THE BEAM AND THE MOTE.

Matt. VII: 1-6.

Fault-finding is not in itself a sin; on the contrary, it is often a duty. The old Levitical law said: "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him." Under the New Testament law of love there is the exhortation: "Reprove, rebuke, with all long-suffering and doctrine;" but, as some one has well said, "A duty may become a sin if wrongfully done." The spirit of the Christian is the spirit of love and gentleness. Yet there are times when he must rebuke sin and take no compromising position in the presence of evil. To be censorious, however, is to be un-Christlike and disobedient to His wish.

There are certain thing to be said about mote-pulling and beam-pulling. The first is:

I. Take care that you get them in the right order. Beam-pulling comes first. "First cast out the beam that is in thine own eye." Following that simple direction would stop a lot of mote-pulling. "Physician, heal thy self." "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest an other, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."

II. Secondly, bear in mind that mote-pulling is dangerous business. In judging others we court judgment on ourselves. A Spanish proverb says: "If our faults were written on our foreheads we should have to go with out hats pulled over our eyes." Another familiar proverb says that "people who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones."

"Before you mark another's sin
Bid thine own conscience look within."

Mote-pulling is often the unconscious result of an unforgiving spirit. If we do not forgive others God cannot forgive us. So, both from his fellowmen and from God, there is danger to the man who judges his brother.

III. Thirdly, mote-pulling is frequently a very hypocritical performance. If we have studied ourselves carefully most of us have found that in proportion as we have become quick to discern the faults of others we have less and less discerned our own shortcomings. Frequently when we have found faults in others they were but reflections of faults in our own lives. "It takes a rogue to catch a rogue." There are a good many sins that, if we did not indulge so much ourselves, we would not see so plainly in others.

IV. Fourthly, mote-pulling is often times a most useless performance. It certainly is useless so long as there is plainly visible inconsistency, in our own lives.

V. Therefore, mote-puller, take care. It is a delicate matter to pluck a mote or a cinder out of an inflamed eye. Take care how you do it. First be sure your hands are clean. That does not mean we must live sinless lives before we begin to help others; but it does mean that we must be right with God, and right with our fellowmen. Take care that you do your mote-pulling very tenderly and gently, also. It requires a great art of tact and tenderness to help a brother by finding fault with him, though it can be done.

VI. Before your begin change places. It is best to begin that way; for you will have to change places before you get through. "For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you again." As a man soweth in his judgment of others, so shall he reap.

VII. Put on charity as a garment. Recognizing the danger, the delicacy, the importance of the work; being in right relations with God and with your fellowmen; resolve on great tact and tenderness, with a clear conscience, clean hands and clothed in the white robes of charity, you are in a condition, like Christ, to do good in the ministry of reproof. Do not forget this last condition: Put on charity as a garment. "Charity suffereth long" etc.