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its preservation ; and this is seen more particularly , when he embarks in undertakings , sometimes wild and almost impracticable , for its honour and deliverance . There is a religious enthusiasm
also , pure , sublime , and animating , 'which good men may frequently feel , sometimes in the acts of devotion , arid sometimes in their meditation on the Supreme Being , and his infinite goodness and love ; and on the disinterested love , and admirable character of Jesus
Christ . " But , then , there is another species of religious enthusiasm , of a baser origin , that runs counter to common scn ^ e - , that is not authorised by scripture ; to which men of weak minds are liable , which crafty men feign , and which interested men foment and encourage . It is this ,
which produces those wild feelings or expressions of feelings , which outrage all reason and experience . Men under . the influence of this spirit , pretend to feel , sometimes horrors most dreadful , and at othci times joys unutterable . But they carry this still Tarther . They believe , or affect to believe , that they
receive , also , communications from heaven and illuminations from above ; and proceeding to the utmost height of extravagance , they feel assured , that their sins are pardoned , and that their eternal happiness is secure . Now these are not harmless delusions ; they ought to be combated , on account of the mischief
• which they create , and the disgrace which they inflict on religion . 4 3 . There is no principle , which can be so little depended upon , as a man ' s inward feelings ; and in nothing docs he efcpose himself so much to every kind pf delusion . The feelings are greatly
influenced by the animal spirits , by the powers of the imagination , and by a state of health and of sickness . When we trust , then , to such uncertain gui <^ s , we Jay ourselves open to the arts of every impostor . J ^ oW difficult is it , with people of weait minds to dist nguish bctweer >
the suggestions of a heated imagination , worlceq up by the enthusiast to the highest pit eh of ardour ajjjd the suggestion of . fche sjpir ^ t of Qoi . Weak men ajre cisilv wroug ht upon and deluded , and fniy aW soon misled by the bold and confident assertions of Hie hypocrite or impostor . Various means * re employed \ o accomplish f heir purpose /; aojnc&p cs *** yJ *> bc ^ ^ i \ h icxj 9 r \ j * & ii other times seduced py hope * . Witl > such things they are plied incessantly
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from the moment they are caught , tilf they be com pie rely secured . The imagination , when once heated , by exercise * of this nature , is never permitted to cool . Any suggestions ^ by such means and at such times s may be produced and
supported , whilst all these inward feeling * are nothing more ihan the delusions of an over-heated brain . It is melancholy to have to combat such principles , in an age , which boasts to be an age of reason ; and in a country where * vv c have the freest exercise of this blessing .
" From the general principles of Christ * s religion , * ¦ * e can find no authority for such delusions ; and in the general mass of those , who maintain such principles , we see no improvement in their morals , to justify such exrravagant
pretensions . The allowing slso of such principles is opening a rwide door for every thing that is wild and extravagant , and is exposing the religion of Christ . to the scorn of the unbeliever , by divesting it of every thing that is ratonal .
" Upon this system , we can find no principle , either to judge of ourselves , or of others . The simplicity and plainness of the Christian system , are some of its distinguishing excellencies ; by our fruits , according to the declaration of <» ur Lord , are we to be known ; whilst the
extravagancies produced oy such feelings , should be a sufficient warning to mankind , not to rely uj * bn them By these the enthusiast supports all his pretensions , Swedenborgh , a man of education and rank , under the influence of such feelings , relate ^ with the greatest gravity ., his journey to the highest hear
ven and so infectious is such influence , that he has been followed , in his religious principles by some men of ingenuity and learning ; and his writings , full of absurdities , have been translated , and have had a very extensive circulation . The ingenious and learned Mr . Wesley ,
in his Journals , gives many relations pf his own feelings , and of the feelings of others , sometime * manifested in trifles , and sometimes in matters of some importance , but generally containing matter and circumstances so absurd , as should be sufficient to discountenance all
confidence m principles so wild and ex * travagant . . 4 . The following reflections must naturall y suggest themselves to every man of reason , v ho seriously considers the whole of this process " In the first place , , what must be the spiritual pride and presumption mf those
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1 78 Review . — Watson * * Plain Statement .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1812, page 178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1746/page/42/
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