As a fool, bear with me
I beseech you, brothers, by the mercies of God, if you do account me a madman or a fool, yet as a fool bear with me. It is utterly needful that someone should use great plainness of speech toward you. It is more especially needful at this time, for who knows whether it is the last? Who knows how soon the righteous Judge may say, I will no more be entreated for this people? Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in this land, they should but deliver their own souls.
And who will use this plainness, if I do not? Therefore I, even I, will speak.
And I adjure you, by the living God, that you do not steel your breasts against receiving a blessing at my hands. Do not say in your heart that old Latin line, Non persuadebis, etiamsi persuaseris. That is, You will not persuade me, even if you have persuaded me. Or, in other words, Lord, you shall not send by whom you will send. Let me rather perish in my blood than be saved by this man.
1771 text
2. I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, if ye do account me a madman or a fool, yet as a fool bear with me. It is utterly needful that some one should use great plainness of speech towards you. It is more especially needful at this time; for who knoweth but it is the last? Who knoweth how soon the righteous Judge may say, I will no more be intreated for this people? Tho’ |Noah|, |Daniel|, and |Job|, were in this land, they should but deliver their own souls. And who will use this plainness, if I do not? Therefore I, even I, will speak. And I adjure you, by the living God, that ye steel not your breasts against receiving a blessing at my hands. Do not say in your heart, “Non persuadebis, etiamsi persuaseris: Or, in other words, Lord, thou shalt not send, by whom thou wilt send. Let me rather perish in my blood, than be saved by this man!”
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.