Not to inform God
Do not therefore be like them. You who have tasted of the grace of God in Christ Jesus are thoroughly convinced that your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask him. So the end of your praying is not to inform God, as though he did not know your wants already, but rather to inform yourselves, to fix the sense of those wants more deeply in your hearts, and the sense of your continual dependence on him who alone is able to supply all your wants. It is not so much to move God, who is always more ready to give than you are to ask, as to move yourselves, so that you may be willing and ready to receive the good things he has prepared for you.
1771 text
5. Be not ye therefore like unto them. Ye who have tasted of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, are throughly convinced, your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. So that the end of your praying, is not to inform God, as tho’ he knew not your wants already; but rather to inform yourselves, to fix the sense of those wants more deeply in your hearts, and the sense of your continual dependence on him, who only is able to supply all your wants. It is not so much to move God, who is always more ready to give than you to ask; as to move yourselves, that you may be willing and ready to receive, the good things he has prepared for you.
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 26 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:1-15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.