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copyright by Cornell University
Library 1994.A SERMON
ON
CONTAINING A
CAUTION TO THE CHURCH\
IN THE
Ttfiueteetrtf) €mtnvv!f
TO BEWARE OP
THE DEVICES OF SATAN
IN CORRUPTING THEM.
BY SETH WILLISTON,
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Churchy Durhams N. Y.
NEW-TTORK.
PRINTED BY D. FANSHAW,
AT THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY HOUSE;,
No* 144 Nassau-street.
1827.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I have examined Mr. Williston’s manuscript Sermon on £ Corin-
thians, ii. 11, Considering the interesting crisis, at which we have ar-
rived in the history of Revivals of Religion, which were probably never,
in our day, more pure and powerful in some places, and it is feared are
fast losing this character in others ; and by comparing the sentiments
of the Sermon with facts, which have recently transpired in some parts
of our country, I think its publication would tend to advance the Re-
deemer’s kingdom, by administering a seasonable caution, both to Mi-
nisters and their Churches.
ASAHEL NETTLETON.
Having heard the substance of the Sermon referred to in the above
recommendation, we concur in the opinion, that the present crisis is such
as to make it desirable it should be published.
DAVID PORTER.
GARDINER SPRING.A SERMON,
&c.
II CORINTHIANS, ii. 11.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are
not ignorant of his devices.
Soon after the creation of man, Satan drew him off from
his allegiance to his Creator and rightful Sovereign ; and re-
bellion has ever since prevailed in the earth. But in view of
the future advent of the Seed, promised to the woman, a king-
dom of reconciliation was immediately set up, which was de-
signed to counteract the spirit of rebellion, and ultimately to
bring the earth back to the service of the Creator. This king-
dom, which, in the New Testament, is most commonly distin-
guished by the name of the Churchy has lived through all the
past ages of the world, but not without exciting the most
violent opposition. Satan, with all his associates, has with-
stood it, and has been continually seeking to get some advan-
tage of it. The inspired Apostle was not ignorant of this fact;
and it furnished him with an argument to stimulate his brethren
to a strict adherence to the spirit of their religion, and more
particularly, to observe a propriety of conduct in a certain
specified case. The argument which he used to stir up his
brethren to circumspection, in a particular case, suggests in-
struction of general application, which will never cease to be
necessary to the Church until her warfare is accomplished, and
she is for ever placed out of the reach of the power of her
subtle adversary.
The instruction contained in the text naturally presents it-
self under three divisions. It clearly teaches, I. That Satan
is ready to get every possible advantage of the Church,4
A SERMON
II. That to get this advantage he employs a variety of subtle
devices. III. To prevent his success against us, that it is of
great importance we should not be ignorant of his devices.
I. It is evidently implied in the text, that Satan stands ready
to get every possible advantage of the Church of Christ.
Satan is the first apostate. He has been instrumental in
bringing about all the other apostacies which have taken place.
His character, as a fallen angel, has never been changed, and
it never will be. His intellectual powers were great at his first
creation, and have had several thousand years in which to ex-
pand. His depravity is commensurate with the powers of his
mind. He hates God with all his heart, and soul, and mind,
and strength ; and wishes every other creature in the universe
would do the same.
Satan’s enmity to Christ and his work of redeeming sinners,
is very great. It distresses him more exceedingly to see apos-
tates return to God, than to see holy creatures retain their
loyalty. It pains him to see those of his own character heartily
condemn themselves for ever having possessed such a charac-
ter; and accept the punishment of their iniquity, by acknow-
ledging their desert of eternal destruction. He cannot bear the
sight, when those, who were in the same condemnation with
himself, experience a pardon of their sins, and become restored
to the divine favour, with a promise of an unceasing continuance
of that favour. It greatly adds to the torment of this fallen spirit,
to know that God is glorified in the recovery and eternal salva-
tion of those, whom he has once led captive at his will. The
songs of praise, which, on this occasion, are sung by those
angels around the throne who kept their first estate, serve to
augment his misery. This proud apostate cannot bear to wit-
ness that honor which is conferred on the Son of Man, by the
enlargement and prosperity of his Church. What can be more
mortifying to the pride of his heart, than to see the Redeemer
triumphing over him, by means of those ignominious sufferings
on the cross, by which he had calculated to cover the ChurchON REVIVALS.
5
with shame and everlasting contempt ? He therefore exerts all
his talents, and stirs up all his associates, to oppose the progress
of the Redeemer’s kingdom. The prosperity of this kingdom
is promoted by the acquisition of new subjects; nor is it less
promoted by improving the character of those already acquired 5
therefore the prince of darkness makes every effort to prevent
both the conversion of sinners and the sanctification of saints.
Do any ask for scriptural proof, that Satan is disposed to
get every possible advantage of the Church—such proof is
at hand. The curse denounced on the serpent, Gen. iii. 15,
evidently supposes the devil to be a confirmed enemy both to
Christ and his Church. “ I will put enmity between thee and
the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed.” At the time
when God was redeeming his Church from their captivity in
Babylon, the Prophet Zechariah had a representation of
Joshua the High Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord,
and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him ; that is, to
do every thing in his power to prevent the Church from rising
out of its state of depression. Satan sought to get advantage
of Christ himself, which serves to show his disposition toward
the Church, which is his body, the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all. When, in the last chapter of the Epistle to the
Ephesians, Christians are exhorted to put on the whole armor
of God, it is to enable them to withstand the wiles of the devil.
If the devil were not a dangerous foe, we should not, with
such solemnity, have been commanded to arm against him.
His determination to make every possible effort to ruin the
Church, and prevent the conversion of the impenitent, is very
clearly taught by the Apostle Peter, when he says, “ Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” The
thing being so evident, that Satan is ready to get every possible
advantage of the Church, I shall dwell no longer on this head,
but proceed,
II. To show what measures he pursues to get this advantage;6
A SERMON
namely, by making use of a variety of subtle devices. The
text evidently supposes that it is by means of his devices he
gets advantage of the Church. It is not a single device which
is employed by our adversary. The apostle tells us of his de-
vices ; for he has many, not in number only, but also in kind.
They are multiform and contradictory ; for Satan Jias no re-
gard to consistency, any farther than he deems it necessary, to
support his unholy dominion. He is a liar and the father of
lies. By guile and falsehood he succeeded in first setting up
his kingdom in our world, and he has ever sought to maintain it
by similar means. I will now refer you to a few passages, which
unite with the text in leading^us to the conclusion that Satan
gets advantage of us chiefly by stratagem. The first passage,
to which I refer you, is 2 Cor. xi. 3. “ But I fear lest by any
means, as the serpent beguiled Ere through his subtlety, so
your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ;” that is, through his subtlety. The second passage
to which I shall direct your attention is Eph. vi. 11. “ Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil.” All the power of the devil against
which the Christian soldier is required to arm himself, is here
comprised in his wiles. A third passage, to which I would re-
fer you for light on this subject, is 1 Tim. iii. 7. “Lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil.” See also 2 Tim.
ii. 26. “ And that they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
A snare always implies stratagem. That passage 2 Cor. xi. 14,
in which Satan is said to be transformed into an angel of light,
is directly in point. Another passage, to which I refer you, is
perhaps still more to the point; Revel, xii. 9. “ And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and
Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” And in the 20th
chapter Satan is said, after the Millennium, to go out to deceive
the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth. By
these two passages we learn, that Satan, both before and afterON REVIVALS.
7
the Millennium, maintains his dominion over the human race
by deceiving them.
If Satan is employed in deceiving the whole world, it
is perfectly natural to suppose, that he should have a variety
of devices to effect it; such as the worship of idol gods,
in the room of Jehovah, among pagan nations; the substitution
of the Koran, in the place of the word of God, among Arabs
and Turks; Pharisaism, instead of the faith of Abraham, among
the Jews; and in the Christian world, popish superstitions for
the Gospel of Christ. And it is equally natural to suppose,
that Satan will seek by his wiles, to get advantage of that part
of the Christian Church which has protested against the errors
of popery. You may rest assured, Satan will do his best to
get some advantage against the protestant Church, by means of
false doctrines, spurious conversions, and corrupt practices.
Since he has a multitude of devices, we may expect to see him
make use of one device, in one age and part of the world, and
another device, in another age and part ,of the world. It is
equally rational to expect he will make use of different de-
vices with different individuals, in the same country; and dif-
ferent devices with the same persons, in different periods of
their life. It is to be expected, that he will shift his ground as
frequently as he finds it for his interest. It is said concerning
the strange woman, who is one of the devil’s most devoted
servants; “ Her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know
them.”
