A sea of glass
It has indeed been imagined by some great and good men that, as it requires the same almighty power to annihilate things as to create, to speak into nothing or out of nothing, so no part of the universe, no atom in it, will be totally or finally destroyed. Rather, they suppose that, as the last operation of fire which we have yet been able to observe is to reduce into glass what by a smaller force it had reduced to ashes, so, in the day God has ordained, the whole earth, if not the material heavens also, will undergo this change, after which the fire can have no further power over them. And they believe this is intimated by that expression in the Revelation made to Saint John: Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. Revelation 4:6. We cannot now either affirm or deny this. But we shall know hereafter.
1771 text
3. It has indeed been imagined by some great and good men, that as it requires that same almighty power, to annihilate things as to create, to speak into nothing or out of nothing: so no part of, no atom in the universe, will be totally or finally destroyed. Rather, they suppose, that as the last operation of fire, which we have yet been able to observe, is to reduce into glass what by a smaller force it had reduced to ashes: so in the day God hath ordained, the whole earth, if not the material heavens also, will undergo this change, after which the fire can have no farther power over them. And they believe this is intimated by that expression in the Revelation made to St. John, Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto chrystal. We cannot now either affirm or deny this: but we shall know hereafter.
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 15 in the 1771 Works. Romans 14:10. Bedford, 10 March 1758.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.