Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse V · §40 · John Wesley

I am not as other men are

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I am not as other men are. This is not a small point. It is not every man who can say this. It is as if he had said, I do not allow myself to be carried away by that great torrent, custom. I live not by custom but by reason, not by the examples of men but by the word of God. I am not an extortioner, not unjust, not an adulterer, however common these sins are even among those who are called the people of God. Extortion in particular, a kind of legal injustice, not punishable by any human law, the making gain of another's ignorance or necessity, having filled every corner of the land. Nor even as this tax collector, not guilty of any open or presumptuous sin, not an outward sinner, but a fair, honest man of blameless life and conduct.

1771 text

I am not as other men are. This is not a small point. It is not every man that can say this. It is as if he had said, I do not suffer myself to be carried away by that great torrent, custom. I live not by custom, but by reason; not by the examples of men, but by the word of God. I am not an extortioner, not unjust, not an adulterer: however common these sins are even among those who are called the people of God: (extortion, in particular, a kind of legal injustice: not punishable by any human law, the making gain of another’s ignorance or necessity, having filled every corner of the land) nor even as this Publican; not guilty of any open or presumptuous sin: not an outward sinner: but a fair, honest man, of blameless life and conversation.