p. 1 | Judge Not | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1863

Judge Not.

We are apt to judge another Harshly for each slight offense, Forgetting that he is our brother, And that we should stand defence; For we, too, are prone to wander, And have often stepped aside. Then let each one stop and ponder, Ere he does his brother chide.

How can ye know every motive, Every influence brought to bear; Know of every strong temptation, Every deep and subtle snare Thrown around thy erring brother To betray his feet to sin! O, ye cannot judge another Till ye know the soul within.

Would ye have him sit in judgment On each act of thine in life, Without knowing every motive— All thy warring, all thy strife? Even then, would ye not rather Trust to God—a God of love— Trust your kind and heavenly Father To condemn or to approve?

I'd not have you wink at sinning, Or the less condemn the sin, But, oh! think, before condemning, That there is a soul within; That by kindness you may win it From the path that leads to death, But ye never can reclaim it By the fierce volcano's breath.

But ye will the farther drive it From the plain and pleasant road, And ye'll have to answer for it At the final bar of God. Then, my brother, seek by kindness To reclaim thy brother man; Judge not harshly in your blindness, Lest ye too be judged again. [J. D. B.