True grace, distinguished from the experience of devils; in a sermon, preached before the…

Here, it may be, some will be ready to say, I have something besides all these Things, which have been mentioned; I have Things which the Devils have not, even Love and Joy.

I answer, you may have something besides the Experiences of Devils, and yet, nothing beyond them. Tho' the Experience be different, yet it may not be owing to any different Principle, but only the different Circumstances, under which these Principles are exercised. The Principles, from whence the forementioned Things in Devils and damned Men do arise, are these two, natural Understanding, and Self-Love. 'Tis from natural Understanding or Reason, that they have such a Degree of Knowledge in divine Things, and such a Belief of them. 'Tis from these Principles of natural Understanding and Self-Love, as exercised about their own Dispositions and Actions, and GOD as their Judge, that they have natural Conscience; and have such Convictions of Conscience, as have been spoken of. 'Tis from these Principles, that they have such a Sense of the Importance of the Things of Religion, and the eternal World, and such Longings after Salvation. 'Tis for the joint Exercise of these two Principles, that they are so sensible of the awful Majesty of GOD, and of all the Attributes of the divine Nature, and so greatly affected with them. And it is from these Principles, joined with external Sense, the Wicked, at the Day of Judgment, will have so great an Apprehension of, and will be so greatly affected by the external Glory of ⟨p. 32⟩CHRIST and his Saints. And that you have a Kind of Love or Gratitude and Joy, which Devils and damned Men have not, may possibly not arise from any other Principles in your Heart, different from these two, but only from these Principles, as exercised in different Circumstances. As for Instance; your being a Subject of the restraining Grace of GOD, and being under Circumstances of Hope, and the Receipt of Mercy. The natural Understanding and Self-love of Devils, possibly might affect them in the same Manner, if they were in the same Circumstances. If your Love to GOD, has it's first Source from Nothing else than a supposed immediate divine Witness, or any other supposed Evidence, that CHRIST died for you in particular, and that GOD loves you; it springs from no higher Principles than Self-love; which is a Principle that reigns in the Hearts of Devils. Self-love is sufficient, without Grace, to cause Men to love those that love them, or that they imagine love them, and make much of them;