Wesley Corpus

And whose shall those things be which thou hast prepared ?” 26. And yet doth not our pride, even the pride of those whose soul “cleaves to the dust, testify against us?” Are they not “wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own conceit?” Have not writers of our own remarked, that there is not upon earth a more self-conceited nation than the English; more opi niated both of their own national and personal wisdom, and courage, and strength? And indeed, if we may judge by the in habitants of London, this is evident to a demonstration; for are not the very meanest of them able to instruct both the King and all his Counsellors? What cobbler in London is not wiser than the principal Secretary of State? What coffee-house disputer is not an abler Divine than his Grace of Canterbury? And how deep a contempt of others is joined with this high opinion of our selves ! I know not whether the people of all other nations are greater masters of dissimulation; but there does not appear in any nation whateversuch a proneness to despise their neighbour; to despise, not foreigners only, (near two thousand years ago they remarked, Britannos hospitibus feros,”) but their own country men; and that very often for such surprising reasons as nothing but undeniable fact could make credible. How often does the gentleman in his coach despise those dirty fellows that go a-foot; and these, on the other hand, despise full as much those lazy fellows that loll in their coaches ! No wonder then that those who have “the form of godliness” should despise them that have * This quotation from Horace is thus translated by Francis : -“Britons of inhospitable strain.”-EDIT. it not; that the saint of the world so frequently says to the gross sinner, in effect, if not in terms, “Stand by thyself; come not near unto me; for I am holier than thou !” 27. Yet what kind of holiness is this? May not God justly declare of us also, “This people draw near me with their mouth, but they have removed their hearts far from me: They do but flatter me with their mouth, and dissemble with me in their tongue?” Is it not so with you? When you speak to God, do your lips and your heart go together?