CONTENTS. 3. Illustration of Numbers XXII, 21–30: Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and went with the Prin- ces of Moab. And the ass said unto Balaam, am I not 5. Illustration of Romans XV, 4: Whatsoever things were writ- ten aforetime, were written for our learning, that we 7. Illustration of 2nd Thessalonians, II, 3: And that Man of Sin, be revealed, the Son of Perdition. 8. Illustration of Proverbs XXVI, 4 and 5: Answer not a fool PREFACE. Ir is well known, that it is very customary for preachers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, when they publish sermons, to assign reasons why they do so. "The desire of friends,-and the request of better judges," are often given as reasons of publication. The author of this COLLECTION of "sermons and reviews," does not pretend to any of these reasons; yet, he verily conceives, that he has good and altogether sufficient reasons for publishing them. The audience, whom he intends to benefit, is far too large, for any single human voice to reach the ears of all; and, therefore, as he could not speak to all so as to make them hear, he has made choice of this medium, as the only one by which he could communicate these instructions. But, when one is disposed to preach a sermon or two, for the benefit of any of the creatures God has made, he is, now-a-days, often perplexed to find a proper subject or text, to discourse upon. Almost every character has been described in some sermon, lecture, or political speech. And there is not a faculty of the mind, nor a member of the body, but which has been harrangued, lecturéd, or preached threadbare. There are, also, now, sermons to young men, and sermons to young women, dissertations and speeches, and phrenological humbugs on heads, and fascinating lectures on hearts—almost every subject is exhausted, having been lectured and sermonized to death. Yet, the author does not remember having seen any sermons, excepting these, on the subjects he has here chosen, nor heard of any preached, professedly and particularly to his audience. Our very excellent patrons may peradventure, be offended at the author, for thus interfering with their employment, and preaching to their congregations; but this much the author, may in truth, say, for himself, that he has not preached after their manner; and to make them some satisfaction, has given them the honor of a dedication. Now, every preacher has a right to preach as it pleaseth him, to such as are disposed to hear him; and in whatever manner he has an inclination, if his end be the real profiting of his hearers: and, therefore, if he be not so happy as to please his audience, he should take care not to displease himself. Sermons to this class of animals, I know, may appear strange, to such as have lately read sermons to young women; but they ought to consider, I think, that something is due, even to these quadrupeds. We read, you know, of their preaching to mankind; and pray tell us, why may not MEN preach to them? Some solemn epicurian, in black, will doubtless hoot