ceptable qualities of contrition, humility Si Jun90210 to 19Wog & dɔde it quan and faith, can never be discovered by the nar ofte betisgrat eye of flesh. The tears that are shed in 9412 313 3

secret, the sighs which are uttered when 340192.9 91 Dus 86 od non bbrew 91957 no one perceives, the wrestling with temptation

on that goes on in many a bosom supposed to be given up to carelessness and sin, these are things which elude human observation and which render all its attempts at judgment fallacious and uncertain. (")

1

II. We cannot therefore judge correctly if we would and further it would be a great evil if we could. This then is a second reason for our Saviour's precept in the text. The fact is obvious to any one who considers the actual state of human nature, the natural feelings of affection, the duties connected with society, and the manner in which we are made to be members of it. Instances might easily be given to illustrate the mischief which would

langdil mitered) Christian liberality.

vulund geirion to

53

theument were ensue if such a power of discernment Looyooth od imparted unto man. They would all tend

to illustrate the same point, namely, that there would then be an end to the exercise of evangelical charity. The best Christians could no longer be humble if they found all others worse than themselves, they could no longer be said to hope when they became certain of salvation, they would be no longer in a state of trial when they were by a comparison with others released from all doubt of their being accepted. The erring sinner could have little place for repentance, if shunned and abandoned by the righteous, and driven to the society only of the reprobate. Son would be divided against father, brother against brother, husband against wife, not only in the special occurrence of conversion from Paganism to Christianity, not only in the extreme emergencies which even in present times sometimes render necessary such grievous

i would be sown

results, but in every family

the seeds of discord; and all sweet inter

changes of social affection,

exalted as they are by thouraged and

s

spirit of the Gospel, would be utterly extinct and

abolished.

If indeed there could be any doubt from the reason of the thing that such a power would be inconsistent with the ends of human trial and probation, we might infer that it is so from the fact that He who alone knew what was in man, and best consulted for human good, has himself forbidden the attempt. "Judge not," said the Saviour of mankind-" Judge not," said he who taught with authority-"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Is it possible that "Is this direct plain precept, and the warning with which it is accompanied, can have been well weighed by any mind which presumes to decide upon the righteousness and unrighteousness of every individual of

its acquaintance? Is it possible that any interpretation of the words can be devised compatible with a practice of separating one's self from the intercourse of one's own family, declining their conversation, refusing altogether to join in their employments and amusements, and censuring even those whom above all other human beings we are bound to love and to honour? Consider I beseech you how vain must be every pretence of serving God by conduct so openly at variance with his commands. "If a man love God he will love his brother also." It will be but a poor tribute of affection to love Jesus Christ more than father and mother and brother and husband and wife, if these several relations be not first affectionately beloved; and though on occasions of extremity, such as not unfrequently occurred in the times of the early converts, a mán might be called upon to reject the affec

tions of relationship for the sake of Christ, in our own times it will seldom be found but that one duty adds fresh sanction to the other, and that they are the best Christians who are most dutiful as children, most truly affectionate as parents, and most strictly observant of the duties and charities of wedded life. "Judge not" then "that be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again." And learn from the sanctions with which this precept is en forced, that its violation is positively sinful, and no less contradictory to the spirit of Christ's religion than any of those offences for which you would so hastily condemn others.

III. From the preceding observations it is easy to collect a view of true Christian liberality, applicable to our intercourse with mixed society.