FANATICISM PERVERTS THE JUDGMENT.
BRO. SMITH: When I read qualified confessions from those who have been led away by the arts of Apollyon, I am forcibly reminded of some chapters in my own experience, some years since. Certainly there is no more abstruse, difficult science, than self-knowledge; and to no one is this so difficult, as to him who has been led away by Satan into fanaticism. How it is done, and how it is to be accounted for, let some one else explain; but it is certain that those thus entrapped, are very slow and cautious to return, although they (or we) were swift to depart. I had supposed myself proof against superstition and fanaticism, as much above it as possible, and supposed that snare peculiarly calculated for the ignorant and the inexperienced; but alas! pride must have its fall, and O how loth we are to part with this precious pet of our carnal hearts. Dear Pride, how we dote upon thee, as though thou wast a child of paradise, instead of a minister of Lucifer! How we love to be considered independent, high-spirited, and foremost. Yes, says Satan, you are just the person to stand forth and lead the host; and our school-boy lessons were strangely mixed with flattering and vain precepts and prospects of future greatness. Instead of being servants, we would reign as kings, and at the same time we are not aware of the existence of pride in the heart. Such is the power of the enemy to blind the mind. When a faithful brother branded my fanaticism as "all of the Devil," I yielded to his protest, but still thought it unjust to call it all of Satan. Certainly, thought I, a part of it is of God, and slowly receded from what I now see to have been an abomination in the sight of God; and months afterward, when another brother told me my judgment was perverted on this point, I was shocked that he should speak so harshly, as I then thought, but I had begun to suspect this; and I prayed God if this was so, to open my eyes, and from this time my recovery was more thorough; for I began to see that fanaticism had perverted my judgment, and I cried to God to restore my judgment, for what is more injurious to one's present and future prospects, than a perverted judgment? A perverted judgment! Sin perverts the judgment, so does error, and thus the race of man is led away from God; but is it so, that the sincere follower of Christ can be so misled, and his judgment perverted? Yes, it is even so. How is this? Will not God protect him? Yes, if he is watchful, prayerful and humble; but here is the difficulty; these duties are neglected, and the heart is not examined nor understood, and forthwith down comes the net, and Satan laughs with fiendish joy, while angels weep. I would say to those who have been caught in the net of fanaticism, do not give up to despair, neither set up your own wills. Your recovery will be gradual. It is a terrible disease; but you must have a good physician. Let him tell you how weak you are, and do not neglect his prescriptions. Christ can even restore the judgment. Use redoubled diligence, humility, watchfulness, self-examination and prayer, and distrust your own judgment, and often consult those of tried judgment and experience. If you say, How do you know this, Bro. Clarke? I will say, By sad experience of my own heart, I have learned to prize the advice of my superiors, and the gift that God has so kindly established in the church.
Jos. CLARKE.