Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/92

88 All of us have offended our Creator, by violating his law in thought, word and deed, ten thousand times. We have offended him under circumstances the most aggravated, against light and knowledge, amidst all the loud calls of his providence, his word, the strivings of his Spirit, and the clamors of conscience. We have thus rendered ourselves obnoxious to his wrath and sore displeasure; but upon repentance, he manifested to you his forgiving mercy When he saw you writing bitter things against yourselves, mourning in sackcloth and ashes, he appointed unto you the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And shall we who have been forgiven, and daily stand in need of forgiveness, not be ready to forgive others? If the eternal God act in the same way, what will become of us? Remember the words of our blessed Lord:—"If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive