For sinners also love those that love them. And would not the hearts of devils be filled with great joy, if they, by any means, should take up a confident persuasion that GOD had pardoned ⟨p. 36⟩them, and was become their friend, and that they should be delivered from that wrath which they now are in trembling expectation of. If the Devils go so far as you have heard, even in their circumstances, being totally cast off, and given up to unrestrained wickedness, being without hope, knowing that GOD is, and ever will be their enemy, they suffering his wrath without mercy: How far may we reasonably suppose they might go, in imitation of grace and pious experience, if they had the same degree of knowledge, as clear views, and as strong conviction, under circumstances of hope, and offers of mercy; and being the subjects of common grace, restraining their corruptions, and assisting and exciting the natural principles of reason, conscience, &c. Such things as Devils are the subjects of; such great conviction of conscience; such a sense of the importance of eternal things; such affecting views of the awful majesty, greatness, power, holiness, justice, and truth of GOD, and such a sense of his great grace to the saints, if they, or any thing like 'em, should be in the heart of a sinner, in this world; at the same time that he, from some strong impression on his imagination, of CHRIST appearing to him, or sweet words spoken to him, or by some other means, has suddenly, after great terrors, imbibed a strong confidence, that now, this great GOD, is his friend and father, has released him from all the misery he feared, and has promised him eternal happiness: I say, such things would, doubtless, vastly heighten his ecstasy of joy, and raise the exercise of natural gratitude, (that principle from whence sinners love those that love them) and would occasion a great imitation of many graces, in strong exercises. Is it any wonder then, that multitudes under such a sort of affection, are deceived? Especially when they have Devils to help forward the delusion whose great subtlety, has chiefly been exercised in deceiving mankind, through all past generations.
For sinners also love those that love them. And would not the hearts of devils be fill'd with great joy, if they, by any means, should take up a confident persuasion that GOD had pardon'd ⟨p. 36⟩them, and was become their friend, and that they should be delivered from that wrath which they now are in trembling expectation of. If the Devils go so far as you have heard, even in their circumstances, being totally cast off, and given up to unrestrain'd wickedness, being without hope, knowing that GOD is, and ever will be their enemy, they suffering his wrath without mercy: How far may we reasonably suppose they might go, in imitation of grace and pious experience, if they had the same degree of knowledge, as clear views, and as strong conviction, under circumstances of hope, and offers of mercy; and being the subjects of common grace, restraining their corruptions, and assisting and exciting the natural principles of reason, conscience, &c. Such things as Devils are the subjects of; such great conviction of conscience; such a sense of the importance of eternal things; such affecting views of the awful majecty, greatness, power, holiness, justice, and truth of GOD, and such a sense of his great grace to the saints, if they, or any thing like 'em, should be in the heart of a sinner, in this world; at the same time that he, from some strong impression on his imagination, of CHRIST appearing to him, or sweet words spoken to him, or by some other means, has suddenly, after great terrors, imbibed a strong confidence, that now, this great GOD, is his friend and father, has released him from all the misery he feared, and has promised him eternal happiness: I say, such things would, doubtless, vastly heighten his extasy of joy, and raise the exercise of natural gratitude, (that principle from whence sinners love those that love them) and would occasion a great imitation of many graces, in strong exercises. Is it any wonder then, that multitudes under such a sort of affection, are deceived? Especially when they have Devils to help forward the delusion whose great subtilty, has chiefly been exercised in deceiving mankind, through all past generations.
