Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse IV · §34 · John Wesley

Religion is in the heart

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To answer these was the third thing which I proposed. And first, it has often been objected that religion does not lie in outward things, but in the heart, the inmost soul, that it is the union of the soul with God, the life of God in the soul of man, that outside religion is nothing worth, seeing God does not delight in burnt offerings (Psalm 51:16), in outward services, but a pure and holy heart is the sacrifice he will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

1771 text

III. 1. To answer these was the third thing which I proposed. And, first, it has been often objected, that religion does not lie in outward things, but in the heart, the inmost soul: that it is the union of the soul with God, the life of God in the soul of man: that outside religion is nothing worth; seeing God delighteth not in burnt offerings, in outward services, but a pure and holy heart is the sacrifice he will not despise.

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About this text

The fourth sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 5:13-16: Christians as salt and light, and why Christianity is a social religion that cannot be hidden.

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 24 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:13-16.

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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