ON AVOIDING RASH JUDGMENT
“Look well unto yourself and beware that you judge not the doings of others. In judging others, a man labours in vain; he often errs and easily falls into sin; but in judging and examining himself, he always labours to good purpose. According as a matter touches our fancy, so oftentimes do we judge of it; for easily do we fail of true judgment because of our own personal feeling. If God were always the sole object of our desire, we should the less easily be troubled by the erring judgment of our fancy.
But often, some secret thought lurking within us, or even some outward circumstance, turns us aside. Many are secretly seeking their own ends in what they do, yet know it not. They seem to live in good peace of mind so long as things go well with them, and according to their desires, but if their desires be frustrated and broken, immediately they are shaken and displeased. Diversity of feelings and opinions very often brings about dissensions between friends, between countrymen, between religious and godly men.
Established custom is not easily relinquished, and no man is very easily led to see with the eyes of another. If you rest more upon your own reason or experience than upon the power of Jesus Christ, your light shall come slowly and hardly; for God wills us to be perfectly subject unto Himself, and all our reason to be exalted by abundant love towards Him.
OF WORKS OF CHARITY
For no worldly good whatsoever, and for the love of no man, must anything be done which is evil, but for the help of the suffering, a good work must sometimes be postponed, or be changed for a better; for herein a good work is not destroyed, but improved. Without charity no work profits, but whatsoever is done in charity, however small and of no reputation it be, brings forth good fruit; for God verily considers what a man is able to do, more than the greatness of what he does.
He does much who loves much; He does much who does well; He does well who ministers to the public good rather than to his own. Oftentimes that seems to be charity, which is rather carnality, because it springs from natural inclination, self-will, hope of repayment, desire of gain.
He who have true and perfect charity, in no wise seeks his own good, but desires that God alone be altogether glorified. He envies none, because he longs for no selfish joy; nor does he desire to rejoice in himself, but longs to be blessed in God as the highest good. He ascribes good to none save to God only, the Fountain whence all good proceeds, and the End, the Peace, the Joy of all Saints. O he who have but a spark of true charity, have verily learned that all worldly things are full of vanity.”
Thomas a Kempis
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 