If Satan is seeking to get advantage of us by his subtle de-
vices, wiles, snares, and deceptions, he must, of necessity, take
pains to induce us to believe that these are no subtle devices,
wiles, snares, and deceitful works of the devil. He well knows
that he is considered by us as an adversary to our souls; as
the one, who not only brought about man’s first apostacy from
God, but the one who is now using the most unwearied efforts
to prevent us from regaining the divine favour. He has, there-
fore, but little expectation of getting advantage of us, unless,8
A SERMON
by his deceptive arts, he can hide himself from our view.
He must make us believe, that his religion is the religion of
God! or, in other words, that the deceitful schemes by which
he designs to ruin our souls, will actually save them. To
succeed in ruining the souls of the heathen, he must make
them believe that their idols are real deities. To succeed in
his wiles against the Arabs and Turks, he must make them
believe that the imposture of the false prophet, is a real reve-
lation from God. To succeed against the papists, he must
make them believe that the pope is the legitimate head of the
Church: and to succeed against the protestants, he must make
them believe that heresies are true doctrines; that delusive
experiences are the fruits of the Spirit; and that unscriptural
practices are obedience to the laws of Christ.
Having shown that it is Satan’s object to get every possible
advantage of us, and also, that it is by crafty devices that he
gets this advantage, 1 proceed to show,
. III. That, in order to prevent his success against us, it is
highly important we should not be ignorant of his devices.
It is our ignorance of Satan’s devices, which gives him his ad-
vantage over us; just as the ignorance of the bird exposes it
to the snare of the fowler; or, as the fish, unconscious of the
hook, by seizing the bait, throws itself into the hands of the
angler. When men are ignorant of the devices of the devil,
they are liable to be taken captive by him at his will. Had
our first parents been acquainted with the device of the tempter,
he would not have gotten that advantage of them, which
brought themselves and their whole posterity into a state of
sin and misery.
When the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works
of the devil, He was not ignorant of his devices, and was
therefore prepared to stand against all his wiles. Paul knew
something of the policy of the grand adversary of the Church.
He did not know as much about these subtle devices as his
Master did ; and there is, no doubt, a different degree of thisON REVIVALS.
9
knowledge among the disciples themselves: but it is intimated
in the text, when it is said, “ We are not ignorant of his devi-
ces,5’ that some degree of this important knowledge is common
to them all. Indeed there can be much light reflected even
into the minds of unbelievers, on the subject of Satanic wiles,
which, through the blessing of God, may be the means of their
escape from the deadly snare.
If it be asked, by what means do we become acquainted
with the devices of Satan ? it may be replied, by the light of
Scripture ; by the history of the Church; and by our own ex-
perience.
First. The more intimately we become acquainted with
the Scriptures, the more prepared we shall be to say concern-
ing Satan, “We are not ignorant of his devices.” By the
light of revealed truth we have opportunity to become fully ac-
quainted with his character. Here we learn that his depravity
is total; that he does all in his power to dishonor God and de-
stroy the souls of men; and that to destroy the souls of men,
he deceives them. There are particular cases recorded which
illustrate the subtlety of the tempter. I might instance bis
tempting our first mother to eat the forbidden fruit; his tempt-
ing David, through pride; to number his people; his attack
upon Job, with a design to prove his religion to be selfish; and
his violent assault upon Peter when he sifted him as wheat.
I might also instance his successful temptation of Judas, and
also of Ananias and Sapphira, all of whom he drew into his
measures by the love of filthy lucre. But no particular exam-
ple of his temptation is better calculated to give us a knowledge
of his multiform devices, than that in which he sought to pre-
vail against the promised Seed of the woman. It is rational
to believe, that in this case he would exert himself to the ut-
most. There were three distinct temptations. In the first
he tempted him to use unsuitable means to supply food to
satisfy his hunger, through a distrust of the promises and pro-
vidence of God. When this temptation was repelled by a
210
A SERMON
weapon, which manifested that the Son of God had entire con-
fidence in the promises and providence of his Father, he next
tempted him to presume on providential care and the fulfilment
of promises, though he should utterly neglect the appointed
means of his own preservation. To give this temptation the
more force, he quoted a promise from the ninety-first Psalm*
In the last place he sought to allure him with the riches, do-
minion, honors, and pleasures of this world. In all these three
modes of attack upon the Son of God, he failed; yet we have
reason to expect, that in his attack upon us, he will try the
same weapons again and again.
Secondly. We gain some knowledge of the devices of
Satan by an acquaintance with the history of the Church. The
Scripture itself gives us the history of this interesting commu-
nity, during a great proportion of the period of its existence
on the earth. Where the sacred records leave the concerns of
the Church, uninspired, but authentic history takes them up;
and this, together with the predictions relating to the subject,
will bring us down to the end of time. By consulting the
whole history of the Church, which is thus furnished us, we
find that Satan has sought its ruin in two ways, viz. by stirring
up persecution from without, and by corrupting it within. The
latter is the more subtle device, and certainly is the one with
which it most concerns the Church itself to be acquainted.
By means of internal corruption, this.temple of the living God
has at different periods, been awfully defiled. A small ac-
quaintance with ecclesiastical history, will be sufficient to con-
vince us, that Satan has done much to corrupt the visible
Church by means of false teachers, heretical doctrines, delusive
experiences, and unscriptural practices. It often happened in
the ancient Church, that those false prophets, who were alto-
gether in the interests of the adversary, were more numerous
than the prophets of the Lord. And the New Testament
Church was faithfully admonished both by Christ and his
Apostles, to expect false teachers in her communion. TheON REVIVALS.
II
Christian Church has had many false teachers, and of different
sorts. Some have been manifestly hirelings, while others have
pretended such an entire indifference to lucre, as even to accuse
the Apostles themselves of a mercenary spirit. While some of
the ministers of Satan have been like dumb dogs which can"
not bark, lying down and loving to slumber, others have been
remarkable for their zeal. It was concerning some of the mi-
nisters, who were in the enemy’s service, that it was said, “ They
zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude
you, that you might affect them.” And we know the hollow-
ness of his professions, who said, “ Come with me, and see my
zeal for the Lord.”
False doctrines are the necessary consequence of false teach-
ers. The kingdom of Christ, as built up by Him, is estab-
lished on the truth as its basis He declared himself to be the
Truth; and said, that he came to bear witness of the truth;
and that by knowing the truth, men would be made free. He
designed his Church to be “ the pillar and ground of the
truthand as such, to be “ the light of the world.” The
history of the Church makes it evident, that it has ever been a
grand device of the devil, as we should very naturally suppose
it would have been, to corrupt the word of God, and thus di-
vert men’s attention from the truth, and turn their ears unto
fables.
False doctrines naturally result in false experiences. The
history of the Church will show, that it has been a cunning
device of the adversary, to despoil her of all her beauty, and
render her contemptible, by corrupting her experimental reli-
gion. Sometimes he will deny the existence of any such
religion, and then again, when he can have the direction of it,
he is forward to promote it, and will raise it to the highest
pitch. In the Church of Israel, there was a generation which
were pure in their own eyes, and yet were not washed from their
filthiness. Concerning this same generation it is said, “ O how
lofty are their eyes, and their eye-lids are lifted up.” In the12
A SERMON
Christian Church, even while it retained its primitive purity,
there were those who received the word anon with joy, and
yet the word had no root in them. They thought themselves
to be something, when they were nothing. In looking over
ecclesiastical history, since the days of the apostles, we dis-
cover striking examples of the device of Satan, in seeking to
get advantage of the Church, by corrupting experimental
religion ; and by bringing the most foolish vagaries and dread-
ful delusions into high repute, as though they were the pre-
cious fruits of the Spirit of God.
That it is one of the devices of Satan, to get advantage of
the Church, by introducing unscriptural practices, is so evident
from the slightest knowledge of her records, that I need say
nothing on this point, more than to refer you, for an illustra-
tion of the fact, to that mystery of iniquity, the Church of
Rome.
Thirdly. Christians are helped to a more intimate acquain-
tance with the devices of Satan, by their personal trials. There
is probably no soldier in the Christian army, who has not been
called to contend with this potent enemy. The whole army
are reminded, that they wrestle not with flesh and blood
merely, but with the infernal ruler of the darkness of this
world. Every believer is required to resist the devil; and
this implies, that no one can fight the good fight of faith,
without having him to resist. That precious promise, which
is made to all the followers of Christ, The God of peace
will shortly bruise Satan under your feet, renders it certain that
they all have to contend with him. If every believer has to
contend with Satan, he must, in some degree, be made ac-
quainted with his devices ; for it is by means of these, that he
seeks to get advantage of all believers. By a careful exami-
nation of their own experiences, and a review of their own
spiritual trials, the disciples of Christ will gain some instruc-
tion on this point; so as to be the better able to say, concern-ON REVIVALS,
13
ing the enemy of all righteousness, “ We are not ignorant of
his devices.”
