Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/106

102 direction of the Apostle, aiming to edify those present, there is too often a disposition shown to inflict an injury upon the absent. And seeing this is the case, it is no wonder that we behold so many dwarfs in Christianity. It is no wonder that some run well for a season the Christian race, grow weary, turn back and bring a reproach upon the cause. You need wonder no longer, inconsistent professor, why you have no comfortable sense of God's love, no delight in the sanctuary, no relish for meditating on God's law, and attending on the ordinances of his house. You have grieved the Spirit of grace, and caused him to withdraw from you his comforting influences. When you have learned to "speak good of the name of the Lord, to be talking of his worship, glory, praise and wondrous works; to be telling of his loving kindness early in the morning, and of his truth in the night season;" then, may you expect him to lift upon you the light of his countenance,