The wrath of God is revealed
The great apostle, where he tries to bring sinners to God, speaks in a way that answers exactly to this. The wrath of God, he says, is revealed from heaven (Romans 1:18) against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, a charge which he immediately fixes on the heathen world, and thereby proves they were under the wrath of God. He next shows that the Jews were no better than they were, and were therefore under the same condemnation. And all this, not so that they might attain the noble virtue of humility, but so that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God (Romans 3:19).
He goes on to show that they were helpless as well as guilty, which is the plain sense of all those expressions. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified (Romans 3:20). But now the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ, is shown apart from the law. We conclude that a person is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). These expressions all tend to the same point, even to hide pride from man, to humble him to the dust, without teaching him to look on his humility as a virtue, to fill him with that full, piercing conviction of his utter sinfulness, guilt, and helplessness, which casts the sinner, stripped of all, lost and undone, on his strong helper, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1771 text
8. The great apostle, where he endeavours to bring sinners to God, speaks in a manner just answerable to this, The wrath of God, saith he, is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men: a charge which he immediately fixes on the Heathen world, and thereby proves, they were under the wrath of God. He next shews, that the Jews were no better than they, and were therefore under the same condemnation: and all this, not in order to their attaining “The noble virtue of humility,” but that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God.
He proceeds to shew, that they were helpless as well as guilty; which is the plain purport of all those expressions, Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified――But now the righteousness of God, which is by faith, of Jesus Christ, without the law is manifested――We conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law: expressions all tending to the same point, even to hide pride from man: to humble him to the dust, without teaching him to reflect upon his humility as a virtue; to inspire him with that full piercing conviction of his utter sinfulness, guilt and helplessness, which casts the sinner, stript of all, lost and undone, on his strong helper, Jesus Christ the righteous.
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 21 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:1-4.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.