Tares with the wheat
Thus did Christianity spread itself in the earth. But how soon did the tares appear with the wheat, and the mystery of iniquity work as well as the mystery of godliness? How soon did Satan find a seat, even in the temple of God, until the woman fled into the wilderness, and the faithful were again diminished from the children of men? Here we tread a beaten path. The still increasing corruptions of the generations that followed have been largely described, from time to time, by those witnesses God raised up, to show that he had built his church upon a rock, and the gates of hell should not wholly prevail against her.
1771 text
9. Thus did Christianity spread itself in the earth. But how soon did the tares appear with the wheat? And the mystery of iniquity work as well as the mystery of godliness! How soon did Satan find a seat, even in the temple of God! Till the woman fled into the wilderness, and the faithful were again minished from the children of men. Here we tread a beaten path: the still increasing corruptions of the succeeding generations, have been largely described from time to time, by those witnesses God raised up, to shew that he had built his church upon a rock, and the gates of hell should not wholly prevail against her.
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 4 in the 1771 Works. Saint Mary's, Oxford, 24 August 1744. Acts 4:31.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.