The commandment is exceedingly broad
The inward, spiritual meaning of the law of God now begins to glare upon him. He perceives the commandment is exceedingly broad, and there is nothing hidden from the light of it. He is convinced that every part of it relates not merely to outward sin or obedience, but to what passes in the secret recesses of the soul, which no eye but God's can penetrate.
If he now hears, You shall not kill, God speaks in thunder, He who hates his brother is a murderer. He who says to his brother, You fool, is in danger of hell-fire. If the law says, You shall not commit adultery, the voice of the Lord sounds in his ears, He who looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And thus, in every point, he feels the word of God quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. It pierces even to the dividing asunder of his soul and spirit, his joints and marrow. And so much the more, because he is conscious to himself of having neglected so great a salvation, of having trodden under foot the Son of God, who would have saved him from his sins, and of having counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, a common, unsanctifying thing.
1771 text
3. The inward, spiritual meaning of the law of God now begins to glare upon him. He perceives the commandment is exceeding broad, and there is nothing hid from the light thereof. He is convinced, that every part of it relates not barely to outward sin or obedience, but to what passes in the secret recesses of the soul, which no eye but God’s can penetrate. If he now hears, Thou shalt not kill, God speaks in thunder, He that hateth his brother is a murtherer. He that saith unto his brother, Thou fool, is obnoxious to hell-fire. If the law say, Thou shalt not commit adultery, the voice of the Lord sounds in his ears, He that looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And thus in every point, he feels the word of God quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. It pierces even to the dividing asunder of his soul and spirit, his joints and marrow. And so much the more, because he is conscious to himself of having neglected so great salvation; of having trodden under foot the Son of God, who would have saved him from his sins, and counted the blood of the covenant an unholy, a common, unsanctifying thing.
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 9 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.