Sermons, ed. by J. Scott

INTRODUCTION.

IN preparing the accompanying volume for the press, many feelings of a mournful kind have mingled with those which were grateful and satisfactory. The undertaking was commenced in obedience to the call of many of the author's best friends, and considerable pains have been taken to render the publication as correct as possible. Mistakes however there will certainly be found, which would not have appeared had the work passed under the revising hand of the author. For these I solicit the reader's indulgence. At the same time, I should wish it to be very distinctly understood, that the work is entirely posthumous. The sermons have been printed as they were hastily written for the pulpit, and no idea, probably, was further from the mind of him who wrote them, than that they would thus appear before the public.

Though this may perhaps render them less acceptable to the fastidious reader, yet it is hoped that it will enhance their value with those who were acquainted with the style and manner of the

deceased. Such will be able to trace in them more of the peculiar characteristics of his preaching.

Earnestly do I hope that they will be found generally useful. That consideration was ever nearest to the author's heart, and nothing would have been more delightful to his mind, than the thought of doing good by his writings, when he could no longer do it by his public ministrations.

I cannot take a better opportunity of paying the best tribute of thanks, on behalf of myself and my family, to those friends who have so kindly and promptly promoted the interests of this publication. I trust they will never have cause to regret the assistance they have afforded.

It was intended to furnish a list of subscribers to the volume; but some objected to the publicacation of their names, and the great difficulty of obtaining a correct return of names from so many and such distant places, rendered it scarcely possible to hope, that a sufficient degree of accuracy could be secured. It has therefore been entirely omitted.

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