God in all things
But the great lesson which our blessed Lord presses here, and which he illustrates by this example, is that God is in all things, and that we are to see the Creator in the glass of every creature. We should use and look on nothing as separate from God, which is indeed a kind of practical atheism. But with a true greatness of thought we should survey heaven and earth, and all that is in them, as held by God in the hollow of his hand (Isaiah 40:12), who by his intimate presence holds them all in being, who pervades and moves the whole created frame, and is, in a true sense, the soul of the universe.
1771 text
11. But the great lesson which our blessed Lord inculcates here, and which he illustrates by this example, is, that God is in all things, and that we are to see the Creator in the glass of every creature; that we should use and look upon nothing as separate from God, which indeed is a kind of practical atheism; but with a true magnificence of thought, survey heaven and earth and all that is therein, as contained by God in the hollow of his hand, who by his intimate presence holds them all in being, who pervades and actuates the whole created frame, and is, in a true sense, the soul of the universe.
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 23 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:8-12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.