Page:SermonOnTheMount1900.djvu/141

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about to fall; but ‘ he shall stand,' says the Apostle, ' for God is able to make him stand.' Do not you, then, declare that he will fall.

St Paul goes on: — ‘ But why dost thou judge thy brother? ’ And why do you despise your brother? He is your fellow-man, and your equal; and it does not belong to you to judge him. You are both alike answerable to the judge before whom both must appear. ‘For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.... So then every one of us shall render an account of himself to God.’[1] Do not dream, therefore, of judging others, but think of the account that you will have to give of yourself.

St James is no less decided. ‘There is,' he says, ‘one law -giver, and judge, who is able to destroy and to deliver.’[2] And to this he adds, ‘But what art thou, who judgest thy neighbour?’ which reflection he deduces from the grand principle previously laid down: — ‘ He that detracteth his brother, or judgeth his brother, detracteth the law, and judgeth the law ’: — namely, because the law itself has forbidden you to usurp the power of judgment. ‘ But,' continues this great apostle,

  1. Rom. xiv. 10, 12.
  2. James iv. 12.