Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/90

86 with infallible certainty with respect to its moral character? Do we know the precise effect that early impressions have had upon his mind, and exactly to what extent allowance is to be made on this score? Our profound ignorance in all these particulars, shows how apt we are to be mistaken in our notions of the true character of our neighbor, and should lead us in no case to judge rashly And should we, after a cool, patient, and impartial investigation, be compelled to decide unfavorably, we should even then, pass a decision with extreme diffidence—with that "charity that believeth all things, hopeth all things." In many instances, no doubt, where the uncharitable has cast a shade of reproach, could he see the whole man as he is seen by his supreme Judge; shame would cover his face, to find that the very person he thought so little of, was at the very same time far above him in moral excellence.