Meditation LXXIII.
Meditation LXXIII.
DELUSION.
Leghorn, April 9, 1759.
Among all the various kinds of delusion—that which concerns the soul, religion, and God—is most melancholy, and has the most dismal effects. Some, because born in a religious family, account themselves Christians from their cradle, and give themselves no concern about the new birth.
Others think all is well with them, because they are neither swearers nor liars, drunkards nor fornicators; they are honest, have a form of godliness, and hence think themselves in a fair way for heaven—even though they are ignorant of spiritual union to him who is the life of the soul, and quite unacquainted with the life of faith in the Son of God.
Again, there are others who have been very wicked in their younger days, have been in the army or navy, and then and there have committed all wickedness with greediness.
Now, if these men are separated from their wicked companions, and live where sobriety is more in fashion, they drop their cursings, and go regularly to church; and if they have entered into the married state, and prove faithful to the marriage vows—then they count themselves converted, and bless their happy state, though they have never undergone, and know nothing of, a saving change.
Though the most wicked are at all periods of life invited to return to God, yet what numbers perish through delusion—are averse to test themselves—and build for eternity on sand! Not to speak of the delusions of popery, which makes a merchandise of souls; there are some who, because they have had some legal terrors, some awakenings, and some resolutions to amend, though ignorant of the new birth, think they are converted.
And there are others, in the decline of life, feeling death fast approaching—who begin to be startled at dissolution, and affrighted to plunge into eternity, condemn the grosser actions of their life, and their ill-spent time, and so, to make amends for all, read much in the Bible, and other religious books; but still the sin of their nature lies out of sight; nor do they advert to this, that a man must be born again, else he shall never see the kingdom of heaven. And yet such men pass for converts among the men of the world.
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