Two contrary principles
The sum of all is this. There are in every person, even after he is justified, two contrary principles, nature and grace. Saint Paul calls them the flesh and the Spirit. Hence, although even babes in Christ are sanctified, it is only in part. In a degree, according to the measure of their faith, they are spiritual. Yet in a degree they are carnal. Accordingly, believers are continually urged to watch against the flesh, as well as against the world and the devil. And the constant experience of the children of God agrees with this. While they feel this witness in themselves, they feel a will not wholly resigned to the will of God. They know they are in him, and yet they find a heart ready to depart from him, a proneness to evil in many instances, and a backwardness to what is good. The contrary doctrine is wholly new. It was never heard of in the church of Christ, from the time of his coming into the world until the time of Count Zinzendorf. And it brings the most fatal consequences. It cuts off all watching against our evil nature, against that Delilah which we are told is gone, though she is still lying in our bosom. It tears away the shield of weak believers, takes their faith from them, and so leaves them exposed to all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
1771 text
V. 1. The sum of all is this. There are in every person, even after he is justified, two contrary principles, nature and grace, termed by St. Paul, the flesh and the Spirit. Hence altho’ even babes in Christ are sanctified, yet it is only in part. In a degree, according to the measure of their faith, they are spiritual: yet in a degree, they are carnal. Accordingly, believers are continually exhorted to watch against the flesh, as well as the world and the devil. And to this agrees the constant experience of the children of God. While they feel this witness in themselves, they feel a will not wholly resigned to the will of God. They know they are in him, and yet find an heart ready to depart from him, a proneness to evil in many instances, and a backwardness to that which is good. The contrary doctrine is wholly new; never heard of in the church of Christ, from the time of his coming into the world, ’till the time of count Zinzendorf. And it is attended with the most fatal consequences. It cuts off all watching against our evil nature, against the Delilah, which we are told is gone, tho’ she is still lying in our bosom. It tears away the shield of weak believers, deprives them of their faith, and so leaves them exposed to all the assaults of the world, the flesh and the devil.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 13 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 5:17.
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