Peace and mercy
Suppose now the fullness of time to be come, and the prophecies to be accomplished. What a prospect this is. All is peace, quietness, and assurance forever. Here is no din of arms, no confused noise, no garments rolled in blood.
Destructions have come to a perpetual end. Wars have ceased from the earth. Neither are there any internal quarrels remaining, no brother rising up against brother, no country or city divided against itself and tearing out its own bowels. Civil discord is at an end forever, and none is left either to destroy or to hurt his neighbor.
Here is no oppression to make even the wise man mad, no extortion to grind the face of the poor, no robbery or wrong, no rapine or injustice, for all are content with such things as they possess. Thus righteousness and peace have kissed each other. They have taken root and filled the land, righteousness flourishing out of the earth, and peace looking down from heaven.
And with righteousness, or justice, mercy is also found. The earth is no longer full of cruel habitations. The Lord has destroyed both the bloodthirsty and the malicious, the envious and the revengeful man. Were there any provocation, there is none who now knows how to return evil for evil. But indeed there is none who does evil, no, not one, for all are harmless as doves.
And being filled with peace and joy in believing, and united in one body by one Spirit, they all love as brothers. They are all of one heart and of one soul. Neither does any of them say that anything he possesses is his own.
There is none among them who lacks, for every man loves his neighbor as himself. And all walk by one rule: Whatever you would have men do to you, even so do to them.
1771 text
3. Suppose now the fulness of time to be come, and the prophecies to be accomplished, what a prospect is this? All is peace, quietness, and assurance for ever. Here is no din of arms, no confused noise, no garments rolled in blood. Destructions are come to a perpetual end: wars are ceased from the earth. Neither are there any intestine jars remaining; no brother rising up against brother; no country or city divided against itself, and tearing out its own bowels. Civil discord is at end for evermore, and none is left either to destroy or hurt his neighbour. Here is no oppression to make even the wise man mad; no extortion to grind the face of the poor; no robbery or wrong; no rapine or injustice; for all are content with such things as they possess. Thus righteousness and peace have kissed each other; they have taken root and filled the land: righteousness flourishing out of the earth, and peace looking down from heaven.
4. And with righteousness or justice, mercy is also found. The earth is no longer full of cruel habitations. The Lord hath destroyed both the blood-thirsty and malicious, the envious and revengeful man. Were there any provocation, there is none that now knoweth, to return evil for evil: but indeed there is none that doeth evil, no not one; for all are harmless as doves. And being filled with peace and joy in believing, and united in one body, by one spirit, they all love as brethren, they are all of one heart and of one soul. Neither saith any of them, that ought of the things which he possesseth is his own. There is none among them that lacketh; for every man loveth his neighbour as himself. And all walk by one rule, Whatever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them.
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 4 in the 1771 Works. Saint Mary's, Oxford, 24 August 1744. Acts 4:31.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.