THIS VOLUME OF SERMONS 18 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF BEAUFORT, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HER EXCELLENT GOODNESS IN PATRONIZING THINGS OF A CHARITABLE AND USEFUL TENDENCY IN THIS, AS WELL AS OTHER LOCALITIES. TO THE SUBSCRIBERS. MY LORDS, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN, AFTER Considerable hesitation this second, and last Volume of the Series of Sermons is now offered for your kind acceptance. The writer feels that an apology is due for the delay in its publication, which has been chiefly occasioned by the undecided state of his mind respecting the propriety of intruding it upon the clemency of his friends, but having received a great number of pressing applications from the readers of the first volume, he has concluded it to be his duty, as well as his privilege, to complete the work to the close of the year. He is glad to avail himself of the opportunity to express his sincere thanks for the gratifying testimony which he has received from many of you, and especially from those who have found the Sermons useful when prevented by circumstances from attending a place of public worship on the Lord's Day he is thus encouraged to hope that they may, with a Divine blessing, continue to be of benefit to others when the tongue which has spoken them shall lie silent in death, and when the hand which has penned them shall lie mouldered into dust. : The same old plan of divisions and subdivisions has been observed throughout, from the conviction that such an arrangement is most conducive to give distinctiveness to the matter, and to aid the memory in retaining the substance of the subject under consideration. The most of the leading doctrines entertained by the Church of which the writer is proud to be an humble member are briefly treated and while he has been anxious not to give "an uncertain sound," he hopes that he has carefully abstained from the use of language that might give offence to those who hold different views. It has been suggested that the Sermons are too short for a public practical purpose: in answer to which, the statement made in the former volume may be repeated, namely, that the object was not to write an elaborate discourse, but to offer suggestive ideas-not to think for others, but to open the door for the exercise of thought. Besides, the writer has no ambition to make his brethren in the ministry his mouthpieces; for he does not presume to regard himself a model preacher. Still, should the Sermons be of service to beginners whose hard-working curacies afford but a limited time for study, he can only feel most thankful. The last four Sermons will be found to be a deviation from the proposed order for the purpose of introducing a few subjects which do not occur in the regular course of the Lessons. The whole is earnestly commended to the grace of Him who is able to work effectually by feeble instruments and simple means; and the only favour asked from man is, not to condemn the work unread. H.M. GAOL, SWANSEA, |