Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/133

Rh dread of God's judgments clothed themselves in sack-cloth, and cried mightily to God, it is said; that, "God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them, and he did it not." But what does the Lord say to his people when they had given up themselves to unrighteousness, and still offered to Him a formal worship. "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations: incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with: it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear;" and the reason he assigns is: "your hands are full of blood." Hence the exhortation;