Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse VII · §8 · John Wesley

The end and the means

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In the same manner the end and the means of religion have been set at variance with each other. Some well-meaning men have seemed to place all religion in attending the prayers of the church, in receiving the Lord's Supper, in hearing sermons, and reading books of piety, neglecting meantime the end of all these, the love of God and their neighbor. And this very thing has confirmed others in the neglect, if not contempt, of the ordinances of God, so wretchedly abused to undermine and overthrow the very end they were designed to establish.

1771 text

3. In the same manner have the end and the means of religion, been set at variance with each other. Some well-meaning men, have seemed to place all religion, in attending the prayers of the church, in receiving the Lord’s Supper, in hearing sermons, and reading books of piety: neglecting mean time the end of all these, The love of God and their neighbour. And this very thing has confirmed others in the neglect, if not contempt of the ordinances of God; so wretchedly abused to undermine and overthrow the very end they were designed to establish.

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About this text

The seventh sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 6:16-18: fasting, what it is for, how it is abused, and how to keep it.

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 27 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:16-18.

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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