The blood we still need
We may learn from this, secondly, that a deep conviction of our demerit after we are accepted is absolutely necessary. In one sense that demerit may be called guilt. A deep conviction of demerit after we are accepted drives us to Christ, not away from him. We need it if we are to see the true value of the atoning blood, and if we are to feel that we need this blood as much, after we are justified, as we ever did before. Without this conviction we cannot help treating the blood of the covenant as a common thing, something we have no great need of now, because all our past sins are blotted out.
But if both our hearts and our lives are unclean in this way, there is a kind of guilt which we are contracting every moment, and which would therefore expose us every moment to fresh condemnation, except that he ever lives to plead for us.
He ever lives above, for us to intercede, his all-atoning love, his precious blood to plead.
It is this repentance, and the faith closely joined with it, which are expressed in those strong lines.
I sin in every breath I draw, nor do your will, nor keep your law, on earth as angels do above. But still the fountain open stands, washes my feet, my heart, my hands, till I am perfected in love.
1771 text
3. We may learn from hence, secondly, that a deep conviction of our demerit after we are accepted, (which in one sense may be termed guilt) is absolutely necessary, in order to our seeing the true value of the atoning blood; in order to our feeling that we need this as much, after we are justified, as ever we did before. Without this conviction we cannot but account the blood of the covenant as a common thing, something of which we have not now any great need, seeing all our past sins are blotted out. Yea, but if both our hearts and lives are thus unclean, there is a kind of guilt which we are contracting every moment, and which of consequence would every moment expose us to fresh condemnation, but that
He ever lives above, For us to intercede, His all-atoning love, His precious blood to plead.
It is this repentance and the faith intimately connected with it, which are expressed in those strong lines.
“I sin in every breath I draw, Nor do thy will, nor keep thy law On earth as angels do above: But still the fountain open stands, Washes my feet, my heart, my hands, Till I am perfected in 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 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.