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My dear brother, being an extempore preacher, considered his own revision and correction necessary before publication;* but under the circumstances of his deeply-lamented and unexpected removal, it is thought by the various members of his family, to whom some of the sermons have been submitted, that the earnest labourers who have so faithfully reported them may now venture to send them forth just as they are, with the hope that additional interest will be felt in them from their being printed without revision or alteration by any other hand, as they will thus retain all the warmth and energy for which the late Minister of Charles' Chapel was so peculiarly distinguished. And more than this, it is hoped and believed, that that unction from the Holy One which so abundantly prompted and accompanied the word preached, as the holy anointing oil poured upon the head of Aaron ran down upon the beard, descending to the very skirts of his clothing, will in like manner descend to the very lowest member of the one mystical body, strengthening and anointing them with fresh oil while perusing these sermons, as thus reproduced and laid before them, just as they were spoken, in humble and simple reliance on the aid and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who alone is able to apply and make the word effectual in the hearts of poor sinners.

* He revised two only, which are marked by a note at the foot.

We trust that very many will have reason to bless God for putting it into the hearts of our dear friends to persevere in the work of taking down and transcribing these sermons so correctly, whereby they have been the honoured instruments of preserving so much precious truth, and by which also the beloved author, being dead, may yet speak to his sorrowing friends.

In this day of awful rebuke and blasphemy, the true Israel of God have cause to tremble for the ark of God, seeing that the Lord is so fast gathering. in his own faithful and tried servants. The harvest truly is great, but faithful Spirit-taught labourers are few; we have need, therefore, to cry, "Help, Lord! for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”

The Lord seems to be speaking thus to his poor trembling and scattered flock, "Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." And where,

but in the very bosom of Jesus, shall we find this safe and secure hiding-place? Are not his divine attributes, severally, so many chambers of refuge for his frightened, timid sheep? His love, his power, his holiness, his faithfulness, his wisdom, his righteousness, are all precious hiding-places for these poor defenceless ones. "The name of the Lord is a

strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

We commend this volume to the tried and exercised of the Lord's living family, praying that an abundant blessing may rest upon it; and to "the Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost," shall be all the praise.

L. S.

1, ARTHUR ROAD, HOLLOWAY,

March, 1866.

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