A heap of contradictions
Does not every man see that he cannot serve both consistently with himself? What more glaring inconsistency can be conceived than must continually appear in his whole behavior who is endeavoring to obey both these masters, striving to serve God and mammon? He is indeed a sinner who goes two ways, one step forward and another backward. He is continually building up with one hand and pulling down with the other. He loves sin and he hates it. He is always seeking and yet always fleeing from God. He would and he would not. He is not the same man for one day, no, not for an hour together. He is a motley mixture of all sorts of contrarieties, a heap of contradictions jumbled in one. O, be consistent with yourself, one way or the other. Turn to the right hand or to the left. If mammon is God, serve him. If the Lord is God, then serve him (1 Kings 18:21). But never think of serving either at all unless it be with your whole heart.
1771 text
13. Does not every man see, that he cannot serve both, consistently with himself? What more glaring inconsistency can be conceived, than must continually appear in his whole behaviour, who is endeavouring to obey both these masters, striving to serve God and mammon? He is indeed a sinner that goeth two ways; one step forward and another backward. He is continually building up with one hand, and pulling down with the other. He loves sin, and he hates it: he is always seeking, and yet always fleeing from God. He would and he would not. He is not the same man, for one day, no, not for an hour together. He is a motly mixture of all sorts of contrarieties; a heap of contradictions jumbled in one. O, be consistent with thyself, one way or the other. Turn to the right-hand or to the left. If mammon be God, serve thou him; if the Lord, then serve him. But never think of serving either at all, unless it be with thy whole heart.
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 29 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:24-34.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.