Thomas Manton: Censuring is a trick of the devil, to take off the care from their own hearts; and therefore, to excuse indignation against their own sins, their zeal is passionate in declaiming against the sins of others. Gracious hearts reflect most upon themselves; they do not seek what to reprove in others, but what to lament in themselves. Partly because they are not so meek and gentle as true Christians. When a man is sensible of his own failings, he is very tender in reflecting upon the weaknesses of others. Manton's Complete Works, Exposition upon the Epistle of James, James 1:26 (Worthington, Pennsylvania: Maranatha Publications), Vol. 4, p. 171.

Thomas Manton: Censuring; it is an arrogation of mastership over others. All teaching, especially reproof, is an act of power, and therefore the apostle forbiddeth it to women, 1 Cor. 14:34, because they cannot have power over a man. Well, then, when you are about to censure, check it with this thought—What power hath God given me over my fallen brother? ‘Why should I judge another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth,’ Rom. 14:4. It is wrong to God to put myself in his room; it is wrong to my neighbour to arrogate a power over him which God never gave me. Manton's Complete Works, Exposition upon the Epistle of James, James 3:1 (Worthington, Pennsylvania: Maranatha Publications), Vol. 4, p. 272.

DTK

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Sola Scriptura est norma normans non normata
David T. King, pastor
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Elkton, Maryland
Augustine (354-430): Therefore what He [i.e., Christ] has deigned to speak to us, we ought to believe that He meant us to understand. But if we do not understand He, being asked, gives understanding, who gave His Word unasked. NPNF1: Vol. VII, Tractates on John, Tractate XXII, §1.