The Vain Self-Flatteries of the Sinner # 4

The Vain Self-Flatteries of the Sinner # 4

3. Let every sinner examine himself, whether he does not flatter himself in some of those ways which have been mentioned. What is it in your own minds, which makes you think it is safe for you to delay turning to God? What is it that encourages you to run such a venture as you do - by delaying this necessary work? Is it that you hope there is no such a state as heaven or hell - and a suspicion that there is no God? Is it this which makes you secure? Or is it that you are not much afraid, because you imagine that you shall have opportunity enough in the future, to mind such things? Is it an intention of a future seeking a more convenient season? And are you persuaded that God will hearken to you then, after you shall have so long turned a deaf ear to His gracious commands and invitations? Are you encouraged to commit sin, because you hope to repent of it? Are you encouraged by the mercy of God - to be His enemies? And do you resolve still to provoke Him to anger, because you think He is easily pacified?

Or do you think that your conversion is in your own power, and that you can turn to God when you please? Is it because you have been born of godly parents - that you are so secure? Or do you imagine that you are in a fair way to be converted? Do you think that what you have done in religion, will engage God to pity you, and that He never can have the heart to condemn one who has lived such a moral life? Or do you think that you are indeed converted already? And does that encourage you to take a liberty in sinning? Or are you secure, because you are so stupid as to think nothing about these things? Do you let these concerns wholly alone, and scarcely ever think at all how it will be with you after you are dead?

Certainly it must be one or more of these things which keeps you in your vain security, and encourages you to go on in sin. Examine, therefore, and see which of them it is!

4. By the test and doctrine - be persuaded to cease flattering yourselves thus, in your own eyes. You are herein informed that those who do as you do, commonly continue so doing - until their punishment actually comes upon them! Thereby you may be convinced of the vanity of all such flatteries. Be afraid of that which you are sure is the devil's bait: "Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird," (Proverbs 1:17).

You are not only told in the Scriptures that sinners are generally thus allured to hell, but your own reason may convince you that it is so. For doubtless other sinners have as much ground to hope to escape punishment as you; and it is evident, that they generally do hope to escape. Men almost universally think they shall not go to hell. Yet what multitudes go down from under the preaching of the gospel - to the pit of destruction! Now, this is surely enough to convince any sober, prudent person of the folly of such flattery, and the folly of every one who does not immediately set about his great work with all his might. If you could have access to the damned, you would hear many of them curse themselves, for thus flattering themselves while they lived in this world; and you would have the same doctrine preached to you by their wailings and yellings - which is now preached to you from the pulpit.

If you think that you are in a way of earnest seeking salvation, consider, whether or not you mind earthly things yet more? If you imagine that you have it in your own power to work yourselves up to repentance, consider that you must assuredly give up that vain imagination before you can have repentance wrought in you. If you think yourselves already converted, and that encourages you to give yourselves the great liberty in sinning - this is a certain sign that you are not converted.

Therefore, abandon all these ways of flattering yourselves! No longer follow the devil's bait; and let nothing encourage you to go on in sin - but immediately and henceforth seek God with all your heart, and soul, and strength!

~Jonathan Edwards~

(The End)