Wesley Corpus

Thur. 13.--I had some hours’ conversation with a serious man, who offered many considerations to show, “that there are no unholy men on earth; and that there are no holy men; but that, in reality, all men are alike, there being no inward difference between them.” I was at first in doubt, what could lead a man of learning and sense into so wonderful an opinion. But that doubt was soon cleared. He had narrowly observed those whom the world calls good men, and could not but discern, that the difference between them and others was merely external; their tempers, their desires, their springs of action, were the same. He clearly saw, although one man was a thief, a cummon swearer, a drunkard, and another not; although this woman was a liar, a prostitute, a Sabbath breaker, and the other clear of these things; yet they were both lovers of pleasure, Jovers of praise, lovers of the present world. He saw self will was the sole spring of action in both “ a REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. _---- [Dec 1739 though exerting itself in different ways: and that the love of God no more filled and ruled the heart of the one, than of the other. Hencv, therefore, he inferred well, “If these persons are holy, there are none unholy upon earth: seeing thieves and prostitutes have as good a heart, as these saints of the world.” And whereas some of these said, “ Nay, but we have faith; we believe in, and rely on, Christ :” it was easily replied, “ Yea, and such a faith in Christ, such a reliance on him, to save them in their sins, have nine in ten of all the robbers and murderers, of whom ye yourselves say, ‘ Away with them from the earth ’”