character by a single act ; or take an instance or two of indis- cretion, and consider them as fixed and accustomed habits? Surely our " brother" should receive far different treatment at our hands. We should cast a veil over his infirmities, and exercise towards him that charity which hopeth all things and believe th all things ^]
3. Purge your own heart from evil, that you may be the better qualified to reprove or advise others as occasion shall require —
[As persons who dispense the laws must of necessity pass judgment on those who are brought before them, so must all the members of Christ's Church administer fraternal correction or reproof to each others It is not a// judgment that the text forbids, but all harsh and severe judgment. It prohibits an over-officious prying into the faults of others, and a needless exposing of them to the world ; but it leaves us at liberty to give that reproof which is necessary for the reclaiming of an offending brother. But to admonish others with effect, we must attain some measure at least of purity ourselves. Let every one then begin with rectifying his own conduct. Let every one be solicitous to cast the beam out of his own eye, that he may afterwards assist with more propriety and effect in pulling out the mote from his brothei-'s eye. We must not indeed stay till we are perfect before we attempt to benefit our brother ; but we should study to attain an unbiassed judgment, and should hide the lancet in a sponge if we would open an imposthume ; and in every case we should regulate our endea- vours with charity and discretion.]
^ 1 Pet. iv. 8. 1 Cor. xiii. 7. ^ Lev. xix. 17. Eph. v. 11.