Solitude and society
Not that we can in any way condemn the mixing of solitude or retirement with society. This is not only allowable but useful. Indeed, it is necessary, as daily experience shows, for everyone who either already is, or desires to be, a real Christian. It can hardly be that we should spend one entire day in a continued intercourse with people without suffering loss in our soul, and in some measure grieving the Holy Spirit of God. We need daily to retire from the world, at least morning and evening, to talk with God, to commune more freely with our Father who is in secret (Matthew 6:6). Nor indeed can a person of experience condemn even longer seasons of religious retirement, so long as they do not imply any neglect of the worldly work in which the providence of God has placed us.
1771 text
Not that we can in any wise condemn, the intermixing solitude or retirement with society. This is not only allowable, but expedient: nay, it is necessary as daily experience shews, for every one that either already is, or desires to be a real Christian. It can hardly be that we should spend one entire day, in a continued intercourse with men, without suffering loss in our soul, and in some measure grieving the Holy Spirit of God. We have need daily to retire from the world, at least, morning and evening, to converse with God, to commune more freely with our Father which is in secret. Nor indeed can a man of experience condemn, even longer seasons of religious retirement, so they do not imply any neglect of the worldly employ, wherein the providence of God has placed us.
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 24 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:13-16.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.