unacknowledged, as I repeat, that I am not sensible of having borrowed without acknowledgment. I have published the following discourses at the urgent request of many of the most respectable among the Congregation with whom I have been now upwards of seven years spiritually connected. I have received the most flattering encouragement from the whole of them, with very few exceptions; and those few, no doubt, consider, and justly, that they may slake their spiritual thirst at deeper fountains and more refreshing streams. I therefore return my thanks to the Congregation, collectively, for the encouragement which they have almost unanimously afforded to this volume; and I have the satisfaction of hoping that those who have withheld their patronage, will not, at least, deny me their good wishes. CONTENTS. Sermon Page I. The mystery of the Trinity no argument against 1 21 IV. The unreasonableness of murmuring against V. On Evil Speaking-(Epistle general of Saint VI. Our body the Temple of the Holy Ghost(1 Corinthians, vi. 19, 20) VII. The Rich Man and Lazarus-(St. Luke, xvi. 39 57 73 87 103 VIII. Same subject continued-(St. Luke, xvi. 23) . 117 IX. Righteousness a security against harm-(1 Peter, X. Same subject continued-(1 Peter, iii. 13) . XI. The Fear of God-(Proverbs, i. 7) XII. Why Christ addressed the unbelieving Jews in Parables (St. Mark, iv. 11, 12) 179 XIII. On the Divinity of Christ-(St. Luke, iv. 32). 193 XIV. The unjust Steward-(St. Luke, xvi. 8) PREFACE. IN stating that the following discourses were not written with a view to publication, I do so, not to propitiate the severity of criticism, but merely to avail myself of the opportunity of observing, that it is very probable I may, in these Sermons, have occasionally appropriated the sentiments of others without acknowledgment; I have not, however, done so designedly. The fact is, that wherever I have remembered any such debts, I have admitted them by a reference to the respective authors to whom they are due; but, not having noted where I may have borrowed a sentiment or illustration when the Sermons were written, not thinking that they would ever meet the public eye, it is possible that I may have borrowed without recollecting it. I hope, therefore, that I shall be acquitted of wilful plagiarism, should the ideas of others be occasionally detected in this volume unacknowledged, as I repeat, that I am not sensible of having borrowed without acknowledgment. I have published the following discourses at the urgent request of many of the most respectable among the Congregation with whom I have been now upwards of seven years spiritually connected. I have received the most flattering encouragement from the whole of them, with very few exceptions; and those few, no doubt, consider, and justly, that they may slake their spiritual thirst at deeper fountains and more refreshing streams. I therefore return my thanks to the Congregation, collectively, for the encouragement which they have almost unanimously afforded to this volume; and I have the satisfaction of hoping that those who have withheld their patronage, will not, at least, deny me their good wishes. 36, Somerset Street, May 31, 1832. |