Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/76

72 nature, is to guard us from real injuries. When we suffer it to proceed no further than to shield ourselves from real harm, it is not, as we conceive, criminal. For instance:—A person endeavors to instil into the mind of another, principles known by him to be dangerous in themselves, and destructive in their consequences. Now, should a holy indignation arise in his mind against such principles, from the view of their injurious character, this resentment, so far from being criminal, would be just, properly directed, and in strict compliance with the exhortation of St. James, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." When resentment is suffered to go so far as to injure others merely for the sake of gratifying this feeling, or as a retaliation for some wrong done, or supposed to be done to us, then it is highly criminal. In opposition to this spirit, we are exhorted in