Judging, Rash

Judging, Rash, the act of carelessly, precipitately, wantonly, or maliciously censuring others. This is an evil which abounds too much among almost all classes of men. "Not content with being in the right ourselves, we must find all others in the wrong. We claim an exclusive possession of goodness and wisdom; and from approving warmly of those who join us, we proceed to condemn, with much acrimony, not only the principles, but the characters of those from whom we differ. We rashly extend to every individual the severe opinion which we have unwarrantably conceived of a whole body. This man is of a party whose principles we reckon slavish, and therefore his whole sentiments are corrupted. That man belongs to a religious sect which we are accustomed to deem bigoted, and therefore he is incapable of any generous and liberal thought. Another is connected with a sect which we have been taught to account relaxed, and therefore can have no sanctity. We should do well to consider,

1. That this practice of rash judging is absolutely forbidden in the sacred Scriptures (Mt 7:1).

2. We thereby authorize others to requite us in the same kind.

3. It often evidences our pride; envy, and bigotry.

4. It argues a want of charity, the distinguishing feature of the Christian religion.

5. They who are most forward in censuring others are often most defective themselves." See Barrow's Works, vol. 1. ser. 20; Blair's Sermons, ser. 10, vol. 2; Saurin's Sermons, ser. 4, vol. 5.