PREFACE.

AMONG the modern theological publications of the national Clergy, the number perhaps is not great of such as are adapted to the purposes of parochial and domestic instruction. It is in consequence of this opinion, which I suppose to be not confined to myself; and from having experienced the utility of works of this description, that I have been induced to make the present attempt for adding to their number, by a collection of plain discourses on some of the most important Articles of Christian Faith and Practice.

The foregoing observation will explain the general character and pretensions of these volumes, and prepare the reader for what he may expect in them. Originally composed for the instruction of my own parishioners, they are now offered to the public, with the view, not in any degree of assisting the researches of the theological Student, but of promoting the advancement of ordinary Christians in the "wisdom" which is "unto salvation."

In selecting and preparing these sermons for publication, considerable regard has been had to the choice and arrangement of the subjects. Each sermon, with one or two exceptions, is independent of the others; and is intended to give a distinct view of the subject, of which it treats. At the same time they all succeed each other, so as to afford a general and, I hope, not a very defective survey of the scheme of our salvation; of the inesti

"mable love of almighty God the Father "of mercies, in the redemption of the world "through our Lord Jesus Christ of the

means of grace, and of the hope of glory."

As to the occasions on which they were written, it may be convenient to the reader if I mention, that, besides several which are adapted to the proper lessons, epistles, and gospels of certain Sundays, the 4th sermon (on the Divinity of our blessed Lord) was composed with a particular view to the service of the Church on Christmas-day; as was the 14th (on the existence and nature of the Holy Ghost) to the festival of Whitsunday. Bishop Jeremy Taylor's advice on this point has always appeared to me highly worthy of regard: "Let every Preacher," he says, "in his parish take care to explicate to "the people the mysteries of the great "festivals: because these feasts containing

"in them the great fundamentals of our "faith, will with most advantage convey "the mysteries to the people, and fix them "in their memories by the solemnity and "circumstances of the day." A similar motive led me to the subject of the 5th and four following sermons; which were first delivered on the evenings of Passionweek in a parish, of which I then had the cure, and in pursuance of a practice, that had been piously and laudably introduced by the Rector, for the purpose of keeping up a more religious observance of that solemn season. As they now appear, they have undergone some slight alterations, to fit them for the general purposes of this publication at the same time I venture to express a hope, that they may furnish appropriate subjects for meditation to any one, who may be disposed to distinguish by more than usual religious exercises the season, for which they were designed.

As to the principles of these sermons, I would observe, that it appears to be the gracious design of almighty God, our heavenly Father, by the Gospel to bring men from a sinful and lost condition to happiness, by the way of holiness :—happiness, purchased by the precious blood of the incarnate Son of God for those, who through an active faith in his merits repent of their sins, and sincerely and diligently labour to obey him:-and holiness, conferred by the Holy Spirit of God on those, who will conscientiously practise the appointed means of grace. To be the instrument of promoting this holiness as the means, and this happiness as the end, by an assiduous preaching of " Jesus Christ, " and him crucified," and by a careful exposition of the distinctive doctrines and precepts of his religion, should be the endeavour of every Minister of the Gospel. To promote these objects should be the aim of every sermon. I trust it will be