PREFACE. A FORMAL and elaborate preface to a plain and unpretending volume of Sermons like the present, would be altogether out of place; as much so indeed as a splendid portico would be to a homely building. The reader will find here no display of talent and learning, of ingenuity and eloquence; no search after what is striking and novel. If the volume have any worth, it arises from the circumstance of its being designed to unfold, in a practical manner, and in regular order, however imperfectly, a highly interesting portion of Holy Writ. The writer of these pages views Christian godliness as essentially consisting in a deep, spiritual, and personal apprehension of man's apostasy from God-of his depraved nature, sinful life, and lost state; and in a deep, spiritual, and personal apprehension of man's recovery to God through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. But he further views both these apprehensions to be the result, not of human reasoning or of philosophical speculation, but of the Almighty Agency of the Blessed Spirit of truth and grace on the soul; and to be also productive of all those principles, affections, and conduct, (that is, of that universal holiness,) which become a redeemed and sanctified creature, who, notwithstanding inherent evil, the solicitations of the senses and the allurements of the world, is seeking his happiness in the favour of God here, and in the presence of God hereafter. In a word, Repentance and Faith, or Humility and Trust, or Self-abasement and Looking unto Jesus, together with the moral excellence, both internal and external, vital and practical, which springs from them, where they really exist, as their genuine fruit, are regarded by him as the cardinal matters in religion; and it is to these that his attention is almost exclusively directed in the following pages and all that he can expect, as indeed it is all that he desires, is, that, through the blessing of the ever-living Head of the Church, they may be made in some degree useful to the thoughtful, humble, and devout reader, who is satisfied with common scriptural instruction without the arts and ornaments of elegant writing; without refined abstractions, theological subtilties, or fervid and vehement declamation. He uses His readers will do him great injustice if they suppose, that he entertains the slightest idea, for a single moment, of his competency to unfold such a spiritual and profound portion of the revealed word in any thing like an adequate manner. the language, not of affected humility, but of honest truth and heartfelt conviction, when he says that he looks on his observations on this discourse, or divine colloquy, of our Blessed Lord with his disciples, as nothing more than the feeble ideas and the imperfect stammerings of a child. In these chapters there are heights and depths of spirituality and sublimity, at the contemplation of which the serious mind cannot fail to learn its own weakness and blindness, while it also learns the riches and immensity of the divine wisdom, goodness, and glory. He is certainly the most exalted and happy Christian who can enter into them most fully: but while there is here a flood of mild and gracious light, there are also here some of the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, which ought to inspire us with reverential awe, as well as with the most sacred delight and satisfaction. He is not aware that he has much reason to apprehend the severity of censure from serious and candid minds: but whatever be the defects which may belong to his work, he has the consciousness of having done what he could according to his ability and opportunity. He therefore commits the volume to the public with every sentiment of respect, and with the earnest prayer that it may promote the high and holy cause for which it was written, and for which it is now sent into the world. NEWCHURCH IN WINWICK, APRIL 16, 1839. |