Love does not rejoice in iniquity
It does not rejoice in iniquity, common as this is even among those who bear the name of Christ, who do not scruple to rejoice over their enemy when he falls into affliction, or error, or sin. Indeed, how hard they can avoid this who are zealously attached to any party. How difficult it is for them not to be pleased with any fault they discover in those of the opposite party, with any real or supposed blemish, either in their principles or in their practice. What warm defender of any cause is clear of these? Yes, who is calm enough to be altogether free? Who does not rejoice when his adversary makes a false step which he thinks will advantage his own cause? Only a person of love. He alone weeps over either the sin or the folly of his enemy, takes no pleasure in hearing it or in repeating it, but rather desires that it may be forgotten for ever.
1771 text
12. It rejoiceth not in iniquity: common as this is, even among those who bear the name of Christ; who scruple not to rejoice over their enemy, when he falleth either into affliction or error or sin. Indeed how hardly can they avoid this, who are zealously attached to any party? How difficult is it for them not to be pleased with any fault which they discover in those of the opposite party? With any real or supposed blemish, either in their principles or practice? What warm defender of any cause is clear of these? Yea, who is so calm as to be altogether free? Who does not rejoice when his adversary makes a false step, which he thinks will advantage his own cause? Only a man of love. He alone weeps over either the sin or folly of his enemy, takes no pleasure in hearing or in repeating it, but rather desires that it may be forgotten for ever.
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 22 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:5-7.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.