No fourth sort
It may be expected that I should mention what some have accounted a fourth sort of enthusiasm, namely, imagining those things to be owing to the providence of God which are not owing to it. But I doubt. I know not what things they are which are not owing to the providence of God, in ordering or at least in governing which this is not either directly or remotely concerned. I except nothing but sin; and even in the sins of others, I see the providence of God toward me. I do not say his general providence, for this I take to be a sounding word which means just nothing. And if there is a particular providence, it must extend to all persons and all things. So our Lord understood it, or he could never have said, Even the hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30), and, Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the will of your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:29). But if it is so, if God presides over the whole universe as over every single person, and over every single person as over the whole universe, what is it (except only our own sins) which we are not to ascribe to the providence of God? So that I cannot apprehend there is any room here for the charge of enthusiasm.
1771 text
28. *It may be expected that I should mention what some have accounted, a fourth sort of Enthusiasm, namely, The imagining those things to be owing to the providence of God, which are not owing thereto. But I doubt. I know not what things they are, which are not owing to the providence of God: in ordering, or, at least, in governing of which, this is not either directly or remotely concerned, I except nothing but sin: and even in the sins of others, I see the providence of God to me. I do not say, his general providence; for this I take to be a sounding word, which means just nothing. And if there be a particular providence, it must extend to all persons and all things. So our Lord understood it, or he could never have said, Even the hairs of your head are all numbred. And, Not a sparrow falleth to the ground, without the will of your Father which is in heaven. But if it be so, if God presides universis tanquam singulis, et singulis tanquam universis; over the whole universe as over every single person, over every single person as over the whole universe: what is it (except only our own sins) which we are not to ascribe to the providence of God? So that I cannot apprehend, there is any room here, for the charge of Enthusiasm.
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.