Poor self-deceivers
Ah, poor self-deceivers! Christians you are not. But you are enthusiasts in a high degree. Physicians, heal yourselves (Luke 4:23). But first, know your disease: your whole life is enthusiasm, as being all suitable to the imagination that you have received that grace of God which you have not. In consequence of this grand mistake, you blunder on day by day, speaking and acting under a character which does in no way belong to you. Hence arises that palpable, glaring inconsistency that runs through your whole behavior, which is an awkward mixture of real heathenism and imaginary Christianity. Yet still, as you have so vast a majority on your side, you will always carry it by mere dint of numbers, that you are the only men in your senses and all are lunatics who are not as you are. But this alters not the nature of things. In the sight of God and his holy angels, yes, and all the children of God on earth, you are mere madmen, mere enthusiasts all. Are you not? Are you not walking in a vain shadow, a shadow of religion, a shadow of happiness? Are you not still disquieting yourselves in vain (Psalm 39:6), with misfortunes as imaginary as your happiness or religion? Do you not fancy yourselves great or good? Very knowing, and very wise! How long? Perhaps until death brings you back to your senses, to bewail your folly forever and ever!
1771 text
17. *Ah poor self-deceivers! Christians ye are not. But you are Enthusiasts in a high degree. Physicians, heal yourselves. But first, know your disease: your whole life is Enthusiasm: as being all suitable to the imagination, that you have received that grace of God which you have not. In consequence of this grand mistake, you blunder on, day by day, speaking and acting under a character, which does in no wise belong to you. Hence arises that palpable, glaring inconsistency, that runs thro’ your whole behaviour: which is an aukward mixture of real Heathenism and imaginary Christianity. Yet still, as you have so vast a majority on your side, you will always carry it by mere dint of numbers, “That you are the only men in your senses, and all are lunaticks who are not as you are.” But this alters not the nature of things. In the sight of God and his holy angels, yea, and all the children of God upon earth, you are mere madmen, mere Enthusiasts all. Are you not? Are you not walking in a vain shadow, a shadow of religion, a shadow of happiness? Are you not still disquieting yourselves in vain? With misfortunes as imaginary as your happiness or religion? Do you not fancy yourselves great or good? Very knowing, and very wise! How long? Perhaps till death brings you back to your senses; to bewail your folly for ever and ever!
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 37 in the 1771 Works. Acts 26:24.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.