August 12

Fourth Monday after Trinity

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. S. Luke 6:37.

If we are impressed with the speedy coming on of the day of judgment, not knowing what then will be our portion and the shortness of the intervening time, how exceedingly gracious is this declaration, whereby God is pleased to put into our own hands as it were the sentence which is to be passed upon us. And indeed there is a peculiar fitness it should be so, for the more earnestly we seek, by repentance and prayer, to avert God's judgment from ourselves on account of our past sins, the more we tremble and pray lest we be condemned; the more we seek of God forgiveness for the past, by so much the more do we become disposed not to condemn, not to judge, but to forgive others. And this of which I speak is but the Spirit of God within us, answering our sighs and prayers and our desires to avert judgment with this very same declaration which our Lord Himself makes, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged." It is the good Spirit putting it into our better thoughts on such occasions, and whispering to us with His own still small voice, after the tempest of some worldly calamity. It is His gracious voice at length being heard, saying, "Art thou afraid?" Well, "judge not, and thou shalt not be judged: condemn not, and thou shalt not be condemned: forgive, and thou shalt be forgiven." He inclines the heart. How all important is it that we act up to these His suggestions.

Mournest thou, poor soul, and wouldest thou yet Call back the things which shall not, cannot be? Heaven must be won, not dreamed: thy task is set.

P