Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER VII. 97
demn him, either out of an idle curiosity, or out of
envy and malice, or in order to find our own jus-
tification in the condemnation of others: this is
what a great part of the world do almost without
perceiving it,
" 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall
be measured to you again."
We believe it, because Christ has said it, that
we shall be treated at the last judgment as we shall
have treated others; and yet we act every day as if
we did not believe it. He who shows mercy shall
receive it. This severity which is just, considerate,
and proportioned to our sins, is the punishment of
the unjust, rash, and excessive rigour of the greatest
part of our judgments.
" 3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in
thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that
is in thine own eye?"
On one side, self-love blinds us as to ourselves;
and on the other, envy and malice give us piercing
eyes in respect of others. An excellent remedy
against this forwardness in censurinfj the conduct of
others, is to consider ourselves before we find fault
with them. When we shall have as much zeal to
correct ourselves as we have inclination to correct
others, we shall then know our own defects better
than we now do those of our neighbours.
" 4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let
me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold,
a beam is in thine own eye?"
A false, blind, and irregular charity inspires us
with a malicious attention and application to the
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