May that expectation not be disappointed! May He whose blessed aid was not invoked in vain in their composition and delivery, graciously attend their publication, and perpetuate their usefulness!

The entire series from which this selection has been made, and which comprised the whole of the Acts of the Apostles, was deemed by the Author far too extensive for publication. With a view, however, to keep up the connection of the Sacred History, and to reserve to himself the power of adding another volume to those now printed, should it ever be thought desirable, he has confined his present choice within the limits of the first fifteen Chapters.

St. Andrew's, 1st Nov. 1841.

LECTURES.

LECTURE I.

ACTS i. 1-3.

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs: being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

In the study of ecclesiastical history few comparatively feel sufficiently interested. Whilst the secular affairs of empires and of kingdoms are made the subject of daily study and research-whilst volume after volume issues from the press throwing additional light upon the changes which have taken place in states, and constitu

B