No intermission
However it may still be a matter of inquiry: Was there no intermission of this evil? Were there no lucid intervals, in which something good might be found in the heart of man? We are not here to consider what the grace of God might occasionally work in his soul. And apart from this, we have no reason to believe there was any intermission of that evil. For God, who saw the whole imagination of the thoughts of his heart to be only evil, saw likewise that it was always the same, that it was only evil continually: every year, every day, every hour, every moment. He never deviated into good.
1771 text
5. However it may still be matter of enquiry, “Was there no intermission of this evil? Were there no lucid intervals, wherein something good might be found in the heart of man?” We are not here to consider, what the grace of God might occasionally work in his soul. And abstracted from this, we have no reason to believe, there was any intermission of that evil. For God who saw the whole imagination of the thoughts of his heart to be only evil, saw likewise, that it was always the same, that it was only evil continually: every year, every day, every hour, every moment. He never deviated into good.
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 44 in the 1771 Works. Genesis 6:5.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.