Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse IV · §54 · John Wesley

Do not conceal it

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Let your light so shine. Your lowliness of heart, your gentleness and meekness of wisdom, your serious, weighty concern for the things of eternity, and sorrow for the sins and miseries of people, your earnest desire of universal holiness and full happiness in God, your tender good will to all mankind, and fervent love to your supreme benefactor. Try not to conceal this light with which God has enlightened your soul, but let it shine before people, before all with whom you are, in the whole course of your conversation. Let it shine still more eminently in your actions, in your doing all possible good to all people, and in your suffering for righteousness' sake, while you rejoice and are very glad, knowing that great is your reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12).

1771 text

Let your light so shine――Your lowliness of heart, your gentleness and meekness of wisdom: your serious, weighty concern for the things of eternity, and sorrow for the sins and miseries of men: your earnest desire of universal holiness and full happiness in God: your tender good-will to all mankind, and fervent love to your supreme benefactor. Endeavour not to conceal this light, wherewith God hath enlightened your soul: but let it shine before men, before all with whom you are, in the whole tenor of your conversation. Let it shine still more eminently in your actions, in your doing all possible good to all men: and in your suffering for righteousness sake, while you rejoice and are exceeding glad, knowing that great is your reward in heaven.

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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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