He ventures to think that, in some measure, they are qualified for usefulness, and has heard of instances in which his hopes have been realized; and knowing that among the members of other congregations, and among those who are members of no congregation, there were some who needed them not less than the members of his own, when he was requested to publish—though they were commenced without reference to publication-he concluded that it might serve some good purpose to give them a wider circulation than their delivery secured; nor was he uninfluenced by the wish to place in the hands of his own hearers a permanent exhibition of gospel truth. He has sought to present the Gospel in a variety of aspects, instead of dwelling at greater length on one; having, in the course of his ministry, frequently observed that the aspect which brought peace to one state of mind produced no impression on another, and that different turns of the gem were necessary for flashing the light into different understandings. He is not unaware of the repetition which some will not fail to notice. The aspect of the Gospel which one lecture illustrates at length, is briefly stated in others. To avoid such repetition, with such a subject, would have been difficult; with his purpose, an attempt to avoid it would not have been wise. It may be, too, that the book contains unacknowledged repetitions of the thoughts and illustrations of other minds. The writer can honestly aver, that he has not sought to repeat what others have said; though he may have unintentionally done what he was not very studious to avoid. Withal, he fancies that, though in some points it may resemble other books, it has, as a whole, a character of its own, and may usefully fill a place which is almost unoccupied. Such as it is, dear reader, it is recommended to thine attentive perusal, as a message from God to thee, with the prayer that His blessing may rest upon it whose glory it humbly seeks to promote. If the gospel which it contains yields thee as much joy as the writer has derived from it, thy reading will not be in vain. December 26th, 1855. |