Those under the wrath of God
But this is confirmed not only by the experience of the children of God, thousands of whom can declare that they never knew themselves to be in the favor of God until it was directly witnessed to them by his Spirit. It is confirmed also by all those who are convinced of sin, who feel the wrath of God abiding on them. These cannot be satisfied with anything less than a direct testimony from his Spirit, that he is merciful to their unrighteousness, and remembers their sins and iniquities no more.
Tell any of these, You are to know you are a child by reflecting on what he has worked in you, on your love, joy, and peace. And will he not immediately reply, By all this I know I am a child of the devil.
I have no more love to God than the devil has. My carnal mind is enmity against God. I have no joy in the Holy Ghost. My soul is sorrowful even to death. I have no peace. My heart is a troubled sea. I am all storm and tempest.
And which way can these souls possibly be comforted, but by a divine testimony? Not a testimony that they are good, or sincere, or conformable to the Scripture in heart and life, but that God justifies the ungodly. The one who, until the moment he is justified, is all ungodly, void of all true holiness. The one who does not work, who works nothing that is truly good, until he is conscious that he is accepted, not for any works of righteousness which he has done, but by the mere, free mercy of God. Wholly and solely for what the Son of God has done and suffered for him.
And can it be any otherwise, if a man is justified by faith, without the works of the law? If so, what inward or outward goodness can he be conscious of, before his justification? Is not the having nothing to pay, that is, being conscious that there dwells in us no good thing, neither inward nor outward goodness, essentially, indispensably necessary, before we can be justified freely, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ? Was ever any man justified since his coming into the world, or can any man ever be justified, until he is brought to that point?
I give up every plea beside. Lord, I am damned. But you have died.
1771 text
7. But this is confirmed, not only by the experience of the children of God, thousands of whom can declare, that they never did know themselves to be in the favour of God, ’till it was directly witnessed to them by his Spirit: but by all those who are convinced of sin, who feel the wrath of God abiding on them. These cannot be satisfied with any thing less than a direct testimony from his Spirit, that he is merciful to their unrighteousness, and remembers their sins and iniquities no more. Tell any of these, “You are to know you are a child, by reflecting on what he has wrought in you, on your love, joy and peace:” and will he not immediately reply, by all this I know, I am a child of the devil. I have no more love to God than the devil has: my carnal mind is enmity against God. I have no joy in the Holy Ghost: my soul is sorrowful even unto death. I have no peace: my heart is a troubled sea: I am all storm and tempest. And which way can these souls possibly be comforted, but by a divine testimony, (not that they are good, or sincere, or conformable to the scripture in heart and life, but) that God justifieth the ungodly: him that ’till the moment he is justified, is all ungodly, void of all true holiness? Him that worketh not, that worketh nothing that is truly good, ’till he is conscious that he is accepted, not for any works of righteousness which he hath done, but by the mere, free mercy of God? Wholly and solely for what the Son of God hath done and suffered for him? And can it be any otherwise, if a man is justified by faith, without the works of the law? If so, what inward or outward goodness can he be conscious of, antecedent to his justification? Nay, is not the having nothing to pay, that is, the being conscious that there dwelleth in us no good thing, neither inward nor outward goodness, essentially, indispensably necessary, before we can be justified freely, thro’ the redemption that is in Jesus Christ? Was ever any man justified since his coming into the world, or can any man ever be justified, ’till he is brought to that point,
“I give up every plea, beside Lord, I am damned――But thou hast died!”
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 11 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:16. The second discourse on the witness of the Spirit.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.