What manner of persons
What manner of persons, then, ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness? We know it cannot be long before the Lord will descend with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, when every one of us shall appear before him and give an account of his own works. Therefore, beloved, seeing you look for these things, seeing you know he will come and will not tarry, be diligent, that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Why should you not? Why should one of you be found on the left hand at his appearing? He does not will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. By repentance, to faith in a bleeding Lord. By faith, to spotless love, to the full image of God renewed in the heart, and producing all holiness of conversation. Can you doubt of this, when you remember the Judge of all is likewise the Savior of all? Has he not bought you with his own blood, that you might not perish, but have everlasting life?
O make proof of his mercy, rather than of his justice. Of his love, rather than of the thunder of his power. He is not far from every one of us, and he is now come, not to condemn, but to save the world. He stands in the midst. Sinner, does he not now, even now, knock at the door of your heart? O that you may know, at least in this your day, the things that belong to your peace. O that you may now give yourselves to him who gave himself for you, in humble faith, in holy, active, patient love. So shall you rejoice with exceeding joy in his day, when he comes in the clouds of heaven.
1771 text
5. What manner of persons then ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness? We know it cannot be long, before the Lord will descend with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God; when every one of us shall appear before him, and give account of his own works. Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye look for these things, seeing ye know, He will come and will not tarry, be diligent that ye may be found of him, in peace, without spot and blameless. Why should ye not? Why should one of you be found, on the left hand, at his appearing? He willeth not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; by repentance to faith in a bleeding Lord; by faith to spotless love, to the full image of God renewed in the heart, and producing all holiness of conversation. Can you doubt of this, when you remember, the Judge of all, is likewise the Saviour of all? Hath he not bought you with his own blood, that ye might not perish, but have everlasting life? O make proof of his mercy rather than his justice! Of his love rather than the thunder of his power! He is not far from every one of us: and he is now come, not to condemn, but to save the world. He standeth in the midst! Sinner doth he not now, even now knock at the door of thy heart? O that thou mayst know, at least in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! O that ye may now give yourselves to him who gave himself for you, in humble faith, in holy, active, patient love! So shall ye rejoice with exceeding joy in his day, when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
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.
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