serve as a foil to set off the beauty and glory of true, genuine christianity.—It may tend to the encouragement of reasonable and solid re­ligion; and, in the run of things, recommend it, in the most effectual manner, to men's choice and practice.— In a word, It may put men upon a more thorough ex­amination into the grounds of the christian religion, and be the means of their being, more generally, esta­blished in its truth, upon the best and most reasonable evidence.

These are some of the ends capable of being answer­ed by the permission of a spirit of enthusiasm, and the prevalence of it, for a while. And as to the persons themselves led aside by it, it is, in the same way to be reconcil'd with the general goodness of GOD towards men, as in the case of distraction, and the evil ef­fects consequent theruepon. The persons, heated with enthusiastic imaginations, are either, in a faulty sense, accessary to this unhappy turn of mind, or they are not: If the latter, they may depend upon the pity and mercy of GOD, notwithstanding the extravagancies they may run into; yea, if they are good men, as is, doubtless, sometimes the case, it may be hoped, that this evil which has happened to them, will, after the manner of other sufferings, work together for good to them: But if thro' the pride of their hearts, a vain­glorious temper, accompanied with rashness and arro­gance, or the like, they are really accessary to their own delusion, and mad conduct following therefrom, let them not think to cast the blame on GOD: They do but reap the fruit of what they themselves have sown. And if they shou'd be totally delivered up, as has sometimes been the case, to the devices of their own hearts, and the lying inspirations of wicked spirits, they can fault no body but themselves. GOD is just while he makes them an example for the warning of others, lest they also be given up to believe lies. And he is good as well as just; good to others, in put­ting them hereby upon their guard, tho' he is severe towards them.

[Page 23]2. Let none, from what has been offered, entertain prejudices in their minds against the operations of the SPIRIT. There is such a thing as his influence upon the hearts of men. No consistent sense can be put upon a great part of the bible, unless this be acknow­ledged for a truth: Nor is it any objection against its being so, that there has been a great deal of enthusiasm in the world, many who have mistaken the motions of their own passions for divine operations. This, it must be acknowledged, shou'd make us cautious; put­ting us upon a careful examination of whatever offers itself, as a communication from the SPIRIT, that we deceive not ourselves: But its no argument, why we shou'd conceive a slighty tho't, either of the SPIRIT, or his influences, really made upon the minds of men. Much less is it a just ground of exception against the SPIRIT's operations, that they may be counterfeited; that men may make an appearance, as if they were acted by the SPIRIT, when, all the while, they have no o­ther view in their pretences, but to serve themselves. This has often been the case; and points it out as a matter of necessity, that we take heed to ourselves, if we would not be impos'd upon by a fair shew, and good words: But at the same time, 'tis no reason, why we shou'd think the worse of the blessed SPIRIT, or of those influences that are really his.

Let us be upon our guard as to this matter. Many, from what they have seen or heard of the strange con­duct of men, pretending to be under divine impressions, have had their minds insensibly leaven'd with prejudices against the things of the SPIRIT. O let it be our care, that we be not thus wro't upon! And the rather, least it shou'd prove the ruin of our souls. This, perhaps, we may not be afraid of: But the danger is great, if we take up wrong notions of the SPIRIT, or encourage an unbecomming tho't of his influences in the business of salvation, least we shou'd grieve the good SPI­RIT, and he shou'd leave us to perish in a state of a­lianation from GOD, and true holiness.

'Tis worthy our particular remark, it is by the pow­erful operation of the holy SPIRIT on the hearts of [Page 24] men, that they are chang'd from the love and prac­tice of sin, to the love and practice of holiness; and have those tempers form'd in them, whereby they are made meet for the glory to be hereafter revealed: Nor can this be done, in any way, without the spe­cial influence of the blessed SPIRIT.

And is it likely, He shou'd be present with men to such gracious purposes, if they suffer their minds to be impressed with contemptuous tho'ts of him? If they begin to call in question his office, as the great dis­penser of divine grace, or look upon his operations as all delusion and imagination.

We must have upon our minds a just tho't of the good SPIRIT, and of his influences. This is a matter of necessity. O let us encourage a steady faith in him, as that glorious person, by whom, and by whom a­lone, we can be prepared in this world, for happiness in the world that is come. And let nothing, no wild­ness of enthusiasm, ever be also to tempt us to call this in question. And let us so believe in the HOLY GHOST, as to put ourselves under his guidance; and let our dependance be on him for grace to help us in every time of need.

Only let us look to it, that we take no impressions for his but such as really are so: And let us not be satisfied, 'till we experience within ourselves the real effects of the SPIRIT's operations; such as are com­mon to all that are in CHRIST JESUS; and always have been, and always will be, accompanied with a holy frame of soul, and a conversation becoming the Gos­pel.

