Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/206

 who is in Christ a new creature. Secondly, From the verse immediately preceding the text, and manifestly connected with it. My brethren, be not many masters (or teachers) knowing that we ''shall receive the greater condemnation: for in many things we offend all'': We! Who? Not the apostles, nor true believers; but they who knew they should receive the greater condemnation, because of those many offences. But this could not be spoke of the apostle himself, or of any who trod in his steps; seeing ''there is no condemnation for them, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit''. Nay, thirdly, The very verse itself proves, that we offend all, cannot be spoken, either of all men, or of all Christians; for in it there immediately follows the mention of a man who ''offends not, as the we'' first mentioned did: from whom therefore he is professedly contradistinguished, and pronounced, a perfect man.

18. So clearly does St. James, explain himself, and fix the meaning of his own words. Yet lest any one should still remain in doubt, St. John, writing many years after St. James, puts the matter intirely out of dispute, by the express declarations above recited. But here a fresh difficulty may arise. How shall we reconcile St. John with himself? In one place he declares, "Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin." And, again, We know that he which is born of God, sinneth not. And yet in another he saith, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,