The youth of this place
Once more, what shall we say concerning the youth of this place? Have you either the form or the power of Christian godliness? Are you humble, teachable, open to advice, or stubborn, self-willed, heady, and high-minded?
Are you obedient to your superiors as to parents? Or do you despise those to whom you owe the tenderest reverence? Are you diligent in your easy business, pursuing your studies with all your strength? Do you redeem the time, crowding as much work into every day as it can contain?
Rather, are you not conscious to yourselves that you waste away day after day, either in reading what has no tendency to Christianity, or in gaming, or in you know not what? Are you better managers of your fortune than of your time? Do you, out of principle, take care to owe no man anything? Do you remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, to spend it in the more immediate worship of God?
When you are in his house, do you consider that God is there? Do you behave as seeing him who is invisible? Do you know how to possess your bodies in sanctification and honor? Are not drunkenness and uncleanness found among you? Yes, are there not some of you who glory in their shame? Do not many of you take the name of God in vain, perhaps habitually, without either remorse or fear?
Yes, are there not a multitude of you who are forsworn? I fear, a swiftly increasing multitude. Do not be surprised, brothers. Before God and this congregation I own myself to have been of that number, solemnly swearing to observe all those customs which I then knew nothing of, and those statutes which I did not so much as read over, either then, or for some years after.
What is perjury, if this is not? But if it be, oh, what a weight of sin, yes, sin of no common dye, lies upon us. And does not the Most High regard it?
1771 text
9. Once more, what shall we say concerning the youth of this place? Have you either the form or the power of Christian Godliness? Are you humble, teachable, advisable; or stubborn, self-willed, heady, and high-minded? Are you obedient to your superiors as to parents? Or do you despise those to whom you owe the tenderest reverence? Are you diligent in your easy business, pursuing your studies with all your strength? Do you redeem the time, crowding as much work into every day as it can contain? Rather, are ye not conscious to yourselves, that you waste away day after day, either in reading what has no tendency to Christianity, or in gaming, or in――you know not what? Are you better managers of your fortune than of your time? Do you, out of principle, take care to owe no man any thing? Do you remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy; to spend it in the more immediate worship of God? When you are in his House, Do you consider that God is there? Do you behave, as seeing Him that is invisible? Do you know how to possess your bodies, in sanctification and honour? Are not drunkenness and uncleanness found among you? Yea, are there not of you, who glory in their shame? Do not many of you take the name of God in vain, perhaps habitually, without either remorse or fear? Yea, * Are there not a multitude of you that are forsworn? I fear, a swiftly-increasing multitude. Be not surprized, brethren. Before God and this congregation; I own myself to have been of that number; solemnly swearing to observe all those customs, which I then knew nothing of; and those statutes, which I did not so much as read over, either then, or for some years after. What is perjury, if this is not? But if it be, O what a weight of sin, yea, sin of no common dye, lieth upon us! And doth not the Most High regard 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 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.