TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK. SIR, T is not to shelter the following Discourses IT under the protecting influence of an illustrious name, that I dedicate them to your Royal Highness; because, whatever merit they may be thought to possess, it will only be acknowledged, in proportion as their interesting truths shall appear to be sanctioned by higher authority. At the same time, let me own myself far from being indifferent to your Royal High ness's approbation of them; since, in addition to the weight of such testimony, in these times, in favour of Religion, when all earthly possessions are shrinking from the grasp, when every decorating splendour of this life is fading away, they will have furnished reflections to render peaceful its awful close, and, perhaps, perpetuate in your Royal Highness's memory an esteem for him, who, with pride and gratitude, subscribes himself Your most faithful And obliged humble servant, F. RANDOLPH. CONTENTS. SERMON IV. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Deut. iv. 11, 12.—And ye came near, and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire. SERMON V. CHRISTMAS-DAY. PAGE 81 St. John i. 11.-He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 107 SERMON VI. SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS-DAY. Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24.-But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to GOD the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. SERMON VII. 127 FIRST SUNDAY IN THE NEW YEAR. Psalm lxxiv. 9.-We see not our signs. |