Thus we become acquainted with the devices of Satan,
by the light of Scripture, by the history of the Church,
by our own personal experiences and temptations. To pre-
vent mistake, I would here remark, that the two last are not
to be considered as sources of correct knowledge of the wiles
of the tempter, independently of the first. The uninspired
history of the Church may afford great help in discovering the
wiles of the devil, and so may our own experiences and trials;
but these are always to be examined in the light of God’s
word. This holy book is the lamp to our feet and the light
to our path. Whatever is not in agreement with this, has no
light in it.
THE SUBJECT APPLIED.
The subject to which your attention has now been directed,
is not a matter of mere speculation, but is, in the highest sense,
practical. Let us, therefore, not dismiss it without a close
application. If Satan is seeking to get every possible advan-
tage of the Church of Christ, it behooves its members to be
apprised of this. However near the millennial state of the
Church may be, it is manifest that Satan is not yet confined
to his prison. He, with his legions of unclean spirits, is still
walking up and down in the earth. They are still seeking to
get every possible advantage of that cause which Christians
pray to have established. Their efforts, we have reason to
believe, are continually growing more vigorous, and their
devices more subtle. For this belief there are two obvious
reasons: 1st. Their experience in the work of deceiving and
destroying souls, is constantly increasing. 2dly. The short-
ness of the time, in which they will be suffered to carry on
their work of deception and destruction, stimulates them to
make uncommon exertions. “Wo to the inhabitants of the
earth and sea; for the devil is come down unto you, having14
A SERMON
great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short
time.” Rev. xii. 12. The devil and his angels have had too
much concern with the kingdom of Christ, to be ignorant of
this fact, that the Scriptures foretel, and that the Church is
expecting, a time of the universal prevalence of true religion,
when their influence in deluding and ruining the children of
men, will be for a long period restrained. The near approach
of this anticipated period, may be expected to stir up all their
rage, and excite them to employ their most subtle devices
against that city of God, concerning which such glorious
things are spoken. Satan will never abdicate his throne.
When he perceives it to be tottering to fall, he will rally all
his subjects, angelic and human, to support it, and protract as
long as possible his dominion on earth.
Do you think, my brethren, that Satan is so unobservant of
the passing events of this world, as to be unacquainted with
the present movements of the Church ? Has he not seen oiir
voluntary associations, formed for the diffusion of the light of
the glorious Gospel, by means of Missionaries, Bibles, Reli-
gious Tracts, and Sabbath Schools ? And does he not know,
that, from the rising to the setting sun, Christians have a con-
cert on a certain day, which returns with every new month, to
pray for the utter subversion of his kingdom. Must he not, in
view of all these things, begin to be alarmed at the prospect,
that he has but a short time on the earth ?
There is reason to believe, that Satan will still seek to get
advantage of the Church, by corrupting it in many, if not
all of those ways which he has heretofore practised with suc-
cess. He will, no doubt, make all possible use of heresies,
both old and new; and try, to his utmost, to bring into the
ministry, men who are, at heart, on his own side; and sub-
stitute human traditions for the commandments of God.
Where he has once set his snare and taken his prey, there we
ought still to keep up a guard. But as the limits of this dis-
course will not allow me to speak particularly of all theON REVIVALS.
15
devices of the enemy, it is my intention, in making the ap-
plication of the present subject, to confine myself to one
device, namely, that which consists in an artful counterfeit of
the work of the Holy Spirit, together will all his stratagems to
destroy the character of revivals of religion. Have we not
reason to believe that this device, which in past ages has proved
so successful, will, in an eminent degree, be the device by which
he will seek to get advantage of the Church in the period on
which she is now entering ? There are some reasons which
induce me to believe that this will be his grand device.
The first reason is derived from the supreme importance of
the work of the Spirit. It is the Spirit’s office to produce in
the heart, that religion which Christians denominate experience.
Without experimental religion, the Church of Christ would be
a body without a soul. Divest it of this, and nothing can
prevent its becoming putrid and loathsome. Without such
religion no flesh can be saved. Orthodoxy, even to perfection,
will not save us, without a renovation of heart. If the re-
ligion of the heart be left out of the account, it may be said
to the best instructed man, “ Thou believest;” “ the devils
also believe,” and are devils still.
Neither morality nor religion will prepare us for heaven,
when they are not the fruit of grace in the heart. The plough-
ing, and even the sacrificing of the graceless man, is abomina-
tion to the Lord. The giving of alms to the poor, with ever
so great liberality, and even martyrdom, without a regene-
rated charity in the heart, will profit nothing. Without holi-
ness, no man shall see the Lord. Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The atonement is made 5 but still we remain under con-
demnation. The Scripture canon is complete; but the do-
minion of sin is not destroyed. The ambassadors of Christ
are sent forth, and in his stead they beseech us to be reconciled
to God; but we are rebels still. We have been loudly ad-
monished by the death of many of our friends, and some of16
A SERMON
us, perhaps, by dangerous sickness in our own persons, that
it was high time for us to repent and be prepared, for the
approaching scenes of eternity; and yet all this has proved
insufficient to effect any radical change in our hearts. Let
such means be multiplied a thousand fold, and they would fail
to effect our conversion to God. Without the special agency
of the Holy Ghost, we shall never be true Christians. “ It is
the Spirit that quickeneth.” We must be born of the Spirit,
or we cannot enter the kingdom of God. There never has
been, and there never will be, any other way to prepare sinful
men to serve God acceptably in this world, and to enjoy him
in the world to come. No individual sinner, in any age or
nation, becomes a saint, short of being renewed by the Holy
Ghost. No city, or town, or village, becomes thoroughly re-
formed, unless the Spirit be shed down upon it: and until the
Spirit be poured upon us from on high, our world will remain
a moral wilderness.
The gracious operations of the Spirit are important, when
a single individual is the subject of them; their importance is
increased, when they are extended to a multitude, as in times
of general reformation; and how does their importance rise
upon our view, when they are contemplated as extending to a
world of sinners; as they will be when God shall pour out his
Spirit upon all flesh. Who can sufficiently prize the part
which the Spirit performs in the redemption of men ? The
high consequence of His holy agency, in the salvation of lost
men, cannot be unknown to the prince of darkness, who well
knows, that whatever else is done for the fallen race, they are
still in his hands. But when the Holy Ghost comes upon us,
he delivers us from the power of darkness, and translates us
into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. As far as there is evi-
dence that any have experienced a translation into this blessed
kingdom, Satan’s hope of accomplishing their ruin is at an
end. Considering his zeal in the work of destroying souls,
how dreadful must be his opposition to the work of God’s HolyON REVIVALS.
17
Spirit. Could he persuade all the sinners in the world, that
regeneration is unnecessary, he would gladly do it: but if he
cannot effect this—if he cannot destroy our belief in the ne-
cessity of such a change, what shall we expect him to do
next ? What is more natural than to expect, that his next wile
will be to counterfeit the change which we deem essential; and
then exert himself to make us believe the counterfeit to be the
real change, the genuine work of the Holy Spirit ? It is even
for the interest of Satan’s kingdom, that sinners should be both
alarmed, and comforted, provided no radical change be
effected; for in such a case he will afterward feel much more
secure of his prey: “ The last state of such men is worse than
the first.” There is therefore, a twofold object to prompt him
to counterfeit the work of the Spirit of God; namely, to hinder
a real conversion, and to prevent all anxiety in future about it.
It may be doubted by some, whether that which has now
been attributed to the devil, be a work that is within the com-
pass of his power. But I can hardly think that any, who be-
lieve in the existence of evil spirits, will entertain a doubt on
this subject. We well know there are false conversions, as well
as true; that there are many who make shipwreck of their
faith; and whose love waxes cold, in distinction from endur-
ing to the end ; and who, after being apparently washed, re-
turn to their wallowing in the mire. Can we suppose that a
thing which proves the cause of ruin to so many, should be
without the agency of him, whose very work it is to destroy
souls ? The God of this world is said to blind the minds of
them that believe not, and to work in the hearts of the children
of disobedience. As experience is a hidden thing, it is that
department of religion where the devil has a special advantage
in practising his wiles. Confessions of faith, and external prac-
tice, are open to the world ; but the feelings of the heart are
out of their sight. If our religious experiences are destitute of
holiness, that very circumstance will make us proud and self-
confident, and this will give the tempter great advantage of
318
A SERMON
us. If any should call in question the genuineness of our ex-
periences, our fears may be allayed by the suggestion, that the
religion of the heart is known only to ourselves.
