You have overshot yourself now to some purpose. These are the very words of our own church. You may read them, if you are so inclined, in the first part of the _homily on fasting_. And consequently, what you have peremptorily determined to be _mere lunacy and destruction_, is that _repentance unto life_, which, in the judgment both of the church and of St. _Paul_, is _never to be repented of_.
13. I grant, thirdly, that _extraordinary_ circumstances have attended this conviction in some instances. A particular account of these I have frequently given. While the word of God was preached, some persons have dropped down as dead; some have been, as it were, in strong convulsions; some roared aloud, though not with an ♦articulate voice; and others spoke the anguish of their souls.
♦ “articlute” replaced with “articulate”
This, I suppose, you believe to be perfect madness. But it is easily accounted for, either on principles of reason or scripture.
First, on principles of reason. For how easy is it to suppose, that a strong, lively and sudden apprehension of the heinousness of sin, the wrath of God, and the bitter pains of eternal death, should affect the body as well as the soul, during the present laws of vital union; should interrupt or disturb the ordinary circulations, and put nature out of its course? Yea, we may question, whether while this union subsists, it be possible for the mind to be affected, in so violent a degree, without some or other of those bodily symptoms following?
It is likewise easy to account for these things, on principles of scripture. For when we take a view of them in this light, we are to add to the consideration of natural causes, the agency of those spirits who still excel in strength, and as far as they have leave from God, will not fail to torment whom they cannot destroy; to _tear_ those _that are coming_ to Christ. It is also remarkable, that there is plain scripture precedent of every symptom which has lately appeared. So that we cannot allow even the _conviction_ attended with these to be _madness_, without giving up both reason and scripture.
*14. I grant, fourthly, That touches of extravagance, bordering on madness may sometime attend severe conviction. And this also is easy to be accounted for, by the present laws of the animal œconomy. For we know, fear or grief, from a temporal cause, may occasion a fever and thereby a delirium.
It is not strange then that some, while under strong impressions of grief or fear, from a sense of the wrath of God, should for a season _forget_ almost all things else, and scarce be able to answer a common question: that some should _fancy_ they see the flames of hell, or the devil and his angels around them: or that others, for a space, should be _afraid_, like _Cain, whosoever meeteth me will slay me_. All these, and whatever less common effects may sometimes accompany this conviction, are easily known from the natural distemper of madness, were it only by this one circumstance, that whenever the person convinced tastes the pardoning love of God, they all vanish away in a moment.
Lastly, I have seen one instance (I pray God I may see no more such!) of real, lasting madness.
Two or three years since, I took one with me to _Bristol_, who was under deep convictions; but of as sound an understanding in all respects, as ever he had been in his life. I went a short journey, and when I came to _Bristol_ again, found him really distracted. I enquired particularly, at what time and place, and in what manner this disorder began? And I believe there are, at least, threescore witnesses, alive, and ready to testify what follows. When I went from _Bristol_, he contracted an acquaintance with some persons, who were not of the same judgment with me. He was soon prejudiced against me: quickly after, when our society were met together in _Kingswood-house_, he began a vehement invective both against my person and doctrines. In the midst of this, he was struck raving mad. And so he continued till his friends put him into _bedlam_: and probably, laid _his_ madness too to _my_ charge.
15. I fear, there may also be some instances of real madness, proceeding from a different cause.
Suppose, for instance, a person, hearing me, is strongly convinced, that a liar cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. He comes home, and relates this to his parents or friends, and appears to be very uneasy. These _good Christians_ are disturbed at this, and afraid he is running mad too. They are resolved, he shall never hear any of those fellows more; and keep to it in spite of all his intreaties. They will not suffer him, when at home, to be alone, for fear he should read or pray. And perhaps in a while they will constrain him, at least by repeated importunities, to do again the very thing, for which he was convinced the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.