JUDGE NOT ACCORDING TO APPEARANCE BUT JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT 1. No man can justly censure or condemn another, because indeed no man truly knows another. NO MAN ANOTHER 2. While we are coldly discussing a man's career, sneering at his mistakes, blaming his rashness, labelling his opinions" evangelical and narrow," or "latitudinarian and pantheistic," or "anglican and supercilious," 3. That man in his solitude is perhaps shedding hot tears because his sacrifice is a hard one, because strength and patience are failing him to speak the difficult word, and do the difficult deed. 4. We ask what a man has done, but from what degree of virtuous principle he acts is not so carefully weighed. 5. Man's judgment is hasty, because the chief malice of sin lies in the counsel and intention of the heart, which is shrouded in darkness from us. 6. Do not pronounce a man to be a drunkard, although thou mayest have seen him drunk, or an adulterer because thou knowest he has sinned; a single act may not stamp him forever. 7. Thou mayest only say that he was guilty of such an act, that he led an evil life at such a time, or that he is doing a certain wrong at this present day; but if thou drawest deductions for to-day and to-morrow from yes. terday, there is a possibility of doing him a great injustice. 8. We are always doing each other injustice, and thinking better or worse of each other than we deserve, because we only hear and see separate words and actions. We do not see each other's whole nature. 9. One point must still be greatly dark, The moving why they do it! And just as lamely can ye mark What's done we partly may compute, 11. Further, no man can judge another, because no man knows himself. NO ONE 12. We all have our secret sins, and if we HIMSELF knew ourselves we should not judge each other harshly. 13. He that well and rightly considereth his own works, will find little cause to judge hardly of another. 14. But despite his self-ignorance, there is no man but knows more evil of himself than he does of his neighbour. 15. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 16. We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves. The consciousness of wrong-doing makes us irritable, and our heart, in its cunning, quarrels with what is outside it, in order that it may deafen the clamour within. 17. There is no surer sign of an unprofitable life than when people give way to inquisitiveness into the lives of other men. 18. Those who keep careful watch over their conscience are not often liable to form rash judgments; for just as, when the clouds lower, the bees make for the shelter of their hive; 19. So really good people shrink back into themselves, and refuse to be mixed up with the fogs of their neighbours' questionable doings; and rather than meddle with others, they consecrate their energies to their own improvement and good resolutions. 20. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 21. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 22. Censoriousness signifieth the absence or decay of love; it inclineth men to think evil, and judge the worst, and aggravate infirmities, and overlook or extenuate any good that is in others. 23. Censoriousness is an infectious sin, which easily taketh with the younger and prouder sort, and so setteth them on vilifying others; and at this little gap there entereth all uncharitableness, backbitings, revilings. PRIDE BLASES OUR JUDGMENT 24. Pride maketh men wondrous partial in judging of their own virtues and vices in comparison with other men's. 25. The proud think well of all they do, and are little troubled at their greater wants. They easily see another man's failings; but the very same or worse, they justify in themselves. 26. Their own passions, their own overreachings or injurious dealings, their own ill words, are smoothed over as harmless things, while other men's are aggravated as intolerable crimes. 27. An evil heart puts the worst interpretation on all that it sees and turns it to its own hurt. 28. A good heart draws amendment from the sins of others, and is guarded from all harsh judgments and wrath, and preserves an even temper. Thus is a good man able to maintain inviolate a due love and loyalty towards his fellow-men. 29. Observe all the good which is in every man, and let not oversight or partiality cause thee to make light of it. HELPS TO RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT 30. Avoid passion, which blindeth the judgment. Avoid faction, which maketh thee judge of all men as they agree or disagree with thine opinions, or thy side or party. 31. Avoid too hasty belief of censures, and rebuke them. Hear every man speak for himself before thou censurest him, if it be possible. 32. Where opportunity for exact knowledge and a sure judgment is lacking, it were better to err by overestimating than undervaluing a man's virtue, for many |