Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/15

Rh destruction that wasteth at noon-day" —the variety of diseases and disasters to which man is subject from the cradle to the grave; in view of these awful indications of punitive justice, hope, in the clemency of God would give way to agonizing fear. The observing of our moral duties (at best but very defective) could not restore solid peace to our anxious hearts. The consciousness of personal guilt and transgression, with its attendant forebodings of the wrath to come, would forbid it. Upon our destiny in the future world, would hang an impenetrable cloud. If we anticipated any thing at the eventful close of our mortal career, it could be nothing but the righteous vengeance of Heaven, upon our repeated violations of his laws. This would be our wretched state, had we no grounds to regard our Maker in any other aspect than as All-wise, Just and Omnipotent. But the great Father of the Universe has not