Sincerity will not purchase pardon
And to what end would you wait for more sincerity, before your sins are blotted out? To make you more worthy of the grace of God? Alas, you are still establishing your own righteousness. He will have mercy, not because you are worthy of it, but because his compassions do not fail: not because you are righteous, but because Jesus Christ has atoned for your sins.
Again, if there is anything good in sincerity, why do you expect it before you have faith? Seeing that faith itself is the only root of whatever is really good and holy.
Above all, how long will you forget that whatever you do, or whatever you have, before your sins are forgiven you, it avails nothing with God toward the procuring of your forgiveness? Yes, and that it must all be cast behind your back, trampled under foot, made no account of, or you will never find favor in God's sight: because until then you cannot ask it as a mere sinner, guilty, lost, undone, having nothing to plead, nothing to offer to God, but only the merits of his well-beloved Son, who loved you, and gave himself for you.
1771 text
5. And to what end wouldst thou wait for more sincerity, before thy sins are blotted out? To make thee more worthy of the grace of God? Alas, thou art still establishing thy own righteousness. He will have mercy, not because thou art worthy of it, but because his compassions fail not: not because thou art righteous; but because Jesus Christ hath atoned for thy sins.
Again, if there be any thing good in sincerity, why dost thou expect it, before thou hast faith? Seeing faith itself is the only root of whatever is really good and holy.
Above all, how long wilt thou forget, that whatsoever thou dost, or whatsoever thou hast, before thy sins are forgiven thee, it avails nothing with God, toward the procuring of thy forgiveness? Yea, and that it must all be cast behind thy back, trampled under foot, made no account of, or thou wilt never find favour in God’s sight: because until then thou canst not ask it, as a mere sinner, guilty, lost, undone, having nothing to plead, nothing to offer to God, but only the merits of his well-beloved Son, who loved thee, and gave himself for thee.
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 6 in the 1771 Works. Romans 10:5-8.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.