Not the religion of the world
And it is as impossible to satisfy such a soul, a soul that is thirsty for God, the living God (Psalm 42:2), with what the world calls religion, as with what the world calls happiness. The religion of the world means three things. First, doing no harm, abstaining from outward sin, at least from such as is scandalous, such as robbery, theft, common swearing, and drunkenness. Second, doing good, relieving the poor, being charitable, as it is called. Third, using the means of grace, at least going to church and to the Lord's Supper. The person in whom these three marks are found is called by the world a religious man. But will this satisfy the one who hungers after God? No. It is not food for his soul. He wants a religion of a nobler kind, a religion higher and deeper than this. He can no more feed on this poor, shallow, formal thing than he can fill his stomach with the east wind. True, he is careful to abstain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). He is zealous for good works. He attends all the ordinances of God. But all this is not what he longs for. This is only the outside of that religion which he hungers after without ever being satisfied. The knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the life which is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), being joined to the Lord in one Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17), having fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3), walking in the light as God is in the light (1 John 1:7), being purified even as he is pure (1 John 3:3): this is the religion, the righteousness, he thirsts after. Nor can he rest until he thus rests in God.
1771 text
4. And it is as impossible to satisfy such a soul, a soul that is a-thirst for God, the living God, with what the world accounts religion, as with what they account happiness. The religion of the world implies three things; first, The doing no harm, the abstaining from outward sin; at least from such as is scandalous, as robbery, theft, common swearing, drunkenness; secondly, The doing good, the relieving the poor, the being charitable, as it is called: thirdly, The using the means of grace; at least, the going to church and to the Lord’s supper. He in whom these three marks are found, is termed by the world a religious man. But will this satisfy him who hungers after God? No. It is not food for his soul. He wants a religion of a nobler kind, a religion higher and deeper than this. He can no more feed on this poor, shallow, formal thing, than he can fill his belly with the east-wind. True, he is careful to abstain from the very appearance of evil: he is zealous of good works. He attends all the ordinances of God. But all this is not what it longs for. This is only the outside of that religion, which he insatiably hungers after. The knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the life which is hid with Christ in God, the being joined unto the Lord in one Spirit, the having fellowship with the Father and the Son; the walking in the light as God is in the light, the being purified even as he is pure: this is the religion, the righteousness he thirsts after. Nor can he rest, ’till he thus rests in God.
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 22 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:5-7.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.