Who can live by that law
Neither do they consider, who are thus seeking to establish their own righteousness which is of the law, what manner of obedience or righteousness that is which the law indispensably requires. It must be perfect and entire, in every point, or it does not answer the demand of the law. But which of you is able to perform such obedience, or, consequently, to live by it? Who among you fulfills every jot and tittle even of the outward commandments of God? Doing nothing, great or small, which God forbids? Leaving nothing undone which he enjoins? Speaking no idle word? Is your speech always fit to minister grace to the hearers? And whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, are you doing all to the glory of God?
And how much less are you able to fulfill all the inward commandments of God? Those which require that every temper and motion of your soul should be holiness to the Lord. Are you able to love God with all your heart? To love all mankind as your own soul? To pray without ceasing? In everything to give thanks? To have God always before you? And to keep every affection, desire, and thought in obedience to his law?
You should further consider that the righteousness of the law requires not only the obeying of every command of God, negative and positive, internal and external, but likewise in the perfect degree. In every instance whatever, the voice of the law is, You shall serve the Lord your God with all your strength. It allows no abatement of any kind. It excuses no defect. It condemns every coming short of the full measure of obedience, and immediately pronounces a curse on the offender. It regards only the invariable rules of justice, and says, I know not to show mercy.
Who, then, can appear before such a judge, who is extreme to mark what is done amiss? How weak are they who desire to be tried at the bar where no flesh living can be justified? None of the offspring of Adam. For suppose we did now keep every commandment with all our strength. Yet one single breach which ever was utterly destroys our whole claim to life. If we have ever offended in any one point, this righteousness is at an end. For the law condemns all who do not perform uninterrupted as well as perfect obedience. So that, according to the sentence of this, for him who has once sinned, in any degree, there remains only a fearful looking for of fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries of God.
1771 text
2. Neither do they consider, who are thus seeking to establish their own righteousness which is of the law, what manner of obedience or righteousness that is, which the law indispensably requires. It must be perfect and entire, in every point, or it answers not the demand of the law. But which of you is able to perform such obedience? Or, consequently, to live thereby? Who among you fulfils every jot and tittle even of the outward commandments of God? Doing nothing, great or small, which God forbids? Leaving nothing undone which he enjoins? Speaking no idle word? Having your conversation always meet to minster grace to the hearers? And whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, doing all to the glory of God? And how much less are you able to fulfil all the inward commandments of God? Those which require, that every temper and motion of your soul should be holiness unto the Lord? Are you able, To love God with all your heart? To love all mankind as your own soul? To pray without ceasing? In every thing to give thanks? To have God always before you? And to keep every affection, desire and thought, in obedience to his law?
3. You should farther consider, that the righteousness of the law requires, not only the obeying every command of God, negative and positive, internal and external, but likewise in the perfect degree. In every instance whatever, the voice of the law is, Thou shalt serve the Lord thy God with all thy strength. It allows no abatement of any kind. It excuses no defect. It condemns every coming short of the full measure of obedience, and immediately pronounces a curse on the offender. It regards only the invariable rules of justice, and faith, “I know not to shew mercy.”
4. Who then can appear before such a judge, who is extreme to mark what is done amiss? How weak are they who desire to be tried at the bar, where no flesh living can be justified? None of the offspring of Adam. For suppose we did now keep every commandment with all our strength: yet one single breach which ever was, utterly destroys our whole claim to life. If we have ever offended, in any one point, this righteousness is at an end. For the law condemns all who do not perform uninterrupted as well as perfect obedience. So that according to the sentence of this, for him who hath once sinned, in any degree, there remaineth only a fearful looking for of fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries 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 6 in the 1771 Works. Romans 10:5-8.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.