The living sacrifice of the heart
Here, then, is the sum of the perfect law. This is the true circumcision of the heart. Let the spirit return to God who gave it, with the whole train of its affections. To the place from which all the rivers came, there let them flow again.
Other sacrifices from us he would not have, but the living sacrifice of the heart (Romans 12:1) he has chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be allowed to share with him, for he is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). His throne he will not divide with another. He will reign without a rival. Let no design, no desire, be admitted there but what has him for its ultimate object.
This is the way in which those children of God once walked, who, being dead, still speak to us: "Desire not to live but to praise his name. Let all your thoughts, words, and works tend to his glory. Set your heart firm on him, and on other things only as they are in and from him." "Let your soul be filled with so entire a love of him that you may love nothing but for his sake." "Have a pure intention of heart, a steadfast regard to his glory in all your actions." "Fix your eye upon the blessed hope of your calling, and make all the things of the world minister to it."
For then, and not until then, is that mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus, when, in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we pursue nothing but in relation to him, and in subordination to his pleasure; when we too neither think, nor speak, nor act to fulfill our own will, but the will of him who sent us; when, whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of God.
1771 text
10. Here then is the sum of the perfect law, this is the true circumcision of the heart. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. Unto the place from whence all the rivers came, thither let them flow again. Other sacrifices from us he would not; but the living sacrifice of the heart he hath chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be suffered to share with him: for he is a jealous God. His throne will he not divide with another: he will reign without a rival. Be no design, no desire admitted there, but what has him for its ultimate object. This is the way wherein those children of God once walked, who being dead, still speak to us, “Desire not to live but to praise his name; let all your thoughts, words and works, tend to his glory. Set your heart firm on him, and on other things, only as they are in and from him.” “Let your soul be filled with so entire a love of him, that you may love nothing but for his sake.” “Have a pure intention of heart, a stedfast regard to his glory in all your actions.” “Fix your eye upon the blessed hope of your calling, and make all the things of the world minister unto it.” For then, and not till then, is that mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus, when in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we “pursue nothing but in relation to him, and in subordination to his pleasure:” when we too, neither think, nor speak, nor act, to fulfil our own will, but the will of him that sent us: when whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of God.
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 17 in the 1771 Works. Romans 2:29. Saint Mary's, Oxford, 1 January 1733.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.