Before faith was
Let those who magnify faith beyond all proportion so as to swallow up all else, and who so totally misapprehend its nature as to imagine it stands in the place of love, consider further that as love will exist after faith, so it existed long before it. The angels, who from the moment of their creation beheld the face of their Father who is in heaven (Matthew 18:10), had no occasion for faith in its general notion, as the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Nor did they need faith in its more particular acceptation, faith in the blood of Jesus, for he did not take on himself the nature of angels, but only the seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16). There was therefore no place before the foundation of the world for faith either in the general or the particular sense. But there was a place for love. Love existed from eternity in God, the great ocean of love. Love had a place in all the children of God from the moment of their creation. They received at once from their gracious Creator existence and love.
1771 text
3. *Let those who magnify faith beyond all proportion, so as to swallow up all things else, and who so totally misapprehend the nature of it, as to imagine it stands in the place of love, consider farther, That as love will exist after faith, so it did exist long before it. The angels, who from the moment of their creation, beheld the face of their Father that is in heaven, had no occasion for faith, in its general notion, as it is the evidence of things not seen. Neither had they need of faith, in its more particular acceptation, faith in the blood of Jesus: for he took not upon him the nature of angels; but only the seed of Abraham. There was therefore no place before the foundation of the world, for faith either in the general or particular sense. But there was for love. Love existed from eternity, in God, the great ocean of love. Love had a place in all the children of God, from the moment of their creation. They received at once from their gracious Creator, to exist, and to love.
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 36 in the 1771 Works. Romans 3:31.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.