A hidden mystery
And indeed we do this the more diligently, not only because it is of the deepest importance — inasmuch as all the fruit, every word and work, must be only evil continually if the tree is evil, if the dispositions and tempers of the heart are not right before God — but likewise because, as important as these things are, they are little considered or understood. So little that we may truly say of the law too, when taken in its full spiritual meaning, that it is a mystery hidden from ages and generations since the world began (Colossians 1:26). It was utterly hidden from the heathen world. They, with all their boasted wisdom, neither found out God nor the law of God, neither in the letter nor much less in the spirit of it. Their foolish hearts were more and more darkened, and while professing themselves wise they became fools (Romans 1:22). And it was almost equally hidden, as to its spiritual meaning, from the bulk of the Jewish nation. Even those who were so ready to declare concerning others, This people who do not know the law are accursed (John 7:49), pronounced their own sentence in it, being under the same curse of the same dreadful ignorance. Witness our Lord's continual reproof of the wisest among them for their gross misinterpretations of it. Witness the supposition almost universally received among them, that they needed only to make clean the outside of the cup (Matthew 23:25); that paying tithe of mint, anise, and cumin, that outward exactness, would atone for inward unholiness, for the total neglect both of justice and mercy, of faith and the love of God (Matthew 23:23). Yes, so absolutely was the spiritual meaning of the law hidden from the wisest of them that one of their most eminent rabbis comments thus on those words of the psalmist, If I incline to iniquity with my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalm 66:18): that is, he says, if it is only in my heart, if I do not commit outward wickedness, the Lord will not regard it; he will not punish me unless I proceed to the outward act!
1771 text
3. And indeed this we do the more diligently, not only because it is of the deepest importance; inasmuch as all the fruit, every word and work, must be only evil continually, if the tree be evil, if the dispositions and tempers of the heart, be not right before God: but likewise, because as important as these things are, they are little considered or understood. So little, that we may truly say of the law too, when taken in its full spiritual meaning, It is a mystery which was hid from ages and generations since the world began. It was utterly hid from the Heathen world. They, with all their boasted wisdom, neither found out God, nor the law of God, not in the letter, much less in the spirit of it. Their foolish hearts were more and more darkened, while professing themselves wise, they became fools. And it was almost equally hid, as to its spiritual meaning, from the bulk of the Jewish nation. Even these who were so ready to declare concerning others, this people that know not the law, is accursed, pronounced their own sentence therein, as being under the same curse, the same dreadful ignorance. Witness our Lord’s continual reproof of the wisest among them, for their gross misinterpretations of it. Witness the supposition almost universally received among them, that they needed only to make clean the outside of the cup: that the paying tythe of mint, anise and cummin, outward exactness would atone for inward unholiness; for the total neglect both of justice and mercy, of faith and the love of God. Yea, so absolutely was the spiritual meaning of the law hidden from the wisest of them, that one of their most eminent Rabbi’s comments thus, on those words of the Psalmist, If I incline unto iniquity with my heart, the Lord will not hear me: that is, saith he, if it be only in my heart, if I do not commit outward wickedness, the Lord will not regard it; he will not punish me, unless I proceed to the outward act!
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.