Impressions, by Martin Wells Knapp, 17

[Knapp continues his descriptions of impressions from below.]
5. Infatuation. Under the magic charms of this enchantress all voices but her own are but faintly heard or altogether hushed. Her victims are restive under any restraint that crosses her whims, and frequently at her impetuous behests do violence to sacred vows and teachings of the Word divine.

The still small voice of duty is no more their delight, but the wine she offers intoxicates with pleasure. Too late they learn that beneath its sparkling surface there lurks disappointment, chagrin and frequently disgrace and even death. Satan may make people think that the voice of their infatuation is the voice of the Holy Ghost

Under its seductive sway it is said that three young men went in succession to their spiritual adviser, and each claimed that he was strongly "impressed of God," that he should marry a certain, attractive woman of wealth. An individual felt sure that God had revealed to him that he should a woman who was already the promised wife of another person. Another Christian man broke a long engagement and married the object of his infatuation. The woman whom he thus had wronged soon after died, and the lightnings of God's judgments have ever since been leaping upon the wrongdoer.

Attachments thus are frequently fostered which lead to alienations, law suits, neighborhood and church divisions, sundered family circles, and sometimes suicide and murder. Similar instances to the above abound on every side. The ruin wrought by bad people and the ridiculous antics cut by some good people under the influence of this enchantress, show that it is foolish and often fatal to follow her decisions. To appeal to her is as unwise as it would be to put a giddy girl upon the judge's bench. Delighted is the devil when he can delude to heed her siren voice instead of appealing to tests divine.

6. Impulse. Under this influence impressions which are very strong are acted upon in haste to be repented of at leisure. God never hurries people to do doubtful things. The devil does. Thus influenced, impulsive Peter drew his sword and made it needful for Jesus to perform the miracle of healing a sundered ear. Modern Peters by similar acts are constantly making miracles necessary to counteract the harm they thus have done. "He that believeth shall not make haste," applies to all action concerning the righteousness of which the child of God has any doubt.

From Impressions, by Martin Wells Knapp. Original publication date, 1892. Public domain. My source is here. The previous post in the series is here.