Wesley Corpus

26. And yet doth not our Pride, even the pride of those whole soul cleaves to the duit, 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 opinionated both of their own national and personal wisdom, and ftrength ? And indeed, if we may judge by the inhabitants of London, this is evident to a demonstration : for, are 5 N not 294 A raxrturk APPEAL, Part II. not the very meanest of them able to instru both the King and all his Counsellors? What Cobler in London is not wiser than the Principal Secretary of State ? What Coffee-houle disputant is not an abler divine than his Grace of Canterbury? And how deep a contempt of others is joined with this high opinion of ourselves? ] know not whether the people of all other nations are greater masters of dissimulation; but there does not appear in any nation whatever, such a proneness to de- spise their neighbour : to despise not only foreigners, (near two thousand years ago they remarked, Britannos Hofpitibus feros ) but their own countrymen ; 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 on 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 not: that the faint of the world fo frequently says to the gross finner, in effect, if not in terms, Stand by thy- self z come not near unto me; for I am holier than thou! R | Vet what kind of holiness is this? May not God justly declare of us also, This people draw near to me with their mouth, but they have removed their hearts far from me. They do but flatter me with their