No love of God
And having no knowledge, we can have no love of God: we cannot love him whom we do not know. Most men talk indeed of loving God, and perhaps imagine they do. At least, few will acknowledge they do not love him. But the fact is too plain to be denied. No man loves God by nature, any more than he does a stone, or the earth he treads upon. What we love, we delight in. But no man has naturally any delight in God. In our natural state, we cannot conceive how anyone should delight in him. We take no pleasure in him at all. He is utterly tasteless to us. To love God! It is far above, out of our sight. We cannot naturally attain to it (Psalm 139:6).
1771 text
5. And having no knowledge, we can have no love of God: we cannot love him we know not. Most men talk indeed of loving God, and perhaps imagine they do. At least, few will acknowledge they do not love him: but the fact is too plain to be denied. No man loves God by nature, any more than he does a stone, or the earth he treads upon. What we love, we delight in: but no man has naturally any delight in God. In our natural state, we cannot conceive, how any one should delight in him. We take no pleasure in him at all: he is utterly tasteless to us. To love God! It is far above, out of our sight. We cannot, naturally, attain unto it.
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.