Vol. 2

—CHAPTER VI. 389one may say, to wear the badge of this perfection,there being scarce any other in God which he hasnow to imitate. Thou art, O my God, all mercy towardsme; grant that Ibrethren, for thy sake.may be all mercy towards mySect. V. Not to judge. The Blind leaders ofthe Blhid. llie Mote and Beam in the Eye." 37. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged :"There are four kinds of mercy to be exercised.The first consists in not judging of secret intentions,when they do not appear by the actions ; in renouncingthat inquisitive, rash, and malicious desire, whichputs us upon searching into the heart. In vain do weflatter ourselves with being innocent, in not openlydeclaring the disadvantageous judgment which weform inwardly concerning our neighbour. The pleasurewhich we take in lessening him in our own minds,out of envy or vanity, does not, by being secret, ceaseto be criminal. How great is the goodness of God,in being so willing to put our judgments into our ownhands, as to engage himself not to enter into judgmentwith us, provided we do not usurp the right,which belongs solely to him, of judging the heart." — Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned;"The second sort of mercy inclines us, not to condemnthose rigidly and unmercifully whose faults arecertain and visible ; to lessen, conceal, and excusethem as much as we can,without prejudice to truthand justice; and to be far from aggravating or divulgingthem, or desiring the punishment of them.It isno other than the blindness of a madman, to ex-