Sin in our best duties
With this conviction of the sin remaining in our hearts, there is joined a clear conviction of the sin remaining in our lives, still clinging to all our words and actions. In the best of these we now discern a mixture of evil, either in the spirit, the matter, or the manner of them: something that could not endure the righteous judgment of God, were he strict to mark what is done amiss (Psalm 130:3). Where we least suspected it, we find a taint of pride or self-will, of unbelief or idolatry, so that we are now more ashamed of our best duties than formerly of our worst sins. And hence we cannot but feel that these are so far from having anything meritorious in them, yes so far from being able to stand in sight of the divine justice, that for those also we would be guilty before God, were it not for the blood of the covenant (Matthew 26:28).
1771 text
7. With this conviction of the sin remaining in our hearts, there is joined a clear conviction of the sin remaining in our lives, still cleaving to all our words and actions. In the best of these we now discern a mixture of evil, either in the spirit, the matter or the manner of them: something that could not endure the righteous judgment of God, were he extreme to mark what is done amiss. Where we least suspected it, we find a taint of pride or self-will, of unbelief or idolatry: so that we are now more ashamed of our best duties, than formerly of our worst sins: and hence we cannot but feel, that these are so far from having any thing meritorious in them, yea so far from being able to stand, in sight of the divine justice, that for those also we should be guilty before God, were it not for the blood of the covenant.
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 43 in the 1771 Works. Ephesians 2:8.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.