Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse XIII · §14 · John Wesley

Good works alone

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The saying, Lord, Lord! may imply, thirdly, many of what are usually styled good works. A man may attend the supper of the Lord, may hear abundance of excellent sermons, and omit no opportunity of partaking all the other ordinances of God. I may do good to my neighbor, deal my bread to the hungry (Isaiah 58:7), and cover the naked with a garment. I may be so zealous of good works, as even to give all my goods to feed the poor (1 Corinthians 13:3). Yes, and I may do all this, with a desire to please God, and a real belief that I do please him thereby: (which is undeniably the case of those our Lord introduces, saying to him, Lord, Lord!) and still I may have no part, in the glory which shall be revealed.

1771 text

3. The saying, Lord, Lord! may imply, thirdly, many of what are usually stiled good works. A man may attend the supper of the Lord, may hear abundance of excellent sermons, and omit no opportunity of partaking all the other ordinances of God. I may do good to my neighbour, deal my bread to the hungry, and cover the naked with a garment. I may be so zealous of good works, as even to give all my goods to feed the poor. Yea, and I may do all this, with a desire to please God, and a real belief that I do please him thereby: (which is undeniably the case of those our Lord introduces, saying unto him, Lord, Lord!) and still I may have no part, in the glory which shall be revealed.

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About this text

The last of the thirteen sermons on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 7:21-27: not everyone who says Lord, Lord, and the wise man who builds on the rock.

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 33 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 7:21-27.

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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