Who can count them
The persons to be judged: who can count them, any more than the drops of rain, or the sands of the sea? I beheld, says Saint John, a great multitude which no man can number, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. How immense, then, must be the total multitude of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues? Of all who have sprung from the loins of Adam, since the world began, until time shall be no more?
If we admit the common supposition, which seems in no way absurd, that the earth bears at any one time no less than four hundred million living souls, men, women, and children, what a congregation must all those generations make, who have succeeded each other for seven thousand years?
Great Xerxes' world in arms, proud Cannae's host, they all are here, and here they all are lost. Their numbers swell to be discerned in vain, lost as a drop in the unbounded main.
Every man, every woman, every infant of days that ever breathed the vital air, will then hear the voice of the Son of God, and start into life, and appear before him. And this seems to be the natural import of that expression, the dead, small and great: all universally, all without exception, all of every age, sex, or degree. All who ever lived and died, or underwent such a change as will be equivalent to death. For long before that day, the phantom of human greatness disappears and sinks into nothing. Even in the moment of death, that vanishes away. Who is rich or great in the grave?
1771 text
4. The persons to be judged, who can count any more than the drops of rain, or the sands of the sea? I beheld, saith St. John, a great multitude which no man can number, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. How immense then must be the total multitude, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues? Of all that have sprung from the loins of Adam, since the world began, till time shall be no more? If we admit the common supposition, which seems no ways absurd, that the earth bears at any one time, no less than four hundred millions, of living souls, men women and children: what a congregation must all those generations make, who have succeeded each other for seven thousand years?
“Great Xerxes world in arms, proud Cannæ’s host, They all are here: and here they all are lost. Their numbers swell to be discerned in vain; Lost as a drop in the unbounded main.”
Every man, every woman, every infant of days that ever breathed the vital air, will then hear the voice of the Son of God, and start into life, and appear before him. And this seems to be the natural import of that expression, the dead, small and great: all universally, all without exception, all of every age, sex or degree; all that ever lived and died, or underwent such a change as will be equivalent with death. For long before that day the phantom of human greatness disappears and sinks into nothing. Even in the moment of death, that vanishes away. Who is rich or great in the grave?
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 15 in the 1771 Works. Romans 14:10. Bedford, 10 March 1758.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.