Where Christianity begins
And first, let us consider Christianity in its rise, as beginning to exist in individuals. Suppose, then, that one of those who heard the apostle Peter preach repentance and remission of sins was pricked to the heart. He was convinced of sin, he repented, and then he believed in Jesus. By this faith of the operation of God (Colossians 2:12), he instantly received the Spirit of adoption, by which he now cried, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15). That faith was the very substance, or subsistence, of things hoped for, the demonstrative evidence of invisible things.
Now, for the first time, he could call Jesus Lord, by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit itself bearing witness with his spirit that he was a child of God. Now he could truly say, I do not live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1771 text
I. And first, let us consider Christianity in its rise, as beginning to exist in individuals.
Suppose then one of those who heard the apostle Peter preaching repentance and remission of sins, was pricked to the heart, was convinced of sin, repented, and then believed in Jesus. By this faith of the operation of God, which was the very substance or subsistence of things hoped for, the demonstrative evidence of invisible things, he instantly received the Spirit of adoption, whereby he |now| cried Abba, Father! Now first it was that he could call Jesus Lord, by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit itself bearing witness with his spirit that he was a child of God. Now it was that he could truly say, I live not, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
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 4 in the 1771 Works. Saint Mary's, Oxford, 24 August 1744. Acts 4:31.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.