Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse V · §20 · John Wesley

Every command is a covered promise

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We may yet further observe that every command in holy Scripture is only a covered promise. For by that solemn declaration, this is the covenant I will make after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws in your minds and write them in your hearts (Hebrews 8:10), God has engaged to give whatever he commands. Does he command us then to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? To rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16)? To be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:16)? It is enough. He will work in us this very thing. It shall be to us according to his word.

1771 text

We may yet farther observe, that every command in holy writ, is only a covered promise. For by that solemn declaration, This is the covenant I will make after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws in your minds, and write them in your hearts, God hath engaged to give whatsoever he commands. Does he command us then to pray without ceasing? To rejoice evermore? To be holy as he is holy? It is enough. He will work in us this very thing. It shall be unto us according to his word.

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About this text

The fifth sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 5:17-20: Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it, and the righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees'.

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 25 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:17-20.

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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