Today, and not tomorrow
You have therefore good reason to believe that he is not only able, but willing, to do this: to cleanse you from all your filthiness of flesh and spirit, and to save you from all your uncleannesses. Faith after justification is believing that Christ is able and willing to cleanse you from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, today, now. This is the thing you now long for. This is the faith you now particularly need, namely, that the great Physician, the lover of my soul, is willing to make me clean.
But is he willing to do this tomorrow, or today? Let him answer for himself. Today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. If you put it off until tomorrow, you harden your hearts. You refuse to hear his voice. Believe, therefore, that he is willing to save you today. He is willing to save you now. Now is the accepted time. He now says, Be clean. Only believe, and you also will immediately find that all things are possible to him who believes.
1771 text
3. You have therefore good reason to believe, he is not only able, but willing to do this, to cleanse you from all your filthiness of flesh and spirit, to save you from all your uncleannesses. This is the thing which you now long for: this is the faith which you now particularly need, namely, that the great Physician, the lover of my soul, is willing to make me clean. But is he willing to do this to-morrow or to-day? Let him answer for himself. To day, if ye will hear my voice, harden not your hearts. If you put it off till to-morrow, you harden your hearts: you refuse to hear his voice. Believe therefore that he is willing to save you to-day. He is willing to save you now. Behold, now is the accepted time. He now saith, Be thou clean! Only believe; and you also will immediately find, all things are possible to him that believeth.
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 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.