The Light of the World

By John Wesley

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an bill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14

It is impossible for any who have it to conceal the religion of Jesus Christ. This our Lord makes plain beyond all contradiction, by a twofold comparison: “Ye are the light of the world; a city set upon a hill cannot be hid.” You Christians are “the light of the world,” with regard both to your tempers and actions. Your holiness makes you as conspicuous as the sun in the midst of heaven. As you cannot go out of the world, so neither can you stay in it without appearing to all mankind. You may not flee from men; and while you are among them, it is impossible to hide your lowliness and meekness, and those other dispositions whereby you aspire to be perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. . . . As well may men think to hide a city, as to bide a Christian; yea, as well may they conceal a city set upon a bill, as a holy, zealous, active lover of God and man.

It is true, men who love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, will take all possible pains to prove that the light which is in you is darkness. They will say evil, all manner of evil, falsely, of the good which is in you; they will lay to your charge that which is farthest from your thoughts, which is the very reverse of all you are, and all you do. And your patient continuing in well-doing, your calm, humble joy in the midst of persecution, your unwearied labor to overcome evil with good, will make you still moi~e conspicuous than you were before. . .

Sure it is that a secret, unobserved religion cannot be the religion

Compiled by Al Bryant, "The John Wesley Reader", Word Books. This book is currently available on the used book market. Please check the used book venders for this book at IMARC.