ADVERTISEMENT.

THE plan of the Five Sermons preached dur ing Lent, is taken from a late excellent tract, entitled, " An Estimate of the Religion of the Fashionable World." The vices, the follies, and the negligences of that part of the com munity, which is particularly addressed in the Work alluded to, prevail, with a little modification, at this time, through all the claffes of fociety in this country. From the first moment when I read that useful little book, I determined to make its topics the fubject of pulpit animadverfion, and to lay them plainly and honestly before my hearers. It will be highly gratifying to me, therefore, if the Author approves of my plan, in extending the defign to the remaining ranks of society.

The Sermons, which are now offered to the Public, were not originally intended for publication; but as they appeared to me, in the delivery, to intereft the attention of my congregation, I conceived a hope, that the first tranfient effect which is produced by a public addrefs, might be fixed upon the heart, by a careful and serious perufal in private. And when once I conceived it poffible to render the effect permanent upon fome who heard thefe difcourfes, I naturally indulged myself in another delightful hope, that I might extend that effect to a few who were not prefent at the delivery. The Reader will observe, that I have merely taken the topics of the Author alluded to, and that I have not been guilty of any farther piracy, except in a very few inftances, into which I have been unavoidably led by a fimilarity of opinion, and the Author's very happy mode of treating the fub

ject.

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ject. However defective I may have been in the execution of my plan (and very far am I from being fanguine in the appreciation of my talents), I trust the Public will receive with candour and charity, the humbleft attempt to spread the invaluable bleffings of religion and virtue, and moral order.