PREFACE.

THE nucleus of this work was found among the papers of the late Rev. Rowland Hill, and consisted of five sermons on brotherly love, recommended by him in a brief prefatory memoir. When I first designed to publish these, with such additions as I might be able to collect, I little imagined that my gleanings would swell into the present volume; nor could they ever have done so, but for the extreme kindness of the Rev. W. Rawlings, the venerable incumbent of Padstow, Cornwall, and other members of his family, who in the most friendly manner confided to my use a number of interesting documents, which could have been supplied from no other quarter. These they have long preserved as memorials of a ministry and friendship, which were the means of enkindling and cherishing in one of their name, that sacred flame which has been transmitted in all its original brightness to the present generation.

I also desire to express my thanks to several other individuals who have kindly added to my

collection of materials. Amongst these, I feel it due to them to mention the late excellent J. B. Wilson, Esq., of Clapham; the Rev. T. Wildbore, of Falmouth; the Rev. C. Bridges, of Old Newton, Suffolk; and Mr. Lloyd, of the Religious Tract Society.

In editing my selections from the remains of the laborious minister of Truro, I have made no corrections, but such as appeared absolutely necessary, being anxious to preserve all the force of his energetic though often quaint mode of writing. The generality of his sermons are plain expositions of gospel doctrines, written with no other object than the edification of those who heard or read them, and a desire that his people should rather feel than admire, what was dictated only by his earnest longing for their salvation. But while in all the humility of true zeal, he thus skimmed, as it were, along the surface of the ground, to gather the lowliest and most nutritious fruits of truth wherewith to feed the flock of Christ, he could rise in majestic flights towards the very fountain of light, and return resplendent with its brightest beams. This is evident in the grandeur of thought in his discourses on the Power, Holiness, Eternity, and Omnipresence of God, which I found among his manuscripts, and have inserted in these pages.

I could easily have expanded my work into twice its present size; but recollecting the observation of

a distinguished authoress, that "lives are short and books are long," I hoped to find more readers and to do more good by condensation, than by endeavouring to avail myself of that ductility which some biographers seem to have discovered in the papers of eminent persons, and which they have spun out to a wearisome extent.

My chief object has been to shew the great usefulness of a clergyman skilled to give its due effect to every portion of the spiritual system of our church, and thus to exhibit a practical illustration of its excellence and power.

The means used by Mr. Walker in his endeavours to unite his people amongst themselves, when religion had separated them from the world, are unquestionably open to many powerful objections. No part of a clergyman's work requires more judgment and care than this, nor is it possible to lay down any fixed rules for the accomplishment of so desirable but difficult an object. Principles however should be well defined in the scheme of every pastor; and the clearness with which Mr. Walker comprehended his, and the consistency with which he acted up to them, combined with the truest Christian forbearance towards those who differed from him, were, under God's blessing, the chief causes of his wonderful success.

1 Mrs. Hannah More.

Happily for us there are members in the ranks of our parochial clergy, who are pursuing a like course with the same firmness and consistency of conduct, and equal charity of heart. These, while they must prove to be the truest bulwarks of our sanctuary, will, it is hoped, also become the instruments, as their field of operation is gradually and wisely, and not hastily and foolishly extended, of reviving a spirit of true Christian unity, amongst a people awfully shaken by dissensions, and from whom truth will assuredly withdraw its light, if discord be permitted to chase away the sister grace of love.

Acle, near Norwich,

March 9th, 1835.