The Wicked Watcheth the Righteous

T. E. BOWEN
THAT man, whoever he may be, who has a spirit of watching someone else to discover some mistake, some fault, some misstep, God calls a wicked man. Mark carefully what He says of him: ” The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.” Ps. 37: 32.
This watching here mentioned is a far different watching than that about which the Lord instructs us. He commands us to watch, but it is not the other man, our neighbor, our brother, our sister, but it is our own hearts, our own identical selves the Master tells us to look out for, to watch.
How comfortable it is to be in the presence of noble-hearted brethren and sisters who you know will not pick up every little error or omission and comment upon it to others. It is restful. Well, why not be this way? Why let in this wicked spirit of watching for something to report? God calls the thing wickedness. The wicked watch; the righteous are watched. In which company are we? What a world of iniquity might be avoided in the church if the unholy watchers would go out of business forever.
Rome, N. Y. The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald SEPTEMBER 14, 1905