A covenant with death
The cautiousness with which the apostle here speaks is highly observable. He does not affirm this absolutely of the rich, for a man may possibly be rich without any fault of his, by an overruling providence preventing his own choice. But he affirms it of those who desire or seek to be rich. Riches, dangerous as they are, do not always drown men in destruction and perdition. But the desire of riches does. Those who calmly desire and deliberately seek to attain them, whether they do in fact gain the world or not, do infallibly lose their own souls. These are those who sell him who bought them with his blood for a few pieces of gold or silver. These enter into a covenant with death and hell (Isaiah 28:15), and their covenant shall stand. For they are daily making themselves fit to partake of their inheritance with the devil and his angels.
1771 text
*The cautiousness with which the apostle here speaks, is highly observable. He does not affirm this absolutely of the rich; for a man may possibly be rich, without any fault of his, by an over-ruling providence, preventing his own choice. But he affirms it of οἱ βουλόμενοι πλουτεῖν. Those who desire or seek to be rich. Riches, dangerous as they are, do not always drown men in destruction and perdition. But the desire of riches does: those who calmly desire and deliberately seek to attain them, whether they do, in fact, gain the world or no, do infallibly lose their own souls. These are they, that sell him who bought them with his blood, for a few pieces of gold or silver. These enter into a covenant with death and hell: and their covenant shall stand. For they are daily making themselves meet to partake of their inheritance with the devil and his angels.
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 28 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:19-23.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.