Shaken out of sleep
By some awful providence, or by his word applied with the demonstration of his Spirit, God touches the heart of him who lay asleep in darkness and in the shadow of death. He is terribly shaken out of his sleep, and wakes into a consciousness of his danger. Perhaps in a moment, perhaps by degrees, the eyes of his understanding are opened, and now first, the veil being in part removed, discern the real state he is in. Horrid light breaks in upon his soul, such light as may be conceived to gleam from the bottomless pit, from the lowest deep, from a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
He at last sees that the loving, the merciful God is also a consuming fire, that he is a just God and a terrible one, rendering to every man according to his works, entering into judgment with the ungodly for every idle word, yes, and for the imaginations of the heart. He now clearly perceives that the great and holy God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, that he is an avenger of every one who rebels against him, and repays the wicked to his face, and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
1771 text
II. 1. By some awful providence, or by his word applied with the demonstration of his Spirit, God touches the heart of him that lay asleep in darkness and in the shadow of death. He is terribly shaken out of his sleep, and awakes into a consciousness of his danger. Perhaps in a moment, perhaps by degrees, the eyes of his understanding are opened, and now first (the veil being in part removed) discern the real state he is in. Horrid light breaks in upon his soul; such light, as may be conceived to gleam from the bottomless pit, from the lowest deep, from a lake of fire, burning with brimstone. He at last sees the loving, the merciful God, is also a consuming fire; that he is a just God and a terrible, rendering to every man according to his works, entering into judgment with the ungodly for every idle word, yea, and for the imaginations of the heart. He now clearly perceives, that the great and holy God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity: that he is an avenger of every one who rebelleth against him, and repayeth the wicked to his face; and that it is a fearful thing, to fall into the hands of the living God.
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 9 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.