Live today
Let tomorrow therefore take thought for the things of itself. That is, when tomorrow comes, then think of it. Live today. Be it your earnest care to improve the present hour. This is your own, and it is your all. The past is as nothing, as though it had never been. The future is nothing to you. It is not yours. Perhaps it never will be. There is no depending on what is yet to come, for you know not what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1). Therefore live today. Lose not an hour. Use this moment, for it is your portion. Who knows the things which have been before him or which shall be after him under the sun (Ecclesiastes 6:12)? The generations that were from the beginning of the world, where are they now? Fled away, forgotten. They were, they lived their day, they were shaken off the earth as leaves off of their trees. They moldered away into common dust. Another and another race succeeded. Then they followed the generation of their fathers and shall nevermore see the light (Psalm 49:19). Now is your turn upon the earth. Rejoice, O young man, in the days of your youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Enjoy the very, very now by enjoying him whose years fail not (Hebrews 1:12). Now let your eye be singly fixed on him in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17). Now give him your heart. Now stay yourself on him. Now be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Now lay hold of the blessed opportunity of doing his acceptable and perfect will (Romans 12:2). Now rejoice to suffer the loss of all things, so you may win Christ (Philippians 3:8).
1771 text
28. *Let the morrow therefore take thought for the things of itself; that is, when the morrow comes, then think of it. Live thou to-day. Be it thy earnest care to improve the present hour. This is your own; and it is your all. The past is as nothing, as though it had never been. The future is nothing to you: it is not yours: perhaps it never will be. There is no depending on what is yet to come; for you know not what a day may bring forth. Therefore live to-day: lose not an hour: use this moment; for it is your portion. Who knoweth the things which have been before him, or which shall be after him under the sun? The generations that were from the beginning of the world, where are they now? Fled away: forgotten. They were; they lived their day; they were shook off the earth, as leaves off of their trees. They mouldered away into common dust. Another and another race succeeded; then they followed the generation of their fathers, and shall never more see the light. Now is thy turn upon the earth. Rejoice, O young man, in the days of thy youth. Enjoy the very, very now; by enjoying him, whose years fail not. Now let thine eye be singly fixed on him, in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Now give him thy heart: now stay thyself on him: now be thou holy as he is holy. Now lay hold of the blessed opportunity of doing his acceptable and perfect will. Now rejoice to suffer the loss of all things, so thou mayst win Christ.
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 29 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:24-34.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.