PREFACE. A WORK which the author published a few years its intrinsic merits. One thing is certain, the subsince, on the Duties of Church Members, concludes ject is confessedly important, and it is as plain as it with the following sentence:-" Let us remember, is important. It requires little argument to explain that HUMILITY and LOVE are the necessary fruits of or to defend it; and as for eloquence to recommend our doctrines, the highest beauty of our character, and enforce it, the only power that can render it efand the guardian angels of our churches." To fectual for practical benefit, is the demonstration of prove and elucidate this sentiment, and to state at the Spirit: without this aid, a giant in literature greater length than it was possible for him to do in could do nothing, and the feeblest effort, by such asthat treatise, the nature, operations, and importance sistance, may be successful. Too much has not of CHARITY; he was induced to enter upon a series been said, and cannot be said, about the doctrines of Discourses on the chapter which is the subject of the gospel; but too little may be said, and too of this volume: these Discourses were heard with little is said and thought, about its spirit. To conmuch attention, and apparent interest. Before they tribute something towards supplying this deficiency were finished, many requests were presented for in the treasures of the temple, the author offers this their publication; a promise was given to that ef- small volume; and though it be but as the widow's fect, and the intention announced to the public. On two mites, yet, as it is all he has to give, as it is a further inspection of his notes, the author saw so given willingly, and with a desire to glorify God, little that was either novel, or on any account he humbly hopes that however it may be despised worthy to meet the public eye, that he had for two by those, who he rejoices to know, are so much years quite abandoned his intention of printing. | richer than himself in intellectual and moral affluCircumstances which need not be mentioned, toge-ence, it will not be rejected by him, who more re ther with frequent inquiries from his friends after the forthcoming treatise, drew his attention again to the subject a few months since, and revived the original purpose of sending from the press the substance of these plain and practical Discourses. That intention is now executed; with what results, the sovereign grace of J hovah, to which it is humbly commended, must termine. The author offers his volume primarily and chiefly to his own frie .ds, to whom it is dedicated. He has, however, by publishing it, placed it within the reach of the public, though he can truly say, that he does not expect much interest to be produced by his work, in the minds of many, beyond those who are prepared, by friendship, to value it above gards the motive than the amount of every offering that is carried to his altar. The author can easily suppose, that among many other faults which the scrutinizing eye of criticism will discover in his work, and which its stern voice will condemn, one is the tautologies, of which, in some places, it appears to be guilty. In answer to this, he can only remark, that in the discussion of such a subject, where the parts are divided by such almost imperceptible lines, and softened down so much into each other, he found it very difficult to avoid this repetition, which, after all, is perhaps not always a fault—at least not a capital one. Edgbaston, April 22, 1828. |