Purified hearts
He therefore who lives in true believers has purified their hearts by faith (Acts 15:9), insomuch that everyone who has Christ in him, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), purifies himself even as he is pure (1 John 3:3). He is purified from pride, for Christ was lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29). He is pure from self-will, or desire, for Christ desired only to do the will of his Father, and to finish his work (John 4:34). And he is pure from anger, in the common sense of the word, for Christ was meek and gentle, patient and long-suffering (2 Corinthians 10:1). I say, in the common sense of the word, for all anger is not evil. We read of our Lord himself (Mark 3:5) that he once looked round with anger. But with what kind of anger? The next word shows: being at the same time grieved for the hardness of their hearts. So then he was angry at the sin, and in the same moment grieved for the sinners. Angry or displeased at the offense, but sorry for the offenders. With anger, yea, hatred, he looked upon the thing; with grief and love upon the persons. Go, you who are perfect, and do likewise. Be thus angry, and you sin not (Ephesians 4:26): feeling a displeasure at every offense against God, but only love and tender compassion to the offender.
1771 text
26. He therefore who liveth in true believers, hath purified their hearts by faith: insomuch that every one that hath Christ in him, the hope of glory, purifieth himself even as he is pure. (1 John iii. 3.) He is purified from pride; for Christ was lowly of heart. He is pure from self-will, or desire; for Christ desired only to do the will of his Father, and to finish his work. And he is pure from anger, in the common sense of the word; for Christ was meek and gentle, patient and long-suffering. I say, in the common sense of the word: for all anger is not evil. We read of our Lord himself (Mark iii. 5.) that he once looked round with anger. But with what kind of anger? The next word shews; συλλυπούμενος, being at the same time grieved for the hardness of their hearts. So then he was angry at the sin, and in the same moment grieved for the sinners. Angry or displeased at the offence; but sorry, for the offenders. With anger, yea, hatred, he looked upon the thing; with grief and love upon the persons. Go thou that art perfect, and do likewise. Be thus angry, and thou sinnest not: feeling a displacency at every offence against God; but only love and tender compassion to the offender.
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 40 in the 1771 Works. Philippians 3:12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.