1. Base in itself —
[The man who censures others professes a high regard for virtue, and a zeal for the honour of God. But what regard has he for virtue who does not cultivate it in his own soul ? or what zeal has he for the honour of God, who does not bring his own heart into an obedience to his will ? Even supposing that he were not himself notoriously faulty in other respects (which supposition however will never be found true) how flagrant is his breach of duty at the very instant he pretends such a regard for duty ! He violates the most acknowledged principle of common equity ; he acts not towards others as, in a change of circumstances, he would think it right for them to act towards him ; and therefore at the very instant he condemns others, he unwittingly condemns himself. Who does not see the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were indignant with our Lord for working miracles on the sabbath, while they them- selves were conspiring against his life ? Such, in their degree, are all they, who are oifended with a mote in their brother's eye, while they have a beam in their own. Well therefore does our Lord address them by that humiliating appellation, " Thou hypocrite." A baser character than this can scarcely exist.]
2. Injurious to our neighbour —
[Every person values his reputation, and esteems the loss of it as a great misfortune. But in judging any man with severity, or exposing needlessly his faults, we rob him of his good name, and impoverish him without enriching ourselves. How injurious such conduct is we may see, if we will only con- sider what we feel when we are rigorously or unjustly censured. The sensibility we manifest, and the keen resentment we ex- press, are sufficient indications of the injury which we suppose ourselves at least to have sustained.]
3. Insulting to our God —
[God claims it as his prerogative to judge. As he alone is privy to all the circumstances of any case, he alone can judge of it aright: besides, he has appointed a day wherein he will display his righteousness, in awarding to every one a judgment suited to his real character : and he requires us to defer our judgment till that time*. But in taking upon ourselves to censure and condemn others we invade his prerogative, we usui-p his power, we set ourselves in his throne, we supersede, or anticipate at least, his judgment. In this light censorious- ness is often stated by God himself; and a holy indignation is invariably expressed against those who shall presume to indulge it*".]
^ Rom. xiv. 10. 1 Cor, iv. 5. ^ Rom. xiv. 4. Jam, iv. 11, 12. and ii. 13.
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