Doubtless, if these things be done in an uncharitable spirit, they are wrong : but, if done with kindness, and from a sense of duty to God, they will be approved and applauded by him.]
2. Mark distinctly what is forbidden —
[The judgment which we pass on others is then faulty, when it is needless, unfounded, hasty, or severe.
We are not appointed judges over all mankind; nor have we a right to summon all our fellow-creatures to our bar. If their actions do not concern us, we should let them pass without pre- suming to pry into the merits of them. We are not to be " busy- bodies in other men's matters." God repeatedly puts the question to us, " Who art thou that judgest another?" The same question we should put also to ourselves : " What right have I to judge him? what call? what occasion?" And if no necessity is imposed upon us, we should leave the exercise of judgment to those to whom it properly belongs.
Not unfrequently do men form a judgment without any just or adequate grounds. There is a strong propensity in the human mind to indulge prejudice, and to harbour unkind thoucchts both against individuals and bodies of men without any specific reason. When this is done, we readily listen to any report against the object of our aversion, and put a bad construction upon every thing he says or does. It was thus that our Lord was treated by the Scribes and Pharisees : though he " spake as never man spake," and was altogether " without sin," yet they always found fault with him, and loaded him with all manner of accusations. The same kind of prejudice still operates in the minds of many, especially against religious characters ; so that if a person be only branded with some opprobrious name, it shall be sufficient to degrade him in their eyes, and to give validity to every calumny that malice can invent. Indeed where religion is out of the question, such " evil surmisings" frequently arise; and a mere look, or motion, or word, that was perfectly innocent, shall be construed into a grievous offence, and be made an occasion of vehement indig- nation. That such judgment as this is wrong, needs no proof: it is too palpable a violation of the golden rule to admit of the smallest defence. Happy would it be if religious people them- selves were not too often blameable on this account. They are but too prone to lay a stress on matters of indifference, and to condemn those who differ from them, as severely as if their practice were ever so criminal. But, however this conduct be cloked with a plea of religion, it is most hateful in itself, most injurious to the Church, and most offensive to God'.
But further, if our judgment have some foundation, yet is it faulty, if it be rash. We should give to every person an
> Rom. xiv. 3. Col. ii. 16.