Hold fast
Let us thus endeavor to establish the law in ourselves: not sinning because we are under grace (Romans 6:15), but rather using all the power we receive by grace to fulfill all righteousness. Calling to mind what light we received from God while his Spirit was convincing us of sin, let us beware that we do not put out that light; what we had then attained, let us hold fast (Revelation 3:3). Let nothing induce us to build again what we have destroyed (Galatians 2:18): to resume anything, small or great, which we then clearly saw was not for the glory of God or the profit of our own soul, or to neglect anything, small or great, which we could not then neglect without a check from our own conscience. To increase and perfect the light which we had before, let us now add the light of faith. Let us confirm the former gift of God by a deeper sense of whatever he had then shown us, by a greater tenderness of conscience and a more exquisite sensibility of sin. Walking now with joy and not with fear, in a clear, steady sight of things eternal, we shall look on pleasure, wealth, praise, all the things of earth, as on bubbles upon the water, counting nothing important, nothing desirable, nothing worth a deliberate thought, but only what is within the veil, where Jesus sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).
1771 text
5. Let us thus endeavour to establish the law in ourselves: not sinning, because we are under grace, but rather using all the power we receive thereby, to fulfil all righteousness. Calling to mind, what light we received from God, while his Spirit was convincing us of sin, let us beware we do not put out that light; what we had then attained let us hold fast. Let nothing induce us to build again what we have destroyed; to resume any thing, small or great, which we then clearly saw was not for the glory of God, or the profit of our own soul: or to neglect any thing, small or great, which we could not then neglect, without a check from our own conscience. To increase and perfect the light which we had before, let us now add the light of faith. Confirm we the former gift of God, by a deeper sense of whatever he had then shewn us; by a greater tenderness of conscience, and a more exquisite sensibility of sin. Walking now with joy and not with fear, in a clear, steady sight of things eternal, we shall look on pleasure, wealth, praise, all the things of earth, as on bubbles upon the water: counting nothing important, nothing desirable, nothing worth a deliberate thought, but only what is within the veil, where Jesus sitteth at the right hand of God.
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 36 in the 1771 Works. Romans 3:31.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.