Wesley Corpus

7. And yet, "except your righteousness," saith our Lord, "shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." A solemn and weighty declaration, and which it behoves all who are called by the name of Christ seriously and deeply to consider. But before we inquire how our righteousness may exceed theirs, let us examine whether at present we come up to it. First, a Pharisee was "not as other men are." In externals he was singularly good. Are we so Do we dare to be singular at all Do we not rather swim with the stream Do we not many times dispense with religion and reason together, because we would not look particular Are we not often more afraid of being out of the fashion, than of being out of the way of salvation Have we courage to stem the tide -- to run counter to the world -- "to obey God rather than man" Otherwise, the Pharisee leaves us behind at the very first step. It is well if we overtake him any more.