The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption · §41

Not called to tremble

Click or tap any sentence to jump there. The side buttons skip a paragraph.

Beware, then, you who are called by the name of Christ, that you come not short of the mark of your high calling. Beware you rest not, either in a natural state, with too many who are accounted good Christians, or in a legal state, wherein those who are highly esteemed of men are generally content to live and die.

Nay, but God has prepared better things for you, if you follow on till you attain. You are not called to fear and tremble like devils, but to rejoice and love, like the angels of God. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall rejoice evermore. You shall pray without ceasing. You shall in everything give thanks. You shall do the will of God on earth, as it is done in heaven.

O prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Now present yourself a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Where you have already attained, hold fast, and by reaching forth to those things which are before, press on, until the God of peace makes you perfect in every good work, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1771 text

4. Beware then, thou who art called by the name of Christ, that thou come not short of the mark of thy high calling. Beware thou rest not, either in a natural state, with too many that are accounted good Christians: or in a legal state, wherein those who are highly esteemed of men, are generally content to live and die. Nay, but God hath prepared better things for thee, if thou follow on till thou attain. Thou art not called to fear and tremble, like devils, but to rejoice and love, like the angels of God. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. Thou shalt rejoice evermore. Thou shalt pray without ceasing. Thou shalt in every thing give thanks. Thou shalt do the will of God on earth, as it is done in heaven. O prove thou what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Now present thyself a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Whereunto thou hast already attained, hold fast, by reaching forth unto those things which are before; until the God of peace make thee perfect in every good work, working in thee that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever! Amen.

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.