Bondage to fear ends
Here end both the guilt and the power of sin. He can now say, I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, even in this mortal body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Here end remorse, and sorrow of heart, and the anguish of a wounded spirit. God turns his heaviness into joy. He made sore, and now his hands bind up. Here ends also that bondage to fear, for his heart stands fast, believing in the Lord. He cannot fear any longer the wrath of God, for he knows it is now turned away from him, and he looks upon him no more as an angry judge, but as a loving Father. He cannot fear the devil, knowing he has no power, except it is given him from above. He fears not hell, being an heir of the kingdom of heaven. Consequently, he has no fear of death, by reason of which he was, in time past, for so many years, subject to bondage.
Rather, knowing that if the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, he has a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. He groans earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with that house which is from heaven. He groans to shake off this house of earth, that mortality may be swallowed up of life, knowing that God has wrought him for the selfsame thing, who has also given him the earnest of his Spirit.
1771 text
4. Here end both the guilt and power of sin. He can now say, I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, even in this mortal body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Here end remorse and sorrow of heart, and the anguish of a wounded spirit. God turneth his heaviness into joy. He made sore, and now his hands bind up. Here ends also that bondage unto fear; for his heart standeth fast, believing in the Lord. He cannot fear any longer the wrath of God; for he knows it is now turned away from him, and looks upon him no more as an angry judge, but as a loving father. He cannot fear the devil, knowing he has no power, except it be given him from above. He fears not hell, being an heir of the kingdom of heaven; consequently, he has no fear of death; by reason whereof he was in time past, for so many years subject to bondage. Rather, knowing that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, he hath a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens: He groaneth earnestly, desiring to be cloathed upon with that house which is from heaven. He groans to shake off this house of earth, that mortality may be swallowed up of life: knowing that God hath wrought him for the self same thing; who hath also given him the earnest of his Spirit.
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.