The things which are said in the Scriptures about the ex-
ceeding great subtlety of the devil, and his transformation into
an angel of light, very naturally lead to the conclusion, that
his wiles are employed in producing the counterfeits of con-
version ; since this is the gate that leads from the broad, into
the narrow way. An avenue of so much importance, we may
rest assured, the prince of darkness will do all in his power to
guard. The Scriptures explicitly speak of Satan, as catching
away the seed which fell by the way-side, before it took any
root; and, also, as sowing those tares which actually sprung
up among the wheat, and which at first so far resembled the
crop, that it was considered as dangerous to make an attempt
to root them up. It is as proper therefore to attribute to the
devil the sudden sprouting of the seed which fell on stony pla-
ces, as the immediate removal of that which fell by the way-
side ; or, in other words, to attribute to him the premature joy
of a false hope in one instance, as the prevention of a good
hope in another.
The second reason which I shall offer for adopting the senti-
ment, that Satan may be expected to employ his most subtle
devices, to counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit, in the pre-
sent period, is the increasing frequency of powerful and exten-
sive revivals of religion. I have no need to adduce proof, so
far as our own country is respected, to establish this fact; since
the most of you have access to some of the religious periodi-
cals which are continually presenting us with these glad tidings.
The army of the prince of darkness is now diminishing, not by
solitary desertions, but whole divisions are leaving him at once,
and going over to the Captain of Salvation. If Satan has al-
ways been counterfeiting the work of the Spirit, when but few
sinners were alarmed, what may we not expect he will attempt
at such a day as this. He must know, if this work should goON REVIVALS.
19
on unobstructed, and uncontaminated, that he and his legions
will soon be driven from the earth. Hell is therefore stirred
from beneath to oppose the work, and hellish subtleties will no
doubt be practised in abundance. Is it not perfectly natural to
expect, that more of this kind of opposition will be made in a
time of general anxiety, than in single cases of conviction. An
individual case of conviction may exist, without its even being
known to our adversary ; but this can hardly be supposed con-
concerning that attention to religion which affects many at once.
And as a general attention to the concerns of the soul, presents
a greater object to Christ and his friends, so it must do to the
devil and his angels. Christ often sends men of greater gifts
and deeper experience into such interesting places : and have
we not reason to believe, that the prince of devils will bring
more and mightier fallen spirits to take their station, where
such a threatening invasion is made on his kingdom ? This
remark will apply whenever there is excitement enough to at-
tract public attention, and must be peculiarly applicable to the
present time, when considerable sections of the country are
almost simultaneously aroused from their slumbers.
This remarkable effusion of the Spirit, being an event con-
temporary with the great movements of the Church to enlarge
the place of her tent, must be greatly calculated to increase
alarm among those malicious spirits, whose whole business it
has been to corrupt the earth. They perceive that whatever
they do, to oppose the reign of Zion’s King, or to delay the
time of its being extended to all nations, must be done quickly.
And what can they do more calculated to prolong their destruc-
tive dominion, than to spread themselves abroad in all those pla-
ces where the Lord is at work, and counteract, by seeming to
work with him, opposing, by seeming to be on his side ? In
thus doing Satan is indeed transformed into an angel of light.
When the attention of a multitude is excited at once, and
the churches are fast filling up with members, though the pros-
pect is animating, yet the call for vigilance is greatly increased.20
A SERMON
At such a time, our adversary can practise his wiles with
uncommon advantage. We will not say, that God does not
make use of the awakened attention and hopeful conversion of
some sinners, to exert a moral influence in bringing others
into the same state; but there is danger that many cases will
occur, where it is nothing more than sympathy and imitation.
We are affected, merely because others are affected; hope,
because others hope; and profess, because our companions
profess. There is no small degree of danger, that we shall
rest satisfied with comparing ourselves among ourselves;
which we are taught is not the part of wisdom ; and that we
shall think ourselves converted, because our experiences seem
to agree with others, who think that they are converted. De-
fective conversions w ill be more apt to pass currently at such a
time, just as counterfeit money, which bears a great resem-
blance to the genuine, is more easily passed, when a pressure
of business prevents opportunity to scrutinize it. Of all these
circumstances, the wary adversary of the Church will be
disposed to take every advantage; and of his disposition
to do this, it behooves all her friends to be apprized.
The character which revivals have acquired, I would offer
as another reason, why we ought to expect that Satan will
employ his most subtle devices to corrupt them. It is for his
interest to corrupt them, on three accounts.
1.	Because false conversions, which are the result of such
religious excitements as are now referred to, leave his alarmed
subjects still under his dominion ; and in such a state of mind,
as to render it improbable that they will hereafter desert his
standard. But this advantage, which he gains by a spurious,
instead of genuine work, has been already noticed.
2.	If Satan succeed in corrupting revivals, he will get
advantage of the Churches, by burdening them with unsound
members ; and in case he should succeed to any great extent,
the burden will become intolerable. It will promote disunion
and strife, and prevent the salutary exercise of discipline.ON REVIVALS.
21
False conversions will produce a soil for the growth of here-
sies in the Churches, and will prepare the way for men to arise
from among ourselves, who shall speak perverse things, to
draw away disciples after them. We should all esteem it a
great calamity to the cause of religion in the land, if, within
a single year, many thousands were to be added to our
Churches, while no special excitement had prepared the way
for it: but the calamity would not be so great, to admit several
thousands of mere moralists, with a correct creed, as to admit
the same number of false converts. The danger would not be
as great, that they would eventually become either immoral,
or heretical. If, however, the danger were equal, the Churches
would not sustain such a shock by their apostacy, since their
fall would not be from such an eminence. And this eminence,
from which they fall, is heightened, when they not only claim
to be converts, but converts of the first order. If such fall
away, (and in case of a spurious delusive work, nothing is
more common,) the enemy gets great advantage over religious
awakenings. From this remark, let no one conclude, that we
design to encourage mere moralists to become members of
the visible Church. To every unconverted man, moral as
well as immoral, God says, “ What hast thou to do, that thou
shouldst take my covenant into thy mouth ?” And while
there is nothing to encourage the unconverted moralist to
intrude into the family of Christ, there is nothing to keep
back the real convert whose trust is in the Lord : for, though
the faith of some, yea, of many, be overthrown, yet the foun-
dation of God standeth sure, having this seal, “ The Lord
knoweth them that are his.”
3. The corrupting of revivals of religion, has a most dread-
ful tendency to destroy their character, and thus bring them
into contempt. It is a device of the most subtle kind, to in-
troduce a counterfeit of the work of the Spirit of God, so
that the real work of the Spirit of God may lose its character,
and be considered as nothing but the work qf the devil.22
A SERMON
Nothing can be of greater consequence to the cause of truth
and righteousness, than that religious awakenings should sustain
a good character for purity and order; and that they should
sustain this character, both within and without the pale of the
Church. If they suffer a loss of character within the Church,
the sons and daughters of Zion will not be equally anxious to
enjoy them, nor equally zealous in promoting them. A dread
of their unlovely appendages will diminish the desire for their
existence. And should they lose their character in the view
of unbelievers, who must yet be converted, or in no case enter
into the kingdom of Heaven, it will have a dreadful tendency
to ruin their souls, by causing them to stand aloof from every
thing which wears the appearance of an awakening.
There are many in our religious societies, who make no
pretension to an experimental acquaintance with the religion
of the Gospel; and yet appear firmly to believe its divine ori-
gin. They externally regard the Sabbath, and divine institu-
tions, and are stated attendants on the ministry of the word.
They adopt a correct system of doctrines for their creed ; and,
among other things, believe in the necessity of the new birth,
effected by the operation of the Holy Ghost: nor do they
entertain any doubt of the reality, and even desirableness of
religious awakenings. But if it should come to pass, that
these awakenings, to any considerable extent, exhibit scenes of
wild disorder and religious frenzy, there would be great dan-
ger that the effect would be, to excite such a disgust as would
result in a settled antipathy to religious awakenings of every
character. On hearing of an excitement, they would imme-
diately identify it with religious frenzy. I well know there is a
sense in which we cannot please men, and be the servants of
Christ; but we are under solemn obligation, even to the un-
believing world, neither to do, nor suffer any thing to be done,
which will needlessly prejudice their minds against a work of
the Holy Spirit.
