Before the child is born
The child who is not yet born does indeed subsist by the air, as does everything which has life. But he does not feel it, nor anything else, except in a very dull and imperfect manner. He hears little, if at all, the organs of hearing being as yet closed up. He sees nothing, his eyes fast shut, and he is surrounded with utter darkness. There are, it may be, some faint beginnings of life when the time of his birth draws near, and some motion that follows, by which he is distinguished from a mere mass of matter. But he has no senses. All these avenues of the soul are still quite shut up. Consequently he has scarce any intercourse with this visible world, nor any knowledge, conception, or idea of the things that occur in it.
1771 text
3. The child which is not yet born, subsists indeed by the air, as does every thing which has life; but feels it not, nor any thing else, unless in a very dull and imperfect manner. It hears little, if at all, the organs of hearing being as yet closed up. It sees nothing, having its eyes fast shut, and being surrounded with utter darkness. There are, it may be, some faint beginnings of life, when the time of its birth draws nigh; and some motion consequent thereon, whereby it is distinguished from a mere mass of matter. But it has no senses; all these avenues of the soul are hitherto quite shut up. Of consequence, it has scarce any intercourse with this visible world; nor any knowledge, conception or idea, of the things that occur therein.
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.