Not in right opinions
I say, of the heart. For religion does not consist in orthodoxy, or right opinions, either. Although these are not properly outward things, they are not in the heart, but in the understanding. A man may be orthodox in every point. He may not only hold right opinions, but zealously defend them against all who oppose them. He may think justly concerning the incarnation of our Lord, concerning the ever blessed Trinity, and every other doctrine contained in the oracles of God. He may assent to all the three creeds, that called the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian. And yet it is possible he may have no religion at all, no more than a Jew, Turk, or Pagan.
He may be almost as orthodox as the devil, though indeed not altogether. For every man errs in something, whereas we cannot well conceive the devil to hold any erroneous opinion. And he may all the while be as great a stranger as the devil is to the religion of the heart.
1771 text
6. I say, of the heart. For neither does religion consist in orthodoxy or right opinions; which altho’ they are not properly outward things, are not in the heart, but the understanding. A man may be orthodox in every point; he may not only espouse right opinions, but zealously defend them against all opposers: he may think justly concerning the incarnation of our Lord, concerning the ever blessed Trinity, and every other doctrine, contained in the oracles of God: He may assent to all the three creeds: that called the apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian: and yet ’tis possible, he may have no religion at all, no more than a Jew, Turk, or Pagan. He may be almost as orthodox as――――the devil; (tho’ indeed, not altogether. For every man errs in something; whereas we can’t well conceive him to hold any erroneous opinion) and may all the while be as great a stranger as he, to the religion of the heart.
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 7 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.