II. The considerations with which it is enforced —
There is frequently, though not always, a visible correspondence between the work and the reward of men, even in this life. " With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful," says the Psalmist ; " and with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright ; with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure ; and with the fro ward thou wilt shew thyself froward^." In the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount we have many expressions to the same effect. Now this consideration should operate to guard us against indulging uncharit- able censures : for if we do, we may expect,
1. A similar recompence from man —
[People are invariably grieved when they are loaded with unmerited blame: and though they may not have it in their power to punish the injurious person in any other way, they will almost universally repay him, measure for measure, accord- ing to his desert. This is a species of revenge which every man has within his own reach, and can indulge without much danger of reprisal. Accordingly we find, that a censorious and uncharitable man, though listened to on account of the fond- ness which all men have for scandal, is yet disliked and dreaded by the neighbourhood in which he dwells; because the very persons who listen to his censures, expect that they themselves in their turn shall be the objects of his invective. A man that is kind and amiable, and ready to make allowance for the frailties of others, will usually find reciprocal kindness at the hands of others : but the harsh, uncharitable, censorious person has little to expect but merited hatred and general condemna- tion. If, like Adoni-bezek, we exercise wanton cruelty towards men, we cannot hope for much mercy when we fall into their power ^ We do not indeed justify this kind of recrimination, because it is the duty of all to render good for evil, blessing for cursing : but, where divine grace has not subdued the vin- dictive principle, men will " measure to us according as we mete to them."]
2. A suitable recompence from God —
[God considers the sin of censoriousness in a far different light from that in which it is generally viewed. He regards it as an invasion of his right, and an usurpation of his preroga- tive : and the indignation with which he addresses those who presume to judge their brethren, is perhaps as marked as any that is expressed on any occasion whatever: " He that
1 Ps. xviii. 25, 26. ^ Judg. i. 7.