Secure, because he is blind
And for this very reason, because he is fast asleep, he is in some sense at rest. Because he is blind, he is also secure. He says, Tush, no harm shall happen to me. The darkness which covers him on every side keeps him in a kind of peace, so far as peace can consist with the works of the devil, and with an earthly, devilish mind. He does not see that he stands on the edge of the pit. Therefore he does not fear it. He cannot tremble at the danger he does not know. He does not have understanding enough to fear.
Why is it that he is in no dread of God? Because he is totally ignorant of him. If he is not saying in his heart, There is no God, or that he sits on the circle of the heavens and does not humble himself to behold the things which are done on earth, yet he satisfies himself just as well, to all Epicurean intents and purposes, by saying, God is merciful. He confounds and swallows up at once, in that unwieldy idea of mercy, all his holiness and essential hatred of sin, all his justice, wisdom, and truth.
He is in no dread of the vengeance denounced against those who do not obey the blessed law of God, because he does not understand it. He imagines the main point is to do thus, to be outwardly blameless. And he does not see that it extends to every temper, desire, thought, and motion of the heart. Or he fancies that the obligation to this has ceased, that Christ came to destroy the law and the prophets, to save his people in their sins and not from their sins, to bring them to heaven without holiness. This is notwithstanding his own words: Not one jot or tittle of the law shall pass away, till all things are fulfilled. And, Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
1771 text
2. And for this very reason, because he is fast asleep, he is, in some sense, at rest. Because he is blind, he is also secure: he saith, Tush, there shall no harm happen unto me. The darkness which covers him on every side, keeps him in a kind of peace: (so far as peace can consist with the works of the devil, and with an earthly, devilish mind.) He sees not that he stands on the edge of the pit; therefore he fears it not. He cannot tremble at the danger he does not know. He has not understanding enough to fear. Why is it that he is in no dread of God? Because he is totally ignorant of him: if not saying in his heart, there is no God, or, that he sitteth on the circle of the heavens, and humbleth not himself to behold the things which are done on earth; yet satisfying himself as well, to all Epicurean intents and purposes, by saying, “God is merciful:” confounding and swallowing up at once, in that unweildy idea of mercy, all his holiness and essential hatred of sin, all his justice, wisdom and truth. He is in no dread of the vengeance denounced against those who obey not the blessed law of God, because he understands it not. He imagines the main point is, to do thus, to be outwardly blameless: and sees not that it extends to every temper, desire, thought, motion of the heart. Or he fancies, that the obligation hereto is ceas’d; that Christ came to destroy the law and the prophets; to save his people in, not from their sins: to bring them to heaven, without holiness. Notwithstanding his own words, Not one jot or tittle of the law shall pass away, till all things are fulfilled: and, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord! shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
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 9 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.