How few find it
And few there are who find it. Alas! how few find even the way of Heathen honesty? How few are there who do nothing to another which they would not have another do to them? How few who are clear before God from acts either of injustice or unkindness? How few who do not offend with their tongue, who speak nothing unkind, nothing untrue? What a small proportion of mankind are innocent even of outward transgressions? And how much smaller a proportion have their hearts right before God, clean and holy in his sight? Where are they whom his all-searching eye discerns to be truly humble? To abhor themselves in dust and ashes in the presence of God their Savior? To be deeply and steadily serious, feeling their wants and passing the time of their sojourning with fear (1 Peter 1:17)? Truly meek and gentle, never overcome by evil but overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21)? Thoroughly athirst for God and continually panting after a renewal in his likeness? How thinly are they scattered over the earth whose souls are enlarged in love to all mankind? And who love God with all their strength, who have given him their hearts and desire nothing else in earth or heaven? How few are those lovers of God and man who spend their whole strength in doing good to all men, and are ready to suffer all things, yes, death itself, to save one soul from eternal death?
1771 text
4. And few there be that find it. Alas! how few find even the way of Heathen honesty? How few are there, that do nothing to another, which they would not another should do unto them? How few, that are clear before God, from acts either of injustice or unkindness? How few, that do not offend with their tongue; that speak nothing unkind, nothing untrue? What a small proportion of mankind, are innocent even of outward transgressions? And how much smaller a proportion have their hearts right before God? Clean and holy in his sight? Where are they, whom his all-searching eye, discerns to be truly humble? To abhor themselves in dust and ashes, in the presence of God their Saviour? To be deeply and steadily serious, feeling their wants, and passing the time of their sojourning with fear? Truly meek and gentle, never overcome of evil, but overcoming evil with good? Throughly athirst for God, and continually panting after a renewal in his likeness? How thinly are they scattered over the earth, whose souls are inlarged in love to all mankind? And who love God with all their strength, who have given him their hearts, and desire nothing else in earth or heaven? How few are those lovers of God and man, that spend their whole strength in doing good unto all men? and are ready to suffer all things, yea, death itself, to save one soul from eternal death?
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 31 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 7:13-14.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.