Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/174

170 rudiments of moral science. They may, notwithstanding, be seen with all the pompous air of assumed independence, uniting in the mad cry,—"down with churches, down with the ministry." And this spirit is doing its legitimate work of devastation and ruin. A large contribution for a ball, club supper, or some other demoralizing amusement, can be raised with ten-fold more ease, than even a paltry penny collection to sustain a church, or Sabbath school institution. We speak now with general reference. We believe it to be universally true, that there is a growing disregard among men to all that is godly, holy and good. Men are growing wiser, but not better. They are making wonderful improvements in the arts and sciences. But their minds are evidently blinded more and more by the god of this world, who leads them captive at his will. In view of such a state of things, is it any wonder that we behold God's judgments abroad in the