Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse I · §27 · John Wesley

Not worldly sorrow

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Not that we can imagine this promise belongs to those who mourn only on some worldly account, who are in sorrow and heaviness merely because of some worldly trouble or disappointment, such as the loss of their reputation, or of their friends, or the damaging of their fortune. Just as little claim to it have those who are afflicting themselves through fear of some temporal evil, or who pine away with anxious care, or with that desire for earthly things which makes the heart sick. Let us not think that these shall receive anything from the Lord. He is not in all their thoughts. That is why they walk in a vain shadow, and trouble themselves in vain. And this you shall have from my hand, says the Lord: you shall lie down in sorrow (Isaiah 50:11).

1771 text

2. Not that we can imagine this promise belongs to those, who mourn only on some worldly account: who are in sorrow and heaviness, merely on account of some worldly trouble or disappointment; such as the loss of their reputation, or friends; or the impairing of their fortune. As little title to it have they who are afflicting themselves, through fear of some temporal evil: or who pine away with anxious care, or that desire of earthly things which maketh the heart sick. Let us not think, these shall receive any thing from the Lord: he is not in all their thoughts. Therefore it is that they thus walk in a vain shadow, and disquiet themselves in vain. And this shall ye have of mine hand, saith the Lord, ye shall lie down in sorrow.

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About this text

The first of thirteen sermons on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 5:1-4: who is speaking, whom He teaches, and the poor in spirit and those who mourn.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 21 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:1-4.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

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