preferment or fame,-but for God and virtue. If your genius admits of it, you will then be concise, nervous, and full."

It is this quality (thus justly commended) which seems to have chiefly distinguished our author as a preacher. This is no unsupported assertion. Many persons, as well as the editor, can bear testimony to the strong emotions which the same sermons, with little alterations, excited amongst the extreme classes of society-in the minds of the literate and illiteratethe religious and the worldly.

A sermon read, is, indeed, different from a sermon spoken; and it is possible that the effect of these sermons was much aided by a mode of delivery peculiarly suitable to their style and matter. Sometimes it was authoritative and abrupt; sometimes slow and measured; and at other times rapid—almost hurried. Sometimes there was a blunt and homely plainness, and often a soothing tenderness of manner; but all was natural and unlaboured; more remarkable, perhaps, for energy and expression than for gracefulness, -for an earnest simplicity, than a studied elegance.

It may be necessary for the editor to say a few words as to the task he has had to perform. Many of the manuscripts were in such a state as to require much labour to transcribe them for the press; and a large portion of some of the sermons, towards the close of the volume, was written out in such evident haste, as to cause some inaccuracies which it was absolutely necessary to correct. This, however, has been sparingly done; perhaps, some may think too sparingly.

For such necessary corrections the editor hopes he need not apologise; as the nature of all posthumous works, not designed for publication, usually demands them; and as his intimate friendship with the author, and his acquaintance with all his opinions and feelings, must be a full security that the duty has been performed with rigid caution and fidelity.

The present selection has been made chiefly with a reference to the author's own probable estimate of his sermons.

All which he preached in Dublin are included, as it may be naturally supposed they were among the number which he had most thoroughly considered and prepared. A few others are added, which some, probably, may think not inferior.

Under the circumstances in which they were composed, and in which they now appear before the public, it will be unnecessary, it is hoped, to deprecate the scrutiny of literary or theological criticism. In hortatory appeals like these, it is unreasonable to expect all the precision of a formal essay.— There is a certain boldness and latitude of phrase to be allowed in such discourses: the form of expression cannot easily be compressed within the narrow limits, or tamed down into the meagre statements, of a scholastic system. In these sermons, however, it will be found that all the grand doctrines of the Gospel, which alone can give vitality and energy to religious instruction, are prominently, faithfully, and practically inculcated. Happy will it be, if they are perused with a disposition of mind in any degree correspondent with the feelings* by which they were dictated, or proportioned to the

*These feelings may, in some degree, be illustrated by a few extracts from his private reflections, which were never meant to meet any eye but his own: they were roughly entered upon a few scattered papers, merely as hints for his own direction. They shew, in a strong light, the genuine workings of his heart,-the kind of mental and spiritual exercise in which he engaged in the preparation of his sermons, and the anxiety he felt about the style and topics most likely to make practical impressions upon the consciences of his hearers.

Take a case in which God acts or speaks affectionately,-almost always one on the spiritual nature of sin,-on self-deceit-self-knowledge.

Let it keep me humble to think how I myself have sinned in the face of light, and against the motives I have to withhold me; against the knowledge of God's wrath; against it and his redeeming love; against my own preaching; against the especial need of a minister, upon whose spiritual state depends, in a great degree, the state of his flock.

Preach a sermon in which every false sentiment is supposed uttered on the death-bed; a sermon in which we suppose the sensations of a sinner looking back upon those whom he may have misled, or neglected to instruct,-a father upon his children, &c.-a pastor upon his flock; when each shall say, "I pray thee send some one unto my father's house."-Give also the retrospect from Heaven upon those whom, through the grace of God, we may have assisted.

momentous object which their pious author held steadily in view. If his glorified spirit be now permitted to share in the joy which angels feel" over one sinner that repenteth," there is not one of all the heavenly host which encircles the throne of God, that would enjoy a holier delight than he in witnessing the restoration of an immortal soul to its Father and its God: -and surely it would, if possible, enhance such joy, if he could be assured that, even in a single instance, this humble record of his words was conducive to effect that object which was nearest to his heart when they passed through his living lips; and that thus, “ though absent from us in the body," he was still instrumental in the blessed work of "converting a sinner from the error of his way, and saving a soul alive."

That He who is the Author of every good and perfect gift, may accompany them with the healthful and saving influence of his grace to the heart of every reader, is the fervent pray

er of

THE EDITOR.

Bring in familiar topics.-Begin naturally and easily, but so as to excite curiosity-with an incident or anecdote. Begin in an original and striking, but sedate manner. Before writing, read poetry and oratory. "Look constantly to the Bible. Every thing you read, read with a view to this."

Give full weight to objections—with all fondness of human frailty. Seize late, almost present occurrences. Imagine that you are arguing with the most profligate, ambitious, and talented opponent.

Let my object be to improve myself first.-Enter into the feelings of your congregation,-into their failings. Throw them upon arguing against themselves :-advise them affectionately.

13

SERMON I.

ECCLESIASTES, xii. 1.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.

We all know that we shall have to remember our Creator at one time or another. We cannot but know that he has many ways of inviting us to remember him -"the sun that he makes to rise upon the evil and the good-the rain that he sends down upon the just and the unjust-the fruitful seasons, by which he fills our hearts with food and gladness"-the weekly returns of his holy Sabbath-the ministry of the Gospel of salvation-and the table which he spreads before us, which he has instituted as a peculiar memorial of himself, and at which he invites us to eat of the bread of life, and to drink from the fountain of living water.

And we cannot but know that he has also the means of making himself remembered, and that he will not always allow himself to be forgotten,-but that he has certain agents at his disposal, by which, when he pleases, he can command our attention,-the sword-the famine the pestilence-the death-bed-the last trumpet-"the worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched."

Such a Being cannot be remembered too often, or too soon. There is no one here that will venture to say, that there ever existed a man from the foundation of the world who remembered him too much, or began to fix his thoughts upon him too early. We need scarcely go farther, then, to discover what is to become