LIST OF SERMONS The important Influence which the Possession of the Scriptures 17. Sermons, &c. from Ministers respectfully solicited. Ministers PREFACE. In presenting the first volume of the CHURCH OF ENGLAND PREACHER to the notice of the public we respectfully solicit a favourable reception, and confidently expect it, on the ground of the character of the work. Its success in the form of successive Numbers has been such as to afford us encouragement to go on, and to stimulate us to spare no pains or expense to render it worthy of increasing patronage. When the press is daily pouring forth a stream of frothy and injurious publications in various shapes, a work like the present is doubly valuable, and we trust will act as a correction, if not as a complete antidote to the poisonous nature of many other periodicals. The Christian philanthropist will look on our labours as auxiliary to the great work of moral renovation which he has at heart. The Christian minister, whose usefulness is in a great degree necessarily limited to the oral labours of the pulpit, will not, we trust, despise our humble assistance in extending his usefulness. By means of this little work his messages of peace and consolation can be car ried to the afflicted of his flock, who may be prevented from attending the public dispensation of the Word; nay, more, his earnest appeals to the consciences of sinners may be brought under the eye, and home to the heart, of persons in distant regions, where his voice has never been, and never may be heard. We are aware that some delicacy is required in the discharge of the work which we have undertaken, and it is our intention to pursue our course, if possible, without giving cause of offence. We know that some ministers entertain a strong prejudice against the practice of sermon reporting, we think unjustly, and we believe that if the matter be calmly and candidly considered, every preacher of the Word, who earnestly desires the conversion of souls, and wishes in his day and generation to shine as a light in the world, will hail with pleasure the enlistment of the press in the work of disseminating evangelical truth as widely as possible. It is not always convenient for a minister to print his own discourses; but here is a vehicle by which he may send forth his manuscript for the benefit of the world, or, if he object not, suffer us to give his sermons that publicity which otherwise they would not obtain. Indeed, we humbly consider it to be the duty of every clergyman to allow some memorials of his zealous labours to be snatched from forgetfulness and to be retained in a permanent form for the edification of the Church at large, as well as for the spiritual welfare of his own flock. To those clergymen who |