Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/80

76 of our church is in perfect accordance with this statement of St. Paul. "Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the school authors say,) deserve grace of congruity: yea, rather, for that they are not done as God has willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin." So, in this view, nothing done by an impenitent man can be really good. In another point of view he may, however, do something that may be called good, from the good effects resulting therefrom. A liberal contribution, for instance, may be cheerfully given to some educational institution, or for religious purposes. This may be the means of promoting the present and eternal happiness of thousands of our race. An unregenerate person may do this, and other kindred acts, and in view of their