Where do the Christians live
Having thus briefly considered Christianity, as beginning, as going on, and as covering the earth, it remains only that I should close the whole with a plain practical application. And first I would ask, where does this Christianity now exist? Where, I pray, do the Christians live? Which is the country whose inhabitants are all thus filled with the Holy Ghost?
Are all of one heart and of one soul? Can they not bear that one among them should lack anything, but do they continually give to every man as he has need? Who, one and all, have the love of God filling their hearts, and constraining them to love their neighbors as themselves?
Who have all put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering? Who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed, against justice, mercy, or truth, but in every point do to all men as they would have these do to them? With what propriety can we term any a Christian country which does not answer this description? Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a Christian country upon earth.
1771 text
IV. Having thus briefly considered Christianity, as beginning, as going on, and as covering the earth, it remains only that I should close the whole with a plain practical application.
1. And first, I would ask, where does this Christianity now exist? Where, I pray, do the Christians live? Which is the country, the inhabitants whereof are all thus filled with the Holy Ghost? Are all of one heart and of one soul? Cannot suffer one among them to lack any thing, but continually give to every man as he hath need? Who one and all have the love of God filling their hearts, and constraining them to love their neighbours as themselves? Who have all put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering? Who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed, against justice, mercy, or truth? But in every point do unto all men, as they would these should do unto them. With what propriety can we term any a Christian country, which does not answer this description? Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a Christian country upon earth.
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.
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