While he keeps himself
Now one who is so born of God, as has been described above, continually receives into his soul the breath of life from God, the gracious influence of his Spirit, and continually renders it back. He believes and loves. By faith he perceives the continual actings of God upon his spirit, and by a kind of spiritual reaction he returns the grace he receives, in unceasing love, and praise, and prayer. Such a one not only does not commit sin while he thus keeps himself. So long as this seed remains in him, he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9).
1771 text
Now one who is so born of God as hath been above described, who continually receives into his soul the breath of life from God, the gracious influence of his Spirit, and continually renders it back: one who thus believes and loves; who by faith perceives the continual actings of God upon his spirit; and by a kind of spiritual re-action, returns the grace he receives in unceasing love, and praise, and prayer; not only doth not commit sin, while he thus keepeth himself; but so long as this seed remaineth in him, he cannot sin, because he is born 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 19 in the 1771 Works. First John 3:9.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.