Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse XIII · §15 · John Wesley

Short of true holiness

If any man marvels at this, let him acknowledge he is a stranger to the whole religion of Jesus Christ: and in particular, to that perfect portraiture of it, which he has set before us in this discourse. For how far short is all this, of that righteousness and true holiness, which he has described in it! how widely distant from that inward kingdom of heaven, which is now opened in the believing soul? Which is first sown in the heart as a grain of mustard-seed (Matthew 13:31), but afterwards puts forth great branches, on which grow all the fruits of righteousness, every good temper and word and work.

1771 text

4. If any man marvels at this, let him acknowledge he is a stranger to the whole religion of Jesus Christ: and in particular, to that perfect portraiture thereof, which he has set before us in this discourse. For how far short is all this, of that righteousness and true holiness, which he has described therein! how widely distant from that inward kingdom of heaven, which is now opened in the believing soul? Which is first sown in the heart as a grain of mustard-seed, but afterwards putteth forth great branches, on which grow all the fruits of righteousness, every good temper and word and work.

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