1 of DEDICATORY ADDRESS To the CONGREGATION of ST. EDMund's. My Friends and Fellow-Chriftians, TO evince my Gratitude to many you, and my affectionate Regard for all,-to teftify the Senfe I entertain of those generous Marks of Approbation which you are pleased to bestow upon me, I dedicate thefe Sermons to you, for whose Benefit they were chiefly written. 66 Addreffes of this kind, I know, are frequently made the vehicles of Adulation. It is always difgufting; it would here be finful. Speak unto us fmooth things-prophesy Deceit" is a rule prefcribed for a temporizing Conduct, at which my nature revolts. Influenced only by the folemn Voice of Duty, you will ever find me incapable of being swayed by improper Views of Interest, or a fervile dependent Fear. On the contrary," through evil report and good report," a 2 66 port," I fhall (in obedience to the Divine Command) " cry aloud and spare not” in exhorting you to that mode of Faith and Practice which, in my Confcience, I think you should purfue.* Yet, without incurring the charge of Flattery, much I might fay, in this Addrefs, on the Subject of Friendship, Kindness, and Generofity but Obligations can never be cancelled by words. Much I might also fay, and apply it to many of you, on the pleafing Themes of Public-Virtue, and the Amiableness of Private-Character: but the former is known by its Fruits; and the latter is happily confpicuous in all those Families with whom I affociate. Indeed, those Families are like one Family; of which "if one Member fuffer, all the Members suffer with it.” If one is profperous—the reft are happy. You " rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."-This affectionate Harmony-may the Great Author of Peace and Lover of * See the Sermon addressed to you on the Propriety of a fettled Faith, and the Conclufion of the feventeenth in this volume, from page 279 to the end. Concord Concord continue to you and your Pofterity! May He cause you ever to feel the Bleffednefs and Wisdom of fuch a Conduct!— Happy in yourselves, happy in your Families, may you delight in communicating Happiness to all around you! May the Poor of your Neighbourhood partake of your Bounty, and the fupplicated Bleffings of Heaven be showered upon you! To thefe fincere Wishes for your temporal Felicity are added-for your eternal Salvation-the fervent Prayers of THE Author respectfully informs his Readers, that the following Sermons were written to be preached rather than to be published. Perfpicuity and Plainnefs therefore, are Qualities which he has been more folicitous to attain than Elegance and Refinement. Had his Mind been pre-occupied by the Idea of Publication, his Diction might have been more polished and correct; but would it not have been lefs warm and impreffive ?-He would then have written. from the Head,---whereas thefe Difcourfes flowed from the Heart. To an enlightened Public he submits them with a cherished Confidence in its Candour; yet not without a juft Apprehenfion of its Cenfure,-a more painful Apprehenfion, he confeffes, than at other times he experienced when approaching its Tribunal. Is he afked the Reafon ?-He confiders the Character of a Preacher of greater Importance than that of a Poet.-The latter has, in general, no higher Views than to give a fmooth and pleafing Currency to the Moments of Time :---the former is to connect thefe fleeting Portions with Eternity.---The one is only ftudious for the Amusement of Mankind :---the other is deeply anxious for their SALVATION. Such are the Sentiments of him who is grateful for the Indulgence which his lighter Productions have received; and which, he trufts, will be extended to thefe of greater Confequence.If, from them (or. from those Addreffes which it is his Duty and his Pleasure weekly to deliver) any of his fellow-creatures derive fpiritual Comfort and Improvement---he intreats them to "give GOD the Glory," and humbly implores their Prayers in his behalf, that he---a Preacher to others---may not himself be a Caft-away! L. B. SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. A. REV. Dr. Amphlett, Vicar of Dodderhill Mrs. Amphlett John Addenbrooke Addenbrooke, Efq; Woollafton Mr. Almond, Mr. Amys, ditto ditto John Alleyne, Gent. Loughborough Mrs. Archdale, Derby Mrs. Agnew, Windfor Mr. Afton, Coventry Afton, Wombourn Richmond Afton, Tipton, near Dudley Appleby, Tividale, near Dudley Abbifs, Dudley W. Adams, Walfall B. John Brooke, Efq; Birmingham, 4 fets T. Barker, Efq; Springfield, near ditto T. Brettell, Efq; ditto W. Brifcoe, Efq; Wolverhampton Mr. Bond, Chapel Houfe, near ditto Rev. ba |