It will be the habitual endeavor of the Editor, in this work, to present such Sermons, on all important subjects of Gospel doctrine and practice, as may tend to honor the great Redeemer and save immortal souls. We have been cheered with constant assurances of its usefulness, and if those who read and appreciate, will make it known to others and encourage its circulation among conscientious, paying subscribers, its influeuce may widen and extend so long as the Gospel is preached.

We respectfully solicit this encouragement to a work which, scattered as it is throughout the United States, is very far from having been to the proprietor a source of pecuniary gain. May not those who receive this, obtain, on an average, one new Subscriber each, and thus increase permanently the number of the reading community?

Feb. 1836.

From the Boston Recorder.

"PREACHER TO MANY NATIONS.

"The NATIONAL PREACHER, which has been published for nine years in New-York, besides being widely circulated in our own country, and to some extent in England, is also read with interest in China, in India, in South America, and in the far distant isles of the Pacific. The following extract of a letter from a Missionary at the Sandwich Islands shows in what light the work is regarded on the other side of the globe.

"This plan of calling forth the varied talents and united energies of cotemporaneous preachers, and bringing their happiest efforts before millions of our fellow-men, even while the authors, warmed by their own exertions, are still on their knees, imploring a blessing on the truths they have sent forth, appears admirably adapted to promote the strength and harmony of the churches, to facilitate their highest attainments in knowledge and piety, to excite them to that course of benevolent action which the present state of the world demands, and to supply, to some extent, the spiritual wants of multitudes who are not favored, statedly, with the pulpit and pastoral labors of any minister of Christ. The National Preacher deserves the confidence of the world. May this high commissioned messenger of Christ be received with thankfulness and joy by tens of millions of our race. May the Divine Author of all the valuable gifts in the church copiously shed down the graces of his Spirit upon the contributors to this evangelical publication, that their writings may be worthy of the enlightened age in which we live, and such as hundreds of millions may be edified to read, when the pens of the writers are exchanged for harps of gold."

WANTED

A number of individuals, acquainted with men and manners, and of responsible character, to extend the circulation of this work. To such, very generous terms would be offered on application to the Editor.

1.

The monthly numbers usually contain two Sermons.

II. Price One Dollar, in advance, annually; One Dollar and Twenty-five Cents, if payment is delayed six months; or One Dollar and Fifty Cents annually, if payment is delayed twelve months. Seven copies for Five Dollars in advance.

III. Such as do not pay up arrearages, and give the Editor notice of a desire to discontinue taking the work, are responsible for payment while it is sent, and on commencing a new volume are responsible for its twelve numbers. New Subscribers may commence with any number they choose, on advancing payment for a year.

Postmasters are authorized to receive and forward payments to the Editor, at his risk, (as well as names of new subscribers ;) to them receipts will be returned, to be shown to subscribers. No mode of conveyance is found more safe than the mail.

Correspondents will be careful in naming the individuals to whom credit is to be given, and the Post Office and State to which the work is to be sent. Letters of business may be directed, post-paid, to

JOHN S. TAYLOR,

151 Nassau-street, New-York.

READERS.

SOME, we are sorry to say, have received the Preacher on the above conditions, from year to year, with as much seeming apathy of conscience, in regard to payment, as if the all-seeing Spirit had never uttered, "Do JUSTLY;" "OWE NO MAN ANY THING," &c. We are willing to fulfil, and more than fulfil, our part of the Terms; and our present appeal is to the justice, and honor, and gratitude of individuals, whose names we now withhold. We should be sorry to lose their support, or good will, or the privilege of introducing to them, occasionally, such as they may hear with respect, and love, and profit. But patience has its limits. We cannot but hope, however, that this note of admonition will be deemed sufficient, and be responded to with kindness. Such as have excused themselves, on the ground that they have in their State no small bills, we may respectfully ask, whether a proper sense of honor, and the Scripture rule in regard to their neighbor, would not suggest that they at once obviate this difficulty by paying for as long a period in advance as they have been dilinquent, or by taking some little trouble to unite their payments with other subscribers, new or old. Any payments may be sent by mail, at the Editor's risk; and bills of $5, on the receipt of this, without being post-paid.

