ficiency are very encouraging. We must all expect

hours of trouble in our turn.

We must all feel in our uncertainty of creature

concernments the vanity and comforts. What a mercy is it to know from our own past experience, and to have it confirmed to us by the experience of others, that the Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and that he knoweth them that trust in him. Creatures are like candles, they waste while they afford us a little light, and we see them extinguished in their sockets one after another. But the light of the sun makes amends for them all. The Lord is so rich that he easily can, so good that he certainly will, give his children more than he ever will take away. When his gracious voice reaches the heart, It is I, be not afraid; Be still, and know that I am God; when he gives us an impression of his wisdom, power, love, and care; then the storm which attempts to rise in our natural passions is hushed into a calm; the flesh continues to feel, but the spirit is made willing. And something more than submission takes place; a sweet resignation and acquiescence, and even a joy that we have any thing which we value to surrender to his

call.

Yours, &c:

SIX

DISCOURSES, (OR SERMONS,)

AS INTENDED FOR THE PULPIT.

Στύλος και εδραίωμα της αλήθειας, και ομολογουμένως μέγα ἐςι τὸ της ευσεβείας μυτηριον Θεὸς ἐφανερωθη ἐν σαρκί

PREFACE.

THE following Discourses were drawn up about twelve months

since, when I expected a speedy opportunity of delivering them from the pulpit. As the views I then had are now over-ruled, I take this method of laying them before the public; that those who have thought proper to foretell the part I would have acted, and the doctrine I would have taught, if my desires had taken place, may be either satisfied or silenced.

Yet I should not have thought it worth my while, to give either myself or others this trouble, merely for my own vindication. Attempts of this kind usually imply too much of a man's importance to himself, to be either acceptable or successful. Or, at best, it can be a point of no great moment to my real happiness, what the few persons to whom my little name is known, are pleased to say or think of me. Nothing but great inattention to our true circumstances, can afford us leisure either to censure others, or to justify ourselves; unless when the interest of religion or morality are evidently concerned. A few years will fix and determine our characters beyond all possibility of mistake; and till then it would be vain to hope for it.

The true reasons therefore of this publication are, the importance of the subjects treated of; and the probability that, upon this occasion, many persons who have not yet considered them with the attention they deserve, may be induced, (some from a motive of friendship, and others from curiosity,) to read what might appear in my name, the rather for being mine.

Had I wrote with a design to print, I should have chose to put my sentiments in another form: and perhaps a desire to avoid the censure of severe critics, would have made me more solicitous about expression and method. But as I profess to publish not what I might, but what I really would have spoken; I could not allow myself to deviate from my first draught, except in a few places where I thought the sense entangled, am