It is said that a lady came to Charles Wesley, complaining that she was the chief of sinners, the worst of transgressors, utterly lost and helpless. Mr. Wesley replied,
“I have no doubt, madam, that you are had enough.”
The lady instantly flew into a passion, declaring that she was no worse than her neighbors, and scolded the preacher as a slanderer!
What a sham confession she had made! When Mr. Wesley took her at her word, the utter hollowness of her profession was at once laid bare. There was no reality in her. While it was perfectly true that she was a sinner, a transgressor, and utterly lost and helpless, she did not wish to be considered so. She could tell the preacher all this, thinking he would tell her she was all right, and flatter her wretched pride; but when he took her at her word, she was angry.
And are there not thousands who are in this very condition? They can talk religiously about being sinners, but when you tell them they are bad, they will try to make out that they are better than others. They are self-righteous and full of pride, and when they talk piously and make confessions, they do not mean it. There is no truth in them.
Now, sinners of this kind are not a whit better than drunkards and thieves. They are liars, and they make God a liar, because they deny what He has said about them. They may be outwardly more decent than publicans and harlots, but their hearts are just as black in the sight of God.
God has said that all have sinned;” and besides He says
“There is no difference.” One bad egg is no better than another had egg; one rotten apple is just as worthless as another rotten apple; and if the carnal mind is enmity against God, one sinner is no better than another sinner. All are under judgment, all are lost, and all are helpless.
When the woman said to Mr. Wesley that she was lost and helpless, it was true, but she did not believe her own words. She was talking pious talk without meang it.
Will you not come to Jesus now, with the publican’s cry,
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner?” He will hear you, and He will pardon and cleanse you.
“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, eleanseth us from all sin.”
Come, then, to the Saviour; and come now.
ML 07/25/1943