The Home Circle | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 11, 1880

The Home Circle.

JUDGE NOT.

How do we know what hearts have vilest sin? How do we know? Many, like sepulchers, are foul within Whose outward garb is spotless as the snow, And many may be pure we think not so. How near to God the souls of such have been, What mercy secret penitence may win— How do we know?

How can we tell who hath sinned more than we? How can we tell? We think our brother hath walked guiltily, Judging him in self-righteousness. Ah, well! Perhaps, had we been driven through the hell Of his untold temptations, we might be Less upright in our daily walk than he— How can we tell?

Dare we condemn the ills that others do? Dare we condemn? Their strength is small, their trials not a few, The tide of wrong is difficult to stem. And if to us more clearly than to them If given knowledge of good and true, More do they need our help, and pity, too— Dare we condemn?

God help us all and lead us day by day. God help us all! We cannot walk alone the perfect way, Evil allures us, tempts us, and we fall. We are but human and our power is small; Not one of us may boast, and not a day Rolls o'er our heads but each hath need to say, God bless us all.