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<p><strong>If we are quick to perceive blemishes and faults in others</strong><br><br>
&quot;Why do you look at the <strong>speck </strong>of sawdust in your brother's eye — and pay no attention to the <strong>plank </strong>in your own eye?&quot; Matthew 7:3 <br />
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  It is strange how oblivious we can be of our own faults and blemishes — and how clearly we can see those of other people! One old writer says: &quot;Men are more apt to use a magnifying glass to behold other men's faults — than a mirror to behold their own.&quot; A man can see a little speck of dust in his neighbour's eye — while utterly unaware of the great plank in his own eye! He observes the most minute fault in his brother — while unconscious of his own far greater fault!<br />

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  We would say that a plank in a man's eye would so blind him — that he could not see the speck in another's eye. As our Lord represents it, however, the man with the <em>plank</em>, is the very one who sees the <em>speck </em>and thinks himself competent to remove it! <br />
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  So it is in morals. No man is so sharp at seeing a fault in another — as he who has the <em>same</em> or a similar fault of his own! A <em>vain </em>man — is the first to detect the indications of vanity in another. A <em>bad-tempered</em> person — is most apt to be censorious toward a neighbour who displays bad temper. One with a <em>sharp uncontrolled tongue</em> — has the least patience with another whose speech is full of poisoned arrows. A <em>selfish </em>man — discovers even specks of selfishness in others. <em>Rude </em>people — are the very first to be hurt and offended by rudeness in a neighbour.<br />
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  So it is always. <strong>If we are quick to perceive blemishes and faults in others</strong> — the probability is, that we have far greater blemishes and faults in ourselves! This truth ought to make us exceedingly careful in our judgment, and exceedingly modest in our expressions of censure — for <em>we really are telling the world our own faults!</em> It is wiser, as well as more in accordance with the spirit of Christ — for us to find lovely things in others, and to be silent regarding their faults.