Murmur and impatience
Thus, whenever our heart is eagerly athirst for all the great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4), when we pant after the fullness of God, as the hart pants after the water brook (Psalm 42:1), when our soul breaks out in fervent desire, Why are his chariot wheels so long in coming (Judges 5:28)? he will not neglect the opportunity of tempting us to murmur against God. He will use all his wisdom and all his strength, if perhaps in an unguarded hour we may be influenced to repine at our Lord for thus delaying his coming. At least he will labor to excite some degree of fretfulness or impatience, and perhaps of envy toward those whom we believe to have already attained the prize of our high calling (Philippians 3:14). He well knows that by giving way to any of these tempers, we are pulling down the very thing we would build up. By thus following after perfect holiness, we become more unholy than before. Yes, there is great danger that our last state should be worse than the first, like those of whom the apostle speaks in those dreadful words: It had been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness, than after they had known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them (2 Peter 2:21).
1771 text
13. Thus, whenever our heart is eagerly athirst for all the great and precious promises, when we pant after the fulness of God, as the hart after the water-brook, when our soul breaketh out in fervent desire, “Why are his chariot-wheels so long a coming?” He will not neglect the opportunity, of tempting us to murmur against God. He will use all his wisdom and all his strength, if haply in an unguarded hour, we may be influenced to repine at our Lord, for thus delaying his coming. At least, he will labour to excite some degree of fretfulness or impatience: and perhaps of envy at those, whom we believe to have already attained the prize of our high calling. He well knows, that by giving way to any of these tempers, we are pulling down the very thing we would build up. By thus following after perfect holiness, we become more unholy than before. Yea, there is great danger that our last state should be worse than the first: like them of whom the apostle speaks, in those dreadful words, It had been better they had never known the way of righteousness, than after they had known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
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 42 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 2:11.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.