3. Let not any think ill of religion, because of the ill representation that is made of it by enthusiasts. There may be danger of this; especially, in regard of those who have not upon their minds a serious sense of GOD and the things of another world. They may be ready to judge of religion from the copy gi­ven them of it, by those who are too much led by their fancies; and to condemn it, in the gross, as a [Page 25] wild, imaginary, inconsistent thing. But this is to judge too hastily and rashly. Religion ought not to suffer in the opinion of any, because of the imprudencies or extra­vagancies of those, who call themselves the friends of it. Any thing may be abused: Nor is there any thing but has actually been abused. And why shou'd any think the worse of religion, because some who make more than ordinary pretences to it, set it forth in an ugly light by their conduct relative to it?

There is such a thing as real religion, let the conduct of men be what it will; and 'tis, in it's nature, a sober, calm, reasonable thing: Nor is it an objection of any weight against the sobriety or reasonableness of it, that there have been enthusiasts, who have acted as tho' it was a wild, imaginary business. We should not make our estimate of religion as exhibited in the behaviour of men of a fanciful mind; to be sure, we should not take up an ill opinion of it, because in the example they give of it, it don't appear so amiable as we might expect. This is unfair. We shou'd rather judge of it from the conduct of men of a sound judgment; whose lives have been such a uniform, beautiful transcript of that which is just and good, that we can't but think well of religion, as display'd in their example.

But however religion may appear as viewed in the lives, even of the best men, 'tis a lovely thing, as requir­ed by GOD, and pourtrayed in the bible. We shou'd take our sentiments of it from this book of GOD; and this, in the calm and sober exercise of our understandings: And if we view it, as 'tis here delineated, we can't but ap­prove of it, the doctrines it teaches, and the duties it re­quires, whether they relate to GOD, our selves, or our neighbour; they are all so reasonable in themselves, and worthy of the GOD, the stamp of whose authority they bear.

Let us fetch our notions of religion from the scripture: And if men, in their practice, set it in a disadvantageous light, let us be upon our guard, that we don't take up prejudices against it. This will blind our eyes, and may, by degrees, prepare the way to our throwing off all con­cern [Page 26] about religion; yea, we may be bro't to treat e­ven with contempt; than which, nothing can be more dangerous, or put our salvation to a greater risque.

4. Let us esteem those as friends to religion, and not enemies, who warn us of the danger of enthusiasm, and would put us upon our guard, that we be not led aside by it. As the times are, they run the hazard of being call'd enemies to the holy SPIRIT, and may expect to be ill-spo­ken of by many, and loaded with names of reproach: But they are notwithstanding the best friends to religion; and it may be, it will more and more appear, that they have all along been so. They have been stigmatised as OPPOSERS of the WORK OF GOD; but 'tis a great mer­cy of GOD, there have been such OPPOSERS: This land had, in all probability, been over-run with confusion and distraction, if they had acted under the influence of the same heat and zeal, which some others have been famous for.

'Tis really best, people shou'd know there is such a thing as enthusiasm, and that it has been, in all ages, one of the most dangerous enemies to the church of GOD, and has done a world of mischief: And 'tis a kindness to them to be warn'd against it, and directed to the proper me­thods to be preserved from it. 'Tis indeed, one of the best ways of doing service to real religion, to distinguish it from that which is imaginary: Nor shou'd ministers be discouraged from endeavouring this, tho' they shou'd be ill-tho't, or evil-spoken of. They shou'd beware of be­ing too much under the influence of that fear of man, which bringeth a snare; which is evidently the case, where they are either silent, or dare not speak out faith­fully and plainly, lest they shou'd be called PHARISEES or HYPOCRITES, and charged with LEADING SOULS TO THE DEVIL. 'Tis a small matter to be thus judged and reviled; and we shou'd be above being affrighted from duty by this, which is nothing more than the breath of poor, ignorant, frail man.

There is, I doubt not, a great deal of real, substantial religion in the land. The SPIRIT of GOD has wro't ef­fectually on the hearts of many, from one time to another: [Page 27] And I make no question he has done so of late, in more numerous instances, it may be, than usual. But this, notwithstanding, there is, without dispute, a spirit of en­thusiasm, appearing in one place and another. There are those, who make great pretences to the SPIRIT, who are carried away with their imaginations: And some, it may be, take themselves to be immediately and wonder­fully conducted by him; while they are led only by their own fancies.

Thus it has been in other parts of the world. Enthusi­asm, in all the wildness, and fury, and extravagance of it, has been among them, and sometimes had a most dreadfully extensive spread. Ten thousand wild enthusiasts have appear'd in arms, at the same time; and this too, in defence of gross opinions, as well as enormous actions. The first discovery therefore of such a spirit, unless due care is taken to give check to its growth and progress, is much to be feared; for there is no knowing, how high it may rise, nor what it may end in.—

The good LORD give us all wisdom; and courage, and conduct, in such a Day as this! And may both ministers and people behave after such a manner, as that religion may not suffer; but in the end, gain advantage, and be still more universally established.

And, may that grace of GOD, which has appeared to all men, bringing salvation, teach us effectually, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, and righteously, and godlily in the world: so may we look with comfort for the appearing of our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST: And when he shall appear in the glory of his FATHER, and with his holy angels, we also shall appear with him, and go away into everlasting life: Which GOD, of his infinite mercy grant may be the portion of us all; for the sake of CHRIST JESUS.

AMEN.