PREFACE.

IT may poffibly be enquired why a few plain fimple Sermons like the following are published by an obfcure perfon like myfelf: And, though the motives affigned in the Dedication may appear fufficient for printing them for the ufe of my parishioners, it may ftill be asked, "Why they fhould be "obtruded on the public ?" One reason has been already affigned in the addrefs to my parishioners. In order to give my doctrines increased weight with them, I am willing that they fhould pass the ordeal of the public inveftigation. But my principal motive for this publication has been a report, which, little as I mix with the world, has frequently met my ears, that the doctrines which I preach are enthufiaftical, methodistical, &c. &c. I wish, therefore, to fhew, that whatever epithets perfons may choose to affix to them, they are the doctrines of the fcriptures, and of the Church of England. My brethren in the miniftry here and myfelf, noticed this charge of methodism above two years ago, when it had begun to prevail on account of our religious focieties. No perfon, however, has fince come forward, in any public manner, to fubftantiate the charge. It is now, as

I un

See the addrefs, page 89, &c. of the books of the Societies.

I underftand, referred to doctrines alfo. The proper reply to this, appears to be the publication of the doctrines which may have excited the offence. I have accordingly, in this volume, publifhed a few fermons on fuch fubjects as heceffarily involve most of the fundamental doctrines of our religion; and I call the great Searcher of hearts to witnefs, that I have not purpofely concealed a fingle fentiment which I either preach or entertain. I could have wifhed, indeed, that I had had a greater number of fermons ready for the prefs, as they would neceffarily have embraced a greater variety of fubjects; but, on confideration, I prefer fending thefe into the world, defigning to prepare a few others at my leifure, rather than rifk the detriment of the people under my care, by that confinement in my ftudy which their immediate publication would require. Indeed, I am fully fenfible that the following fermons ftand greatly in nced of the "lima labor et mora." I would confequently befpeak the indulgent candour of the public to overlook the many defects in their compofition, and confider them merely as a few plain difcourfes defigned for plain people.. With regard to the doctrines, I must of neceffity ftand refponfible for thefe, in my double capacity as a minifter of the Church of Chrift, and of the Church of England. I have only to requeft that perfons will forbear all opprobrious epithets, which are calculated only to difplay folly and illiberality; and I am very ready to receive a candid refutation of thofe fentiments which they

may

may confider erroneous, through the medium of the prefs, or in any other manner. I even call on fuch perfons to fhew me, that my doctrines are contrary to the fcriptures, to the articles of our Church, or to the experience of real Chriftians. If I err in any of these respects, it is highly important that, as a teacher of others, I fhould be fet right; and I fhould be willing even to incur a public expofure, for he fake of fo important an end.

The paffages of fcripture, &c. which I have noticed in the preceding dedication fufficiently point out the duty of every minifter faithfully to preach the gospel, without any concealment." If more were wanting, how earneftly does our divine Mafter exhort us, "Go ye, and make difciples of "all nations, baptizing them in the name of the "Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft; "teaching them to obferve all things whatfoever "I have commanded you; and lo! I am with

66

you alway, (oh! glorious encouragement !) 66 even to the end of the world." Did he not "fay, likewise, "Whofoever is afhamed of me, "and of my words, in this adulterous and finful "generation, of him alfo fhall the Son of man be "afhamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Fa❝ther, with the holy angelst." If this will apply to all perfons, how much rather to those who bear the facred character of his minifters! who ought to be able to addrefs their people from their hearts, in the following words of the apoftle: All things are of God, who hath reconciled us Mark viii. 38.

* Mat, xxviii. 19, & 20.

to himself by Jefus Chrift, and hath committed unto us the miniftry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Chrift reconciling the world "unto himself, not imputing their trefpaffes unto "them; and hath committed unto us the word of "reconciliation. Now, then, we are ambaffadors "for Chrift; as though God did befeech you by ❝us, we pray you, in Chrift's ftead, be ye recon"ciled to God *.” "We preach not ourselves,

but Chrift Jefus the Lord, and ourselves your "fervants for Jesus' fake. For God, who com"manded the light to fhine out of darkness, hath "fhind in our hearts, to give the light of the "knowledge of the glory of God in the face of

Jefus Chriftt." Does not the fame apostle ex

hort us to "take heed unto our felves, and to "all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghoft "hath made us overfeers, to feed the Church of "God, which he hath purchased with his own "blood?" Does not another apoftle befeech us to feed the flock of Chrift as much as in us "lies, taking the overfight thereof; not by con"ftraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but "of a ready mind; neither as being lords over "God's heritage, but as being examples to the flock; that when the chief Shepherd fhall ap ❝pear, we may receive a crown of glory, which fadeth not away f?" And do we not folemnly away?" declare at our ordination, we truft that we "are " inwardly

2 Cor. v. 17, to 21.

35, &c;

+ 2 Cor. iv. 5, 6.

+ Acts xx.

28. See Verles 29, & 30. - § 1 Pet. v: 2, &c. See John

"inwardly moved by the Holy Ghoft," to take "this awful charge upon us* ?" I forbear to cite the many folemn injunctions delivered by Almighty God to the Jewish prophets t, because fome perfons may ignorantly imagine thefe not equally applicable to the minifters of Chrift. But, the above paffages are furely fufficiently explicit. And does not the apoftle "charge" all minifters, as well as Timothy," before God, and the Lord Jefus "Chrift, who fhall judge the quick and the dead,

at his appearing, and his kingdom, to preach "the word, to be inftant, in season, out of season, "to reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-fuffer❝ing and doctrine?" Surely, then, a man does not deferve to be efteemed a gloomy enthufiaft, because he confiders the office of a minifter of Chrift the most folemn charge which it is poffible for him to undertake, and one which requires the utmost degree of faithfulness and affiduity.

If I err in my view of it, as expreffed in the preceding pages addreffed to the people of my

b

flock,

*Office for the ordering of deacons, queftion ft. It is as follows: "Do you truft, that you are inwardly "moved by the Holy Ghoft, to take upon you this office "and miniftration, to ferve God for the promotion of

his glory, and the edifying of his people? Anfwer, I TRUST so.' -The reader will find this fubje& well explained in a Letter by the late Rev. S. Walker, Curate of Truro, in Cornwall. See his "Practical “Christianity.”

+ See, among many other paffages, Mal: ii. 7. Hofea iv. 6 & 9. Jer. xv. 19, &c. Ifa. iii. 10, & 11.—lviii, 1. Ezek. xxii. 26, & 28.xliv. 23, &c. &c.

‡ 2 Tim, iv. 1,

& 2.