Be merciful
Now, seeing you can do all things through Christ strengthening you, be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful (Luke 6:36). Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). Love friends and enemies as your own soul. And let your love be long-suffering, and patient towards all men. Let it be kind, soft, benign: inspiring you with the most amiable sweetness, and the most fervent and tender affection. Let it rejoice in the truth, wherever it is found, the truth that is after godliness. Enjoy whatever brings glory to God, and promotes peace and good-will among men. In love cover all things; of the dead and the absent speaking nothing but good: believe all things, which may any way tend to clear your neighbor’s character: hope all things, in his favor, and endure all things, triumphing over all opposition. For true love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8), in time or in eternity.
1771 text
10. Now, seeing thou canst do all things thro’ Christ strengthening thee, be merciful as thy Father in heaven is merciful. Love thy neighbour as thyself. Love friends and enemies as thy own soul. And let thy love be long-suffering, and patient towards all men. Let it be kind, soft, benign: inspiring thee with the most amiable sweetness, and the most fervent and tender affection. Let it rejoice in the truth, wheresoever it is found, the truth that is after godliness. Enjoy whatsoever brings glory to God, and promotes peace and good-will among men. In love cover all things; of the dead and the absent speaking nothing but good: believe all things, which may any way tend to clear your neighbour’s character: hope all things, in his favour, and endure all things, triumphing over all opposition. For true love never faileth, in time or in eternity.
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 33 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 7:21-27.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.