Consistent with perfect love
It follows that none of these wandering thoughts (whatever unwary persons have affirmed, thereby grieving those whom the Lord had not grieved, Ezekiel 13:22) are inconsistent with perfect love. Indeed if they were, then not only sharp pain but sleep itself would be inconsistent with it: sharp pain, for whenever this supervenes, whatever we were before thinking of, it will interrupt our thinking and of course draw our thoughts into another channel; yea, and sleep itself, as it is a state of insensibility and stupidity, and such as is generally mixed with thoughts wandering over the earth, loose, wild, and incoherent. Yet certainly these are consistent with perfect love; so then are all wandering thoughts of this kind.
1771 text
7. *It follows, that none of these wandering thoughts (whatever unwary persons have affirmed, thereby grieving whom the Lord had not grieved) are inconsistent with perfect love. Indeed if they were, then not only sharp pain, but sleep itself would be inconsistent with it: sharp pain; for whenever this supervenes, whatever we were before thinking of, it will interrupt our thinking, and of course draw our thoughts into another channel: yea, and sleep itself, as it is a state of insensibility and stupidity: and such as is generally mixt with thoughts wandering over the earth, loose, wild and incoherent. Yet certainly these are consistent with perfect love: so then are all wandering thoughts of this kind.
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 41 in the 1771 Works. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.