Famine, the sword, or the hand of God
For indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, speaking after the manner of men, is there that Christianity, Scriptural Christianity, should again be the religion of this place, and that all orders of men among us should speak and live as men filled with the Holy Ghost? By whom should this Christianity be restored? By those of you who are in authority? Are you convinced, then, that this is Scriptural Christianity? Are you desirous it should be restored? And do you not count your fortune, liberty, life, dear to yourselves, so you may be instrumental in the restoring of it?
But suppose you have this desire, who has any power proportioned to the effect? Perhaps some of you have made a few faint attempts, but with how small success? Shall Christianity then be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable men? I do not know whether you yourselves could suffer it. Would not some of you cry out, Young man, in so doing you reproach us? But there is no danger of your being put to the proof, so has iniquity overspread us like a flood.
Whom then shall God send? The famine, the pestilence, the last messengers of God to a guilty land, or the sword? The armies of the Romish aliens, to reform us into our first love? No. Rather let us fall into your hand, O Lord, and let us not fall into the hand of man.
1771 text
11. For indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, (speaking after the manner of men) is there that Christianity, Scriptural Christianity, should be again the religion of this place? That all orders of men among us should speak and live as men filled with the Holy Ghost? By whom should this Christianity be restored? By those of you that are in authority? Are you convinced then, that this is Scriptural Christianity? Are you desirous it should be restored? And do ye not count your fortune, liberty, life, dear unto yourselves, so ye may be instrumental in the restoring it? But suppose ye have this desire, who hath any power proportioned to the effect? Perhaps some of you have made a few faint attempts, but with how small success? Shall Christianity then be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable men? I know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it. Would not some of you cry out, “Young man, in so doing thou reproachest us?” But there is no danger of your being put to the proof; so hath iniquity overspread us like a flood. Whom then shall God send? The famine, the pestilence, (the last messengers of God to a guilty land) or the sword? The armies of the |Romish| aliens, to reform us into our first love? Nay, rather let us fall into thy hand, O Lord, and let us not fall into the hand of 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.