PREFACE. In making selections for the present Work from the writings of the author, it has been thought but a just tribute to his judgment to fix in the first place upon the Volumes, Sermons and Essays which were prepared and published during his life, under his own direction. This has been done, so far as was consistent with what was thought on the whole to be the best arrangement of the subjects, and the number and size of the volumes. It has indeed been suggested by some who have felt deeply interested in this undertaking, that it would be well to omit some of the sermons in which the author's peculiar views are the most strongly expressed, in order to render the work less objectionable to those who differ from him. But such a policy has not appeared to the Editor either just or wise. It is certainly proper that such a man as Dr. EMMONS, should be left to speak for himself, and to continue to stand before the public in the same attitude in which he chose to stand while living and able to take his own position. The world wish to see the man as he was, and his writings as he left them. If he is wrong, the full, unequivocal, and even what some consider the unguarded manner in which he has expressed himself, will render it the easier to refute him. On the other hand, if he is right, these discourses are too valuable, the subjects on which they treat too important, to be thrown aside on account of a slight impropriety of expression with which some are disposed to charge him, and which can easily be corrected by those who think the same' truth can be told in a better way. The materials for ten volumes, as valuable as those with which these six are composed, are in the hands of the Editor. The only reason why the present edition embraces no more is, it was the serious judgment of those on whose advice in regard to subjects of this nature the greatest reliance is to be placed, that the present number and size of the volumes constitute a work as large as could with safety be published at this time of pecuniary embarrassment. The Editor regrets to say that he has not been able to get into the present volumes near all of the matter which he had selected for them; though they are larger, as well as in better style, than the Prospectus promised they should be. The System might have been made much more complete and valuable, had it not been for the restraint which the prescribed limits imposed. Should the sale of the present edition indicate a call for more of the author's writings, and the times favor their publication, new volumes will be added. In the selection and arrangement of the discourses composing this Work, the Editor has received valuable suggestions and assistance from many of the author's friends, particularly from Rev. Thomas Williams, Rev. Dr. Spring, Rev. Dr. Burgess, and Rev. Sewall Harding, to whom he tenders his grateful acknowledgments. The contents of two of these volumes are denominated a System, because they contain a number of discourses upon the various subjects usually comprised in a Body of Divinity. It is, however, due to the venerable author to say, that the plan of arranging them in this form, and giving them this name, did not originate with him. It is a device of his friends, which they are aware must in many respects do him great injustice. Had he undertaken to write a System of Divinity, properly so called, he would doubtless have given one to the world altogether more perfect, both in respect to matter and form, than that which is found in the following pages. The discourses which comprise this System were not written with the slightest reference to their present arrangement. Terms are here more frequently defined, similar illustrations more frequently used, and the same inferences more frequently drawn, than they would have been, had the author been aware of the connection in which his writings would be read. But for these things the endid reader will doubtless make a proper allowance. Some advantages will probably result from this apparent evil. The frequent définition of terms will render a mistake in regard to the author's meaning impossible. The practical results of every doctrine clearly, drawn out at the same time the doctrine itself is illustrated, will make a deeper impression, both of the truth and importance of the doctrine. Besides, the single advantage of referring at once to what the author has said at different times upon any particular subject, and reading each part in connection with the whole, is more than sufficient to balance the trifling inconvenience of an occasional repetition of a thought or expression. To the arrangement here made of his discourses, although fully apprised of the evils which have been named as attending it, the author while living gave his cheerful assent. EDITOR. A FAMILIAR LECTURE READ BEFORE THE SENIOR CLASS IN ANDOVER THEOLOGICAL SEM- INARY, BY PROF. EDWARDS A. PARK.. exxvii SERMON I.-CHRIST THE STANDARD OF PREACHING. THE OFFICERS ANSWERED, NEVER MAN SPAKE LIKE THIS MAN. JOHN, VII. 46. SERMON II.-MINISTERS THANKFUL FOR THEIR OFFICE. AND I THANK CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, WHO HATH ENABLED ME, FOR THAT HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY. -1 TIMOTHY, 1. 12. SERMON V.-MINISTERS WHOLLY GIVEN TO THEIR WORK. MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS: GIVE THYSELF WHOLLY TO THEM.-1 TIMOTHY, IV. 15.. 58 SERMON VI.—GOD INCOMPREHENSIBLE BY HIS CREATURES. CANST THOU BY SEARCHING FIND OUT GOD? CANST THOU FIND OUT THE ALMIGHTY TO THE INTENT THAT NOW UNTO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN HEAVENLY PLACES, MIGHT BE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD, ACCORDING TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE WHICH HE PURPOSED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. EPH. III. 10. 11. . 121 NOW I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, AND THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU; BUT THAT YE BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME SERMON XV.-CONFIRMATION IN THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL AN EFFECT OF DIVINE GRACE. BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES; FOR IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE HEART BE ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE. - HEBREWS, XIII. 9. AND FOR ME, THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN UNTO ME, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL, FOR WHICH I AM AN AM- BASSADOR IN BONDS; THAT THEREIN I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK.- NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, AS THOUGH GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US; WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S STEAD, BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD.-2 COR. v. 20...238 SERMON XVIII.-THE ESSENTIAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN AND IF THOU SHALT TAKE FORTH THE PRECIOUS FROM THE VILE, THOU SHALT BE AS THE PROPHET THAT HATH A DREAM, LET HIM TELL A DREAM; AND HE THAT HATH MY WORD, LET HIM SPEAK MY WORD FAITHFULLY. WHAT IS THE CHAFF TO THE WHEAT? SERMON XX. - SYSTEMATIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL. HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME.-2 TIM. I. 13.. 276 |