They condemn whom they should imitate
Yet it does not appear that our Lord designed this caution only or chiefly for the children of God, but rather for the children of the world, for the men who do not know God. These cannot but hear of those who are not of the world, who follow after the religion described above: who endeavor to be humble, serious, gentle, merciful, and pure in heart; who earnestly desire such measures of these holy tempers as they have not yet attained; and wait for them in doing all good to all men and patiently suffering evil. Whoever goes but this far cannot be hidden, no more than a city set upon a hill (Matthew 5:14). And why do not those who see their good works glorify their Father who is in heaven? What excuse have they for not treading in their steps? For not imitating their example and being followers of them, as they are also of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)? Why, in order to provide an excuse for themselves, they condemn those whom they ought to imitate. They spend their time in finding out their neighbor's faults instead of amending their own. They are so busy about others going out of the way that they themselves never come into it at all: at least, never get forward, never go beyond a poor dead form of godliness without the power (2 Timothy 3:5).
1771 text
6. Yet it does not appear, that our Lord designed this caution, only or chiefly for the children of God: but rather for the children of the world, for the men who know not God. These cannot but hear of those, who are not of the world, who follow after the religion above described: who endeavour to be humble, serious, gentle, merciful and pure in heart; who earnestly desire such measures of these holy tempers, as they have not yet attained: and wait for them in doing all good to all men, and patiently suffering evil. Whoever go but thus far, cannot be hid, no more than a city set upon a hill. And why do not those, who see their good works, glorify their Father which is in heaven? What excuse have they, for not treading in their steps? For not imitating their example, and being followers of them, as they are also of Christ? Why, in order to provide an excuse for themselves, they condemn those whom they ought to imitate. They spend their time in finding out their neighbour’s faults, instead of amending their own. They are so busied about others going out of the way, that themselves never come into it at all: at least, never get forward, never go beyond a poor dead form of godliness without the power.