It may here be remarked, to the praise of Zion’s King,ON REVIVALS*
28
that religious awakenings have been gaining character in this
country, both within and without the Church, during the last
thirty years. Almost a century ago, there was a very general
religious excitement in New-England, and in other parts of
the land. The Spirit of God was then poured out, and many
were hopefully brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. But
when the sons of God came to present themselves before the
Lord, Satan came also among them; and he was transformed
into an angel of light. He got great advantage of some of
the most active promoters of the work, by filling them with
pride and a censorious spirit, and leading them to adopt rash
and unscriptural measures to carry it on. The things which
corrupted that revival and tarnished its glory, had a pernicious
effect in depreciating revivals in general, so that it required
half a century to restore their character.
That revivals have not only been multiplying, but also gain-
ing character, for thirty years past, is a fact, which cannot have
been concealed from the grand adversary of the Church. He
must know there are places in this country, where, for half a
century, they had been deprecated as an evil, that they are
now sought for as a great blessing; also, that there are some
denominations of Christians, which had been accustomed to
look on them as nothing better than the frenzy of enthusiasts,
that are now beginning to speak and write in their favour.
And will not a knowledge of these facts, prompt him to exert
all his powers and all his subtlety, to prevent the growing influ-
ence of revivals ? To prevent their influence, he must des-
troy their character ; and to destroy their character, he must
corrupt them with his diabolic delusions.
In this view of the subject, it appears clearly, to be very
specially for the interest of Satan’s wretched kingdom, that he
should succeed in corrupting revivals among those Christian
denominations where they have heretofore sustained the best
character for thoroughness, purity, order, and subsequent fruits.
Such denominations, (and in this case it will do no harm,24
A SERMON
should every sect think itself comprehended in the class,)
such denominations will do well to look about them; for, in
this important crisis of the war between Michael and his an-
gels, and the dragon and his angels, even their revivals will be
in danger of losing their pure character, through the craf-
ty devices of their invisible foe. If Satan can devise any
means, by which to bring public odium on religious awaken-
ings, let them exist in whatever communion, it will brighten
his prospects of protracting his reign on the earth. But to
effect this, especially considering the character they have
acquired, must call for uncommon exertions : and such exer-
tions we are admonished to expect; and to expect them to
appear in that form which will be least apt to excite our sus-
picion, that it is an enemy which hath done this.
The reasoning which I have used, to prove that the Church
is in peculiar danger of having her revivals corrupted during
the period which shall precede Satan’s exclusion from the earth,
is of that kind which logicians term a priori, that is, reasoning
from the nature of the case, or from the cause, to its natural
effects. Whether any events have recently occurred, tending
to give weight to these arguments, we are not so competent to
decide as if we were more intimately acquainted with the
character of all that religious excitement which is now taking
place in different parts of the earth.
And now, Christian brethren, in full view of the crafty policy
of our enemy, particularly in marring revivals of religion,
what is our duty ? The duty which the text places before us*
and to which it seems to impel us, is vigilance, against his de-
vices. We are under solemn obligation to suffer him to get
no advantage of us, and of the cause which we have espoused,
through our unwatchful conduct.
As means of impressing on your minds, and my own, the im-
portant duty taught by our text, I shall suggest two or three
solemn cautions.
- First. Let us be cautioned not to suffer Satan to get anyON REVIVALS.
25
advantage by inducing us to oppose genuine revivals of reli-
gion, or to feel in the least degree indifferent about them. He
will get great advantage of Christians, should he prejudice
their minds against all revivals of religion, or even abate the
ardency of their desires to enjoy them. Indeed there is no
period of the Church, in which it can«be supposed that real
Christians will feel an indifference concerning the salvation of
their fellow men; but some may possibly have been acquainted
with such bad specimens of general awakenings, as to be in-
duced to pray rather for solitary conversions. In this silent
way have many, no doubt, been called into the kingdom of
Christ; neither is there any more doubt, that many others have
flocked to his standard in crowds. “Who are these,” said the
prophet, “ that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows ?”
When Christ was at Jacob’s well, his work of grace began
with an individual; but the conversion of this individual, was
the commencement of a harvest, which, in the space of two
days, he gathered from among the inhabitants in that vicinity.
When Jesus’ disciples acted in the capacity of literal fishermen,
the case occurred once and again, after toiling all night, and
taking nothing, that a single cast of the net enclosed a multi-
tude of fishes. The scenes of the day of Pentecost, in con*
nexion with their comparatively unsuccessful labours before
explained the significancy of the emblem. In Jerusalem, Sa-
maria; Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and many other places,
there were plentiful effusions of the Spirit in the days of the
apostles; and many believed and turned unto the Lord.
We cannot be opposed to the special out-pourings of the
Spirit and the simultaneous conversion of a multitude, with-
out being opposed to those very things in which Apostles and
primitive Christians gloried, and for which they gave much
thanks to God. Let me entreat you, my brethren, to be on
your guard against this wile of the devil: Do not entertain
light thoughts of the work of God’s Spirit; no, not of the most
powerful work; for the more powerful, the more desirable, if
426
A SERMON
it be but pure. There cannot be too many converts made at
once, provided they are converts indeed; even such as are
called out of darkness into marvellous light. In a country
where, perhaps, nine-tenths of the inhabitants are in unregene-
racy, should we now have nothing but solitary conversions,
gleanings without harvests, a great majority must die unprepar-
ed for the judgment. Let the whole population of a country
once be turned to the Lord, (which will be exemplified in the
Millennium,) and if, thenceforward, the spiritual should occur
with as much frequency as the natural births, the interests of re-
ligion will be supported, and the prospects of the people, in rela-
tion to eternity, will be full of hope. But as things now are, we
cannot wish well to our country, or any particular section of it,
without being led to pray that the Spirit may be poured down
upon the people, to effect a great and speedy reformation
among them.
Brethren, it is not enough that we merely submit to a revi-
val of religion without making opposition ; it is our imperious
duty to desire such a thing—to desire it ardently-—to pray for
it fervently, and to do all in our power to promote it among
ourselves and others. And when we receive the blessing, it is
our duty to give thanks for it as the richest gift, purchased for
us by the death of God’s dear Son. We are under solemn ob-
ligation to imitate the benevolent angels, in rejoicing over every
sinner that repents. As far as we obtain evidence^ that the
Spirit of God is carrying on his transforming work in any part
of the land, or in any part of the earth, we are bound to give
thanks. I charge you all, and I charge myself, to beware that
Satan does not, by any of his devices which have come under
our own observation, or which have been brought to our ears,
get such a capital advantage of us, as to diminish our desires
and relax our exertions for a revival of religion among our-
selves, and extensively in the earth: for without the special effu-
sion of the Spirit, the throne of iniquity will stand. I am con-
fident you will not interpret what I ha\e said on this subject,ON REVIVALS,
27
as designed to stir you up to resist the Spirit of God, but only
to resist its counterfeit, the spirit of delusion.
Secondly. Let us be cautioned against a stupid ignorance
of Satan’s devices, in corrupting revivals of religion. Since it
is one of his most subtle devices to corrupt revivals, it can be
no part of our duty to remain ignorant of this device ; for
this would be the very way to give him his greatest advantage
over us. There is a certain class of professors of religion, who
seem to make no discrimination between a pure, and a spurious
revival. If people are but awake and zealous in the things of
religion, they conclude the work is good, of course; and can-
not bear to have a word said against any of its appendages?
however exceptionable. They seem displeased with every
thing like an investigation into the character of a religious
awakening. If this timidity be the effect of love to the work
of the Spirit, it nevertheless betrays a want of a sound mind.
Had Paul acted on this principle, he would never have written
his epistle to the Churches of Galatia; nor said a word against
those teachers who were corrupting the Gospel; for he ac-
knowledged they were sufficiently zealous.
