A Christian world
But shall we not see greater things than these? Yes, greater than have been yet from the beginning of the world. Can Satan cause the truth of God to fail, or his promises to be of no effect? If not, the time will come when Christianity will prevail over all, and cover the earth.
Let us stand a little, and survey, the third thing which was proposed, this strange sight, a Christian world. Of this the prophets of old inquired and searched diligently. Of this the Spirit which was in them testified.
It shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people. To it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious.
And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again to recover the remnant of his people. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. The wolf shall then dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. The calf and the young lion and the fatling shall be together, and a little child shall lead them. They shall not hurt or destroy, says the Lord, in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
To the same effect are the words of the great apostle, which, it is evident, have never yet been fulfilled. Has God cast away his people? God forbid. But through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles. And if the diminishing of them is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? For I would not, brothers, have you ignorant of this mystery, that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel shall be saved.
1771 text
III. 1. But shall we not see greater things than these? Yea, greater than have been yet from the beginning of the world. Can Satan cause the truth of God to fail, or his promises to be of none effect? If not, the time will come, when Christianity will prevail over all, and cover the earth. Let us stand a little, and survey (the third thing which was proposed) this strange sight, a Christian world. Of this the prophets of old enquired and searched diligently: of this the Spirit which was in them testified, It shall come to pass in the last days, that the Mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. In that day there shall be a Root of |Jesse|, which shall stand for an ensign of the people. To it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again to recover the remnant of his people; and he shall set up an Ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of |Israel|, and gather together the dispersed of |Judah|, from the four corners of the earth. The wolf shall then dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. They shall not hurt nor destroy, saith the Lord, in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
2. To the same effect are the words of the great apostle, which it is evident have never yet been fulfilled. Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. But through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles. And if the diminishing of them be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,――That blindness in part is happened to |Israel|, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in: and so all |Israel| shall be saved.
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.