POSTHUMOUS SERMONS.

BY THE

REV. HENRY BLUNT, A.M.,

=

LATE RECTOR OF STREATHAM;

AND FORMERLY FELLOW OF PEMBROKE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

lol. I.

Second Edition.

LONDON:

J. HATCHARD & SON, 187, PICCADILLY;

AND HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW.

MDCCCXLIV.

PREFACE.

It is in compliance with the wish of the loved and lamented author of these Sermons, that they have been submitted to me for my inspection; and that the oversight of them, as they passed through the press, was intrusted to my care. It is hardly necessary to say, that, with the exception of one or two trifling verbal alterations, they are printed just as they were preached. This statement is made at the desire of his family and friends; otherwise, greatly as I value the privilege of being associated with one so dear to myself, and so universally es

teemed, I should have refrained from the obtrusion of my name. It may appear superfluous, and even presumptuous in me, to add any observations of my own on the character of these Sermons; but I cannot resist saying, that the perusal of them has confirmed the opinion formed from his preceding volume; namely, that, eminently useful, and singularly attractive, as are the series of his well-known Historical Lectures, and his practical Commentary on the Pentateuch, they are even surpassed by his Sermons. The value of these had been so long and so fully attested by the effect of his ministry, that it always seemed a matter of regret that a larger proportion of them was not presented to the public during his lifetime; though, perhaps, they may now come to many invested with a deeper

interest, as the echo of that loved voice, whose impressive sounds will long live in their remembrance. In all the sterling and more important qualities of addresses from the pulpit-in the full exhibition of the whole of Divine truth in its various bearings and proportions--in the intimate connexion maintained between Christian privilege and Christian practice-in the unfolding of the secret workings of the human heart, and in the deep searching of the conscience, they are unrivalled; while they are equally distinguished for the rich but simple eloquence, the brilliant but chastened imagination which pervades them; combined with a plain perspicuity of language that commends them to persons of all ranks and of all ages. I would only add, that the Sermons are a transcript of the man