Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/82

78 preconceived notions of propriety. Should his peculiar manner, or mode of address not happen to be in strict accordance with their ideas of refinement, immediately, an unfavorable inference is drawn with regard to his taste. Should an opinion be expressed on a certain subject, though that opinion should not be the result of much deliberation, but expressed at the impulse of the moment, no allowance whatever is made for this; a broad inference is at once made, utterly prejudicial to the whole character. Again, should a professor of religion, in an unguarded hour, manifest undue warmth of feeling, why, he is denounced at once as a hypocrite, utterly destitute of every spark of vital piety. Such imperfections as these, give a sufficient warrant to the uncharitable, to cast a shade over the whole character. How common is this spirit of rash and precipitate judging of others exhibited, not only among the ungodly, but among the professed