compared with that of God. 295 judge nothing before the time, until the Lord SERM. come, who both will bring to light the hidden XI. things of darknefs, and will make manifefl L""Z the counfels of the heart, and then (hall every man have praife of God. The praife which is juftly due to his own works, according to the favourable rule of proceeding which he has declared in his word. How happy would it be for the world, the chri ftian world par- ticularly, if this rule were univerfally fol- lowed ! What divifions and difcords, ftrifes and confufions, would it prevent, and the great guilt of rafh and uncharitable cenfures ? This is a matter of fo great importance, that our Saviour has thought fit to infift much upon it, particularly in his fermon upon the mount, and enforce it by ftrong arguments. ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged; and with what meafure ye mete it 'hall be meafured to you again. It is a point of fuch confequence, God will have a great regard to it in judg- ment, and in the diftribution of rewards and punifhments, fuch as treat their brethren with candor and tendernefs, (hall meet with great clemency from him; but fuch as have 'hewed no mercy to others, may expet a more fevere doom. In fhort, the evil we are here warn'd * Matt. vii. from the beginning. LT q. againft
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