You cannot use them without trusting
The first and chief of these is, You cannot use these means, as you call them, without trusting in them. I ask, where is this written? I expect you to show me plain scripture for your assertion. Otherwise I dare not receive it, because I am not convinced that you are wiser than God.
If it really had been as you assert, it is certain Christ must have known it. And if he had known it, he would surely have warned us. He would have revealed it long ago. Therefore, because he has not, because there is not one tittle of this in the whole revelation of Jesus Christ, I am as fully assured that your assertion is false as that this revelation is of God.
However, leave them off for a short time, to see whether you trusted in them or not. So I am to disobey God, in order to know whether I trust in obeying him? And do you avow this advice? Do you deliberately teach men to do evil, that good may come? O tremble at the sentence of God against such teachers. Their damnation is just.
No, if you are troubled when you leave them off, it is plain you trusted in them. By no means. If I am troubled when I willfully disobey God, it is plain his Spirit is still striving with me. But if I am not troubled at willful sin, it is plain I am given up to a reprobate mind.
But what do you mean by trusting in them? Looking for the blessing of God in them? Believing that if I wait in this way, I shall attain what otherwise I should not? So I do. And so I will, God being my helper, even to my life's end. By the grace of God I will thus trust in them till the day of my death. That is, I will believe that whatever God has promised, he is faithful also to perform. And seeing he has promised to bless me in this way, I trust it shall be according to his word.
1771 text
The first and chief of these is, “You cannot use these means (as you call them) without trusting in them.” I pray, where is this written? I expect you should shew me plain scripture for your assertion. Otherwise I dare not receive it: because I am not convinced, that you are wiser than God.
If it really had been as you assert, it is certain Christ must have known it. And if he had known it, he would surely have warned us, he would have revealed it long ago. Therefore because he has not, because there is no tittle of this in the whole revelation of Jesus Christ, I am as fully assured your assertion is false, as that this revelation is of God.
“However, leave them off for a short time, to see whether you trusted in them or no.” So I am to disobey God, in order to know, whether I trust in obeying him! And do you avow this advice? Do you deliberately teach, to do evil, that good may come? O tremble at the sentence of God against such teachers! Their damnation is just.
“Nay, if you are troubled, when you leave them off, it is plain, you trusted in them.” By no means. If I am troubled when I wilfully disobey God, it is plain his Spirit is still striving with me. But if I am not troubled at wilful sin, it is plain, I am given up to a reprobate mind.
But what do you mean by “Trusting in them?” Looking for the blessing of God therein? Believing, that if I wait in this way I shall attain, what otherwise I should not? So I do. And so I will, God being my helper, even to my life’s end. By the grace of God, I will thus trust in them, till the day of my death; that is, I will believe, that whatever, God hath promised, he is faithful also to perform. And seeing he hath promised to bless me in this way, I trust it shall be according to his word.
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 16 in the 1771 Works. Malachi 3:7.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.