JUDGE NOT | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 28, 1871

JUDGE NOT.

“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.” Rom. 14:4.

How do we know what hearts have vilest sin? How do we know? Many may be like sepulchers 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 mercies secret penitence may win, How do we know?

How can we tell who sinneth more than we? How can we tell? We think our brother walketh 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 which 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, Is given knowledge of the 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 doth lure and tempt us, and we fall. Alas! alas! our human strength is small; Not one of us may boast, for not a day Rolls o'er our heads, but each hath need to say, God help us all!