If it is no part of our duty to be ignorant of Satan’s devi-
ces, which are designed to corrupt revivals, then it is not our
duty to conduct as though we were ignorant. Yet we are un-
der some temptation to conduct in this manner, partly, through
fear of opposing the work of God; but probably, more fre-
quently, through fear of being denounced as enemies of revi-
vals. Surely, as a minister of reconciliation, 1 should be very
unwilling to have the character of an enemy of revivals. But
if my conscience bears me witness, that to further them I pray,
and read, and preach, and write ; and that I rejoice in them
as one that findeth great spoil; and that wbat l say concerning
the delusions of the devil, is designed to prevent immortal souls
from being lost, and to promote such revivals as are the fruit
of the Spirit of God, then I will risk my character in this re-
spect. He that loses his character in such a cause, may well28
A SERMON
consider it as an additional device of Satan, to prevent bis
other devices from being exposed. Why should every attempt
to try the spirits, subject a man to be considered as an enemy of
the work of the Spirit of God ? Would it not be equally pro-
per, to charge a man with being an opposer of sound doctrine,
merely because he should attempt to sift the sentiments of an
author, for the sake of detecting his errors ?
As the latter-day glory of the Church is drawing on, and
the enemy is making his last struggle to retain his usurped do-
minion, it does pre-eminently concern us all, to become well
acquainted with his machinations, it concerns the watchmen
in a very special manner; nor is it unimportant to a single
citizen of Zion. The more we are apprised of the multitude
and subtlety of the wiles of our adversary , the better prepared
we shall be, either to resist, or attack him, with success, if
we would be prepared to repel the enemy, we must take in our
hand the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Make
yourselves thoroughly acquainted with the word of God, and
you will receive much instruction on the subject to which your
attention has this day been directed, in addition to the Bible,
suffer me to recommend to your attention two or three excel-
lent books, which if read prayerfully, and by the side of God’s
holy word, will give you additional light on the subject of Sa-
tan’s devices, particularly as they are displayed in imitating the
work of the Holy Spirit, and corrupting revivals. Among the
books, with which i am myself acquainted, i know of none
which will reflect so much light on this all-important subject,
as President Edwards’ Treatise on Religious Affections.* His
* Some observations, contained in the Preface of this work, are so important,
and so applicable to the subject of the Sermon, that 1 shall take the liberty to re-
fresh the mind of the reader with them, by inserting them in a Note. “ It is by the
mixture of counterfeit religion with true,” says the author, “ not discerned
and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the
cause and kingdom of Christ. It is plainly by this means, principally, that he
has prevailed against all revivals of religion, since the first founding of the
Christian Church. By this he hurt the cause of Christianity, in and alter the
apostolic age, much more than by all the persecutions of both Jews and Hea-
thens. The apostles, in all their epistles, show themselves much more corn*ON REVIVALS
29
account of the Revival of Religion in New-England is worthy
of being read attentively; also his remarks on the life of Brai-
nerd, together with the Life itself. To the three books, already
cerned at the former mischief than the latter. By this, Satan prevailed against
the reformation, begun by Luther, Zuinglius, &c. to put a stop to its progress,
and bring it into disgrace, ten times more than by ail the bloody and cruel per-
secution of the Church of Rome. By this, principally , has he prevailed against
revivals of religion in our nation. By this he prevailed against New England
to quench her love, and spoil the joy of her espousals, about a hundred years
ago. And, 1 think, 1 have had opportunity enough to see plainly, that by this
the devil has prevailed against the late great revival in New England, so happy
and promising in its beginning, his refeis to the revival about the year
1740.] Here, most evidently, has been the main advantage Satan has had
against us ; by this he has foiled us. It is by this means that the daughter of
Zion in this land now lies on the ground, in such piteous circumstances. I
have seen the devil prevail, the same way, against two great revivals of reli-
gion in this country. Satan goes on with mankind as he began with them,
tile prevailed against our first parents, cast them out of Paradise, and suddenly
brought ail their glory and happiness to an end, by appealing to be a friend to
their happy state, and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So this
same cunning serpent that beguiled Eve through his subtlety, by perverting us
from the simplicity that is in Christ, hath suddenly prevailed to deprive us of
that tair prospect we had, a little while ago, of a kind of paradisaical state of
the Church of God in New England.
After religion has revived in the Church of God, and enemies appear, people
that are engaged to defend its cause are commonly most exposed, where they
are least sensible of danger. W hile they are wholly intent upon the opposi-
tion that appears openly before them, in order to make head against that, and
while they neglect carefully to look around, the devil comes behind them, and
gives a fatal stab unseen ; and he has opportunity to give a more home stroke,
and to wound the deeper, because he strikes at his leisure, being obstructed by
no resistance or guard. And so it is ever like to be in the Church, whenever
religion revives remarkably, till we have learned well to distinguish betw een true
and false religion, between saving affections and experiences, and those manifold
fair shows, and glistening appearances, by which they are counterfeited; the con.
sequences of which, when they are not distinguished, are often inexpressibly
dreadful. By this means, Satan mightily encourages the hearts of open enemies,
strengthens their hands, fills them with weapons, and makes strong their fortress-
es ; when at the same time, religion and the Church of God lie exposed to them,
as a city without walls. By this means, he brings it to pass, that men work wick-
edness under a notion of doing God service, and so sin without restraint, yea,
with earnest forwardness and zeal, and with all theii might. By this means, he
brings even the friends of religion, insensibly, to do the work of enemies, by
destroying religion in a far more effectual manner than open enemies can do,
under a notion of advancing it. By this means, the devil scatters the flock of
Christ, and sets them one against another with great heat of spirit, under a
notion of zeal for God; and religion, by degrees, degenerates into vain jangling.
During the strife, Satan leads both parties far out of the right way ? driving
each to great extremes, one to the right hand, and the other to the left, accord-
ing as he finds they are most inclined, or most easily moved and swayed, till
the right path in the middle is almost wholly neglected. In the midst of this
confusion, the devil has great opportunity to advance his own interest, to make
it strong m ways innumerable, to get the government of all into his own hands,
and to work his own will.”30
A SERMON
named, I will add True Religion, delineated and distinguished
from all counterfeits, by Dr. Bellamy.
As Satan has been improving in the subtlety of his devices,
and in the knowledge of our vulnerable parts, so it becomes
us to improve in the knowledge of his devices, and in the means
of preventing their success. If he should make use of the
same devices to corrupt revivals at the present day, which he
did a little before the middle of the last century, and which
were exposed by an eye witness, who was a great friend to
those revivals, the Churches in our land, should they suffer him
to get advantage by the repetition of the same devices, will
now be altogether more inexcusable than they were at that
period. The reason for the difference is this; we have the
history of those times, and are bound to profit by their mis-
takes. We, who live in the present period of the Church,
cannot be equally excuseable in pleading ignorance of the de-
vices of our adversary.
I would not intimate, that the utmost vigilance of Pastors
and their Churches will enable them to detect every spurious
conversion, or keep out of their communion every unsound
convert; but when, through a professed awe of God, as ap-
pearing in a religious excitement, they make no attempt to
give it a scriptural character, or to regulate its movements,
they act an unfaithful part to Christ and to the souls of men.
If they should say, it is the ark of God, and you must not touch
it, “ the work is God’s; and if he does not carry it on right,
I am not responsible,” it would be giving the enemy, (if any
part of it should happen to be his work,) all the advantage he
could wish. A religious excitement may be wholly spurious,
or it may be so in part. It belongs to us to try every work,
with which we have opportunity to be acquainted, to deter-
mine of what sort it is. It is our duty to separate between the
precious and the vile, and to approve only of things that are
excellent. If diabolic delusions are mingled with a real work
of the Spirit of God, it is our duty, with all possible clearness,ON "REVIVALS#
31
to discriminate between them. This, instead of doing injury
to the work of the Holy Spirit, is the directest way to further
it; just as the most careful discrimination between the true and
counterfeit notes, is requisite to the preservation of the credit
of the Bank. From the Scriptures we are led to conclude^
that there have always been teachers in the Christian Church,
of a character wholly corrupt, so as to be deservedly denomL
nated the ministers of Satan. There may, some of them, make
great exertions to produce a religious excitement; but they
have no desire to turn men from Satan to God. The religion,
which they wish to promote, will not prepare men to live unto
God. There is reason to think, there are times when the real
ministers of Christ are instrumental of giving a bad direction
to a religious awakening. Their views are clouded, and the
enemy gets advantage of them ; and he glories in his success.
But though Barnabas may, for a while, be carried away with
their dissimulation, we have a right to expect, that time for
reflection and prayer will bring him back into the right way.
On the same, principle, that ministers and other Christians,
may not scrutinize a revival to determine of what sort it is,
the converts made by it, ought not to scrutinize their own
exercises, but must take it for granted, that if they have joy,
it is joy in the Holy Ghost. And surely, this would give the
enemy a wonderful advantage; if he could not only introduce
his spurious conversions, and make them pass for genuine,
but if he can also get this principle established;—That it is a
proof of criminal unbelief, to call their genuineness in question.