Some of the early ensuing Numbers are expected to be supplied by Rev. Drs. Milnor, Beecher, and Skinner.

JEREMIAH iii. 5. Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst.

THIS passage evidently teaches the doctrine, that men are as depraved as they can be in present circumstances. The charge is made by the infinitely Holy One, and can be fully substantiated against every member of the unregenerate family. The justice of the charge may appear from a consideration of the following positions:

I. That God in his providence has surrounded the sinner with many circumstances operating powerfully to modify human character.

II. That by these circumstances every sinner is actually restrained in his wickedness, and held back in his downward career.

III. That every sinner does make the attempt, and succeeds as far as God will let him, to sunder these ligatures that would hold him fast to reason, hope, and heaven.'

Among the circumstances which illustrate the first position, I mention, 1. Education. This makes christendom differ from the dark places of the earth, which are full of the habitations of cruelty. This makes the same land differ from what it was while a land of idolatry. This makes us to differ from our forefathers when under the superstition and tyranny of the Druids. This occasions the difference between us and the savage of the western wilds. Education, then, operates greatly in modifying character, and in preventing men from being as bad as they would be.

2. Human law has a similar effect. How near right, think you, would men be, if they were not controlled by human laws? Look at some country while in a state of anarchy. Look at some city or village where the influence of law is suspended. Look at France, while under the reign of terror, when law was abrogated, and see one company after another pass under the guillotine; and the executioners of to-day the victims of to-morrow; and, tell us, is not character greatly modified by municipal law?

3. By the law of God. If men have no other belief in it, but that which may be denominated the faith of history, it still greatly modifies human character. Men have been sorry a thousand times that God ever issued his law VOL. X. No. 10.

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They have hated to read, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” They have been sorry to read, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy;" "Thou shalt not commit adultery ;""Thou shalt not kill;" "Thou shalt not steal," &c. But men have been in a measure restrained by these laws, while they have hated the Lawgiver, and despised his statutes.

4. The troublesome supervision of conscience has greatly modified human character. This everlasting censorship, while it has held men back from sin, has been hated, and warred against, and scowled upon, by the whole human family.

5. The whole Gospel, the law drawn out into offensive interference with the sinful pleasures and follies of men, has modified human character beyond all calculation. It so commends itself to their reason, and applies such power to their consciences, that it becomes exceedingly difficult to withstand it. It is so tender, majestic, commanding, and reasonable, that it for a time melts and overawes many who ultimately reject all its provisions.

6. All the Gospel institutions-the Sabbath, the sanctuary, the churchgoing bell, the Lord's supper, the ordinance of baptism, every thing associated with Christian worship, operates in modifying human character, and rendering it, in appearance, better than it is.

7. The desire of heaven has the same effect. None, perhaps, are so abandoned as not to hope that they may, after all, live and be happy after death. The bare possibility that they shall reach heaven, and wish to unite in the song of redemption, prevents them from being as wicked as they would be. This operates as a powerful restraint, and helps greatly to modify character.

8. The fear of hell, also, holds back many from the commission of crime. Men are afraid that what they have heard respecting hell is true. Though the subject often excites their unhallowed mirth, it is a mirth which has its misgivings. Their very laughter betrays their fears. And though they trifle with the thought of everlasting burnings, it is with the manifest design of keeping their courage up. The fear of hell thus operates in modifying the character, perhaps even of the most worldly.

9. The expectation of a judgment has the same effect. They have some apprehension that they may be called to answer at the bar of God for their deeds on earth. They have "a fearful looking for" of this dread reality. They think it may be true that God will bring them into judgment, for every work, whether it be good or evil, and apportion his awards accordingly. And hence, this apprehension serves as a wonderful restraint upon their character.

10. Public sentiment is a great preventive of crime. Men are so constituted as to be obliged to respect public sentiment. They cannot endure the indignation of a whole community; and public sentiment in Christian lands favors virtue, and frowns on vice. The assassin is thus disarmed-the thief becomes honest--the swindler pays his debts-because public sentiment compels him. No one has daring enough to be utterly indifferent to the good opinion of all his acquaintance; and character is thus greatly modified.

11. The domestic affections produce the same result. The silken cords