The way to avoid effects is to avoid the causes. Whoever, therefore, would not be tempted "to bear false witness," must endeavour to suppress those passions which may incite him to it. Let the envious man consider, that by detracting from the character of others, he in reality adds nothing to his own; and the malicious man, that nothing is more inconsistent with every law of God, and institution of men, than implacability and revenge.
If men would spend more time in examining their own lives, and inspecting their own characters, they would have less leisure, and less inclination, to remark with severity upon others. They would easily discover, that it will not be for their advantage to exasperate their neighbour, and that a scandalous falsehood may be easily revenged by a reproachful truth.
It was determined by our blessed Saviour, in a case of open and uncontested guilt, that "he who was without fault," should "cast the first stone." This seems intended to teach us compassion even to the failings of bad men; and certainly that religion which extends so much indulgence to the bad, as to restrain us from the utmost rigour of punishment, cannot be doubted to require that the good should be exempted from calumny and reproach.
Let it be always remembered, that charity is the height of religious excellence; and that it is one of the characteristicks of this virtue, that it thinketh no evil of others.
