Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse IX · §36 · John Wesley

Obeying the world

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To serve mammon is, lastly, to obey the world by outwardly conforming to its maxims and customs, to walk as other men walk, in the common road, in the broad, smooth, beaten path, to be in the fashion, to follow a multitude (Exodus 23:2), to do like the rest of our neighbors, that is, to do the will of the flesh and the mind, to gratify our appetites and inclinations, to sacrifice to ourselves, aim at our own ease and pleasure in the general course both of our words and actions.

1771 text

11. To serve mammon is, lastly, to obey the world, by outwardly conforming to its maxims and customs; to walk as other men walk, in the common road, in the broad, smooth, beaten path; to be in the fashion, to follow a multitude; to do like the rest of our neighbours; that is, to do the will of the flesh and the mind, to gratify our appetites and inclinations: to sacrifice to ourselves; aim at our own ease and pleasure, in the general course both of our words and actions.

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About this text

The ninth sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 6:24-34: no one can serve God and mammon, so take no anxious thought and seek first the kingdom of God.

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 29 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:24-34.

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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