Truly, my brethren, we need to put on the armour of God,
that we may stand against the wiles of the devil.
Thirdly. To prevent Satan’s getting advantage of us, in
corrupting revivals, let us be cautioned, in all we do to promote
them, to adhere strictly to the word of God. This is that light,
shining in a dark place, to which we do well to take heed.
The Scriptures are able to make us wise in every thing which
relates to salvation. The holy men of God, who wrote them,82
A SERMON
were moved by the Holy Ghost. And when the Holy Ghost
cornes to operate on the hearts of men, he always makes use
of these inspired writings to accomplish his work; and is
willing, that by them all bis operations should be tested. The
only way to distinguish a true from a false conversion, and a
genuine revival from one which is spurious, is by their agree-
ment with the written word. An intimate acquaintance with
this, and a close adherence to it, is all our security against the
wildest disorder and the most fatal delusions. Revelation is
the only umpire to determine what is according to truth, in
doctrine, feeling, and conduct. Should it once be considered
as only a secondary rule, the advantage of the adversary over
us will be great. Where the inward guidance of the Spirit is
placed above the written word, Satan can do what he will with
us; he can have the complete control of a religious awakening.
He will consent to have as much religion, as would be pro-
duced by the Spirit of God, provided, all this religion be with-
out any solid basis. He is willing to have us preach and pray
as much, weep and rejoice as much, as would be the natural
result of a special outpouring of the Spirit; but he is by no
means willing, that the Holy Scriptures should entirely regu-
late and give character to all this preaching, praying, weeping,
and rejoicing. Every thing he can do to cause a departure
from this standard, he considers as a great advantage gained
over the Church of Christ. Would we have such revivals, as
will meet the approbation of God, and prepare souls for
heaven, let all things, relating to them, be done according to
the pattern shown in the mount.
In the first place, we ought to see to it, that we are governed
by Scriptural motives, in desiring such an event as a revival
of religion. If selfish motives prompt us to desire this bless-
ing, all our prayers for it, and all our exertions to promote it,
will be offensive to the Holy One of Israel. When we engage
in it as God’s own cause, and then only, can we expect that
our prayers will be availing, and our exertions crowned withON REVIVALS*
S3
Bis blessing. The spirit, with which we pray, and preach, and
exhort, and converse, should be that which is derived from a
deep experimental acquaintance with the Scriptures, and from
a pure regard to the honour of God, and the good of our
fellow men. These holy writings are to dictate all the mea-
sures which are used to promote a revival. If other measures
should be used, it would seem to amount to an adoption of
that very corrupt maxim, The end sanctifies the means. It was
a slanderous report which was told of the apostles, that they
said, Let us do evil that good may come.
If we would promote revivals of religion, it is acknowledged
that great pains must be taken to wake up the vratchmen of
Zion, and indeed the whole congregation of Israel; for if the
Lord’s people, and especially his watchmen, cannot be awaked
out of sleep, we have no right to expect that the impenitent
will be awaked from their sleep of death. But scriptural
means alone are to be used, to effect even so desirable an ob-
ect as this. Should other means, in certain cases, succeed,
Still the evil of an infraction upon the divine rule, would be
greater than the good effected by it. When our rule is once
dispensed with, our peril is like that of the ship in the midst
of the sea, when it has lost its rudder. When ministers of the
Gospel and Christian brethren, instead of observing the rule,
given by their divine Master, for each to tell the other his
faults in private, do, in a public manner, denounce each other
as cold, and stupid, and dead, and enemies to revivals; and
when prayer and intercession for others is made instrumental
of publicly blackening their character, it is a device of Satan,
by which he is getting an advantage of us. In such a case,
the characteristic difference of the Church would be lost, and
she would cease to be more excellent and amiable than the
world. Should it be said, that a new era in revivals has com-
menced, and that greater severity is now found to produce a
powerful effect, in arousing stupid professors and stupid mi-
nisters, it may be said in reply—If a new era has commenced,
yet another Bible has not been given, and therefore, the old
534
A S2RM0N
rules are still to be followed: children are still bound to honour
their parents; and the apostolic injunction remains in force*
c< Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father*5’
Should any one still plead, that such is the love he bears to
souls, and such his desire to see the work of God, that he
knows not how to be held back by these frigid rules, let him be
thus solemnly interrogated: Does your love to the souls of
men go beyond that of Christ ? Do you desire the work of God
more ardently than he does himself? The rules in question did
not emanate from the sleepy watchmen of Israel, but from the
Watchman who never slurnbereth nor sleepeth.
It is thought by some, that revivals of religion cannot be car-
ried on with power, unless females take a more prominent place
than they have done, and employ their gifts in exhortation and
prayer in those religious meetings which are composed of both
sexes. But if this practice be not according to Scripture rule,
it will not ultimately benefit the cause, however great an ac-
quisition to the Church the public gifts of the other sex might
seem to be : for God is wiser than men.*
Great exertions should be made to disturb the unconverted
world, who are asleep, in circumstances which are beyond de-
* There appear to be different opinions concerning the practice to which I
have here referred. I would now state, that Christians are probably all agreed
in placing a high value on the sisterhood of the Church. The mothers and
daughters of Israel form a majority of the professed friends of the Redeemer in
our land. Nor is their weight of piety viewed as being at all inferior. We
are greatly pleased with the interest which they take, and the influence which
they exert, in promoting the charitable institutions of the day. We view
them as among the warmest friends of revivals, and, under God, make
great dependence on the efficacy of their prayers, and the purity of their
morals. Neither do any of us entertain an undervaluing opinion of their
talents and gifts. We doubt not but their gifts are, in many instances,
superior to those of their brethren. We are all perhaps agreed in the propriety
of their exercising those gifts in meetings, composed exclusively of their own
sex. But there are some of the friends of revivals, yea, many of them, whose
feelings are injured when, in mixed assemblies, Females give an exhortation, or
lead in the exercise of prayer. And their grief arises wholly from the view
which they have of such passages of God’s word as these: “Let the woman
learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to tench, nor to
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Tim. ii. 11,12. “ Let
your women keep silence in die Churches ; for it is not permitted unto them to
speak: but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a
shame for women to speak in the Church. What! came the word out from you ?ON REVIVALS*
35
scription dangerous. The threatenings of the divine law should
be thundered in their ears, and they should be shown not only
that God is angry with them every day, but also that his anger
is holy, just, and benevolent. All the awakening considera-
tions, suggested by the word of God, should be placed in their
view; but no unscriptural means should be used, even for the
sake of producing alarm in the minds of the impenitent. Let
us never invent threatenings of our own to excite their fears.
We should be chargeable with this, in case we were to say to a
certain person, “ If you do not repent within so many minutes,
or so many hours; or before you have finished such a piece
of work^ you will go right down to hell.” Such an expedi-
ent to awaken concern in the impenitent, would much resem-
ble the conduct of those parents, who seek to frighten their
children into compliance with their commands, by some fabri-
cated story. I conclude that we shall all agree in reprobating
such conduct in parents, as tending ultimately to destroy their
Own character for veracity, and also to prevent their menaces
in future, however seriously uttered, from producing any effect
on the minds of their children. We can tell the impenitent,
in the fear of God, and with the strictest regard to truth, that
except they repent they will perish ; and that the protraction
of life, for the shortest space, depends on the sovereign pleasure
of God, whose authority they contemn. This declaration is
much more consistent with speaking the words of truth and
soberness, than for us, assuming the place of prophets, to pre-
dict their immediate death. The practice which was adopted
by some, in the time of the great awakening in New-England,
and which has been revived of late, of praying for particular
persons, that the Lord would either convert, or cut them off
or came it unto you only ? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of
the Lord.” 1 Cor. xiv. 34—37.
If these passages have been misunderstood by those who are opposed to the
practice adverted to, still they must be grieved with it, so long as that misunder-
standing shall remain; and unless the advocates for the practice feel themselves
compelled, by positive commands, to adhere to it, might not a regard to the con-
sciences of their brethren induce them, if not to relinquish, at least to suspend it ?36
A SERMON
immediately, is much of the same nature. All, I think, must
be convinced, that neither of these practices is in accordance
with the Scriptures; but the last seems the most exceptionable,
since it is a profanation of the solemn duty of prayer, in which
there ought always to be the greatest reverence.
It is an important particular, in the management of revivals*
to deal in a proper manner with sinners whose attention has
been arrested. Sinners in this state of mind listen with solem-
nity, though not with love, to sermons and other addresses.
