Preface
The appearance of these Discourses is due to the kind importunity of the Publisher, once my pupil and since my esteemed friend, who has for several years asked this contribution. Diligent inquiry of the Trade has informed me, that while the recent depression of business has lessened literary demand in general, the proportion of religious books sold has strikingly increased.
There are, as every one knows, several clever sayings, which set aside the Sermon as a species characteristically dull and unreadable; and this has tempted not a few, in giving the matter of their preaching to the world, to use some disguise as to the original form. Yet the testimony of booksellers is, that some of the most widely spread publications of the day are collections of Sermons.
Printing is only preacHng in another shape. Provided, then, that people will read, a minister of Christ needs no more apology for putting his instructions into type, than for going into the pulpit. If he is sincere and zealous, his intention will be the same in both. He is only giving vast increase to the circle of his influence, for good or evil.
The affectionate and often fondly partial hearers of any preacher, are apt to desire the publication of what has been blessed to their spiritual strength and comfort; and such derive a profit from the printed book which cannot be measured by its intrinsic quality. It is with this view that these pages are more particularly dedicated to the beloved people of my charge.
After all, the controlling reason for publishing as well as preaching, should be a desire to glorify God in the salvation of men, by communicating as widely as possible the truth of the Gospel. When we have done all, we leave millions unreached by our endeavours; and if by any means we can add even one to the number of learners, it is worth the labour. Each messenger has some peculiarity in his way of influence. Every man who thinks long and deeply upon the plan of grace has certain favourite views, which have cost him something, which he cherishes with delight, and in which he strongly desires that others may participate. Even truths as old as Christianity itself strike him in such a way that he flatters himself lie can bring them home with a kindred freshness to his neighbours and brethren. Let me avow that there are doctrinal statements in the following pages, which, though in no sense novel, are such as conduce to the very life of my soul, and such therefore as I am exceedingly desirous, in my humble measure, to rescue from misapprehension and inculcate on my children and friends. E’o speaker or writer is likely to leave a deep mark upon other minds, or in any degree to mould the thinking of his contemporaries, except by the utterance of principles, which not only are held by him in sincerity of belief, but are dear to his heart and operative on his character, as being inseparable from the current of his daily and nightly thinking. They may be true, or they may be false; but of him who holds them they are the weapons of warfare. Hence we are sometimes fain to do homage to the earnestness of a man, whose reasonings do not bring us over. For the doctrines here set forth, I claim only this: whether with or without reason, they are my belief. Years fly apace, natural vigour wanes, and opportunities of personal influence become fewer; but my profound conviction of the verities here proposed waxes stronger and stronger, with a corresponding earnestness to diffuse and impress them. !N’o concealment or compromise has been attempted as to the tenets; which belong to a scheme of belief, ancient, intelligibly distinct, even singular, long contested, read and known of all men.
Yet if there is aught here which shall disturb any evangelical mind, it has crept in without a polemical purpose. The field is immeasurably large, in which we may expatiate, without setting foot upon the minor controversies of the schools; and some who are immovably attached to certain theological distinctions, would be the last to lay them among the foundations, or erect them into terms of communion, or set them forth as tests of grace. It is hoped, meanwhile, that humble experienced believers will find here in due prominence those central truths concerning Jesus Christ and Him crucified, by which all theology and all sermons must stand or fall.
None of the articles which make up this book belong to the class of Occasional Discourses; one only, intended for the young, was delivered by request; all are such as came up in the routine of a common ministry. They are intentionally miscellaneous, and several of the number are recent, as having been preached during the late blessed awakening.
It is my humble and hearty prayer, that God would vouchsafe, by his Holy Spirit, to make them useful.
New York, Novemher, 1858.