Love cannot be hidden
You Christians are the light of the world, with regard both to your tempers and your actions. Your holiness makes you as conspicuous as the sun in the midst of heaven. As you cannot go out of the world (1 Corinthians 5:10), so neither can you stay in it without appearing to all mankind. You may not flee from people, and while you are among them it is impossible to hide your lowliness and meekness, and those other dispositions by which you aspire to be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Love cannot be hidden any more than light, and least of all when it shines out in action, when you exercise yourselves in the labor of love, in kindness of every kind. People might as well think to hide a city as to hide a Christian. Yes, they might as well conceal a city set upon a hill (Matthew 5:14) as a holy, zealous, active lover of God and man.
1771 text
Ye Christians are the light of the world, with regard both to your tempers and actions. Your holiness makes you as conspicuous, as the sun in the midst of heaven. As ye cannot go out of the world, so neither can ye stay in it, without appearing to all mankind. Ye may not flee from men, and while ye are among them, it is impossible to hide your lowliness and meekness, and those other dispositions whereby ye aspire to be perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Love cannot be hid any more than light; and least of all, when it shines forth in action; when ye exercise yourselves in the labour of love, in beneficence of every kind. As well may men think to hide a city, as to hide a Christian: yea, as well may they conceal a city set upon a hill, as a holy, zealous, active lover of God and man.
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 24 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:13-16.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.