It is a matter of the first importance, to bring them to a clear
conviction of the truth, as it respects their depraved character
and wretched condition. Such conviction is promoted by a
clear, solemn, and affectionate exhibition of the doctrines of the
Gospel. If those doctrines, which are viewed by the carnal
mind as peculiarly offensive, are kept back, the enmity of that
carnal mind will not be disclosed. While the preacher presses
on the sinner his obligation to immediate submission, he must
not conceal from him his absolute dependence on the sovereign
grace of God. To promote true conviction, the whole truth
must be told. There is no danger of the sinner’s being pressed
too hard, provided the whole truth be kept in his view ; other-
wise, there is great danger that he will be pressed into a sub-
mission which will not bear the light of eternity.
The greatest skill which can be employed in bringing about
the conversion of sinners, consists in keeping closest to the
word of God, and to the example of the apostles, and of Christ
himself. There are some methods practised, that may be
termed mechanical, which, I fear, are not so safe as they are
expeditious. If a praying circle promise a sinner, awakened,
or unawakened, if he will kneel with them, that they will pray
for him, and they have no doubt that before he rises from his
knees he will receive comfort, I would ask, what right have
they to give him assurance, that he will be converted within an
hour, or that he will ever be converted at all ? Let them pray
for him, but do not let them think, they that tell him, that his
work shall certainly be done for him, and within such a limit-ON REVIVALS.
37
ed time, just as a mechanic makes a promise to his customer.
To preserve revivals free from corruption, there needs much
care in the treatment of those who are just beginning to hope
that they have passed from death unto life. However thank-
ful we are at the least indication of a transition from death unto
life, in the case of anxious sinners, still we ought to take good
heed, if we would not have the blood of souls found in our
skirts, that wre do not heal their wounds slightly. And here
again the oracles of God must be our only guide. They who
are in this interesting and critical situation, just laying their
foundation for eternity, are to be reminded, that there are two
sorts of foundations, differing immensely in their final results;
the one supporting the superstructure amidst storms and tem-
pests, and the other letting it fall, to the everlasting confusion
of all such as build upon it. They are now to be told, though
they may have heard it before, that nothing can be relied
upon, as evidence of regenerating grace, except those things
which the Scriptures sanction. The change consists in
being cast into the mould of the Scriptures. We call it re-
ligious experience, because it is such a knowledge of God as
can be gained in no way short of tasting and seeing that He
is good. As our knowledge of an object of taste becomes ex-
perimental, by actually tasting it, so is our knowledge of religion
experimental, when we relish it on account of its holy nature.
There is a perfect agreement between the truth, revealed in the
Scriptures, and the truth, revealed in the heart, by the Holy
Ghost. The latter is called the truth in us, and is always to be
tested by its agreement with the other. The word of God is
perfectly pure $ as such it is loved by all the subjects of regen-
eration. It is all constructed on the principles of diffusive be-
nevolence, and utterly condemns all selfish affections. And I
may add, this is the very thing which makes it precious to him
who is created anew in Christ Jesus. For an example of this:
If the atonement of Christ had been a mere relief from pun-
ishment, without having any influence to secure respect for the
law of God, it would not have appeared to the renovated man3
as it now does, worthy of all acceptation.m
A SERMON
No affections, however wonderful and joyful, are to be en-
couraged, if they be not also holy, humble, and disinterested ;
and if they be of this character, they will sweetly accord with
the word of truth. Holy affections will produce holy practice:
and the purity of revivals is promoted, by insisting on the
certainty of the connexion between them. When the Gospel
comes in power, as well as in word, it causes a mighty revolu-
tion in the servants of sin, both in their inward affections and
external conduct. It does not merely cause the stupid man
to awake; but what is altogether a more glorious display of
power, it makes the ungodly man, godly; the selfish man, dis-
interested ; the proud man, humble ; the covetous man, libe*
ral;—-in fine, it makes the sinner, a saint
Visionary experiences, however varied in different periods
and places, are all deceptive; yet by means of these, Satan
has deceived millions, and will, as we have reason to fear, de-
ceive millions more. It is rational to believe, that he will yet
invent more secret and subtle methods of deceiving, and ruin-
ing the sons of men. Is there not danger that he will take
advantage of the sentiment, which of late prevails in some
places, concerning prayer ? The prayer of faith, according to
this sentiment, enables the person who offers it, to foretell,
with infallible certainty, what individuals are to be converted.
There are some who carry the sentiment to such a length, as
to claim a power of predicting the precise time of their con-
version. Let us suppose the convert to entertain the same
views on this subject with his Spiritual father, and then his
slightest grounds of hope will be confirmed, when they are
compared with the prayer of faith, which he learns has been
made on his behalf. And now let me ask—Do the Scriptures
propose any such evidence of the sinner’s conversion ? I
tremble for fear that the sentiment, to which I have referred,
has already been the means of deluding some.
Is there no danger that the enemy will yet get advantage of
us, by making zeal the paramount evidence of grace ? That* ON REVIVALS.

mere zeal, even of a religious kind, is no certain proof of
grace, will appear evident by recurring to the life of Paul.
He was ajs full of zeal when he was a Pharisee, persecuting the
Church, as when he was an Apostle, preaching the faith he
once destroyed. There was a vast difference in the character
of his zeal in these two parts of his life. In the former, his zeal
was selfish, proud, and persecuting; in the latter, it was disinte-
rested, meek, and beneficent. Should converts be considered
as eminent in piety, chiefly on account of their zealous attach-
ment to the measures adopted to promote revivals, (and these,
perhaps, such as are not particularly enjoined in the Scrip-
tures,) rather than on account of their conformity to the exam-
ple of the meek and lowly Saviour, it will, in the end, greatly
injure the cause of vital religion. It will tend to bring the
Church back to those times, when the mint, annis, and cummin,
were scrupulously tithed, and the weightier matters of the law
neglected.
I would be unwilling to lift a finger to check the progress
of the Churches in whatsoever things are true, honest, just,
pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. It is
also desirable there should be a great increase of zeal. With-
out this the saints of the Most High will never take and pos-
sess the kingdom. Would to God, that the zeal of his people
were greatly augmented ! But it is very undesirable that its
augmentation should be attended with a loss of its character
for meekness and gentleness. If we would do much to ad-
vance the kingdom of Christ, let all the fruits of the Spirit be
in us and abound, and let the whole Christian character be
continually exemplified in our lives. Thus, by bearing all
kinds of good fruit, and much of every kind, we shall glorify
our heavenly Father, and give the best probable evidence
that we are indeed the disciples of Christ.
I know not how to close this protracted discourse, without
addressing a word to that class of hearers, who make no pre-
tension of an acquaintance with the religion of the heart. A
regard to your spiritual interests, has done much to excite me40	A SERMON ON REVIVALS.
to devote attention to this subject. Your case, my friends, is
perilous. You must know, by your own experience, what it
is to be born of the Spirit, or it is certain you cannot see the
kingdom of God. Be assured that Satan will make every
effort in his power to prevent you from ever experiencing this
change. One of his devices will undoubtedly be, to preju-
dice your minds against the work of the Holy Spirit. He
would gladly have you consider it all as mere enthusiasm. He
wishes to excite in your minds, a disgust for all religious awak-
enings. This is among the ways in which you have reason
to expect he will seek to prevent your conversion. As a
friend to your immortal interests, let me beseech you not to
suffer the adversary of your souls to prevail against you.
Learn the difference (and it is a thing you are capable of
doing) between the spirit of truth and the spirit of delusion.
Do not, as you value your souls, entertain contemptuous
thoughts of the work of God; nor confound his gracious ope-
rations with the deceitful works of him who is transformed
into an angel of light.
There is another point of light in which this subject pre*
sents the peril of your condition. You are in danger of being
yourselves the subjects of Satan’s delusions.. At present you.
are without a hope; hereafter you may have one, and still it
be worthless. You may think you know too much to be beguil-
ed by the tempter; but you do well to remember, that though
fallen, he is still a mighty angel. It will please him to have
you entertain diminutive thoughts of his power, and even to
disbelieve his existence; but your safety consists not in disbe-
lief and self-confidence. Such is the present state of your
hearts, that you are greatly exposed to the wiles of the devil.
If your attention should by any means become arrested, he
will seek to quiet your fears by selfish religion; and this is that
kind of religion which you will naturally prefer. In view of
the perilous situation you are in, be entreated to hasten your
escape, and never rest a moment, until you have exchanged the
yoke of Satan for the yoke of Christ.