11. *As to the nature of _Enthusiasm_, it is undoubtedly a disorder of the mind; and such a disorder, as greatly hinders the exercise of reason. Nay sometimes, it wholly sets it aside: it not only dims, but shuts the eyes of the understanding. It may therefore well be accounted a species of madness; of madness rather than of folly: seeing a fool is properly one who draws wrong conclusions from right premises: whereas a madman draws right conclusions, but from wrong premises. And so does an Enthusiast. Suppose his premises true, and his conclusions would necessarily follow. But here lies his mistake, his premises are false. He imagines himself to be what he is not. And therefore setting out wrong, the farther he goes, the more he wanders out of the way. 12. *Every _Enthusiast_ then is properly a madman. Yet his is not an ordinary, but a religious madness. By religious, I do not mean, that it is any part of religion. Quite the reverse: religion is, the spirit of a sound mind: and consequently stands in direct opposition to madness of every kind. But I mean, it has religion for its object; it is conversant about religion. And so the _Enthusiast_ is generally talking of religion, of God or the things of God: but talking in such a manner that every reasonable Christian may discern the disorder of his mind. _Enthusiasm_ in general may then be described in some such manner as this: a religious madness arising from some falsely imagined influence or inspiration of God: at least, from imputing something to God which ought not to be imputed to him, or expecting something from God which ought not to be expected from him. 13. There are innumerable sorts of _Enthusiasm_. Those which are most common and for that reason most dangerous, I shall endeavour to reduce under a few general heads, that they may be more easily understood and avoided. The first sort of _Enthusiasm_ which I shall mention, is that of those who imagine they have the _grace_ which they have not. Thus some imagine when it is not so, that they have _redemption_ thro’ Christ, _even the forgiveness of sin_. These are usually such as _have no root in themselves_; no deep repentance, or thorough conviction. _Therefore they receive the word with joy._ And _because they have no deepness of earth_, no deep work in their heart, therefore the seed _immediately springs up_. There is immediately a superficial change, which together with that light joy, striking in with the pride of their unbroken heart, and with their inordinate self-love, easily persuades them, they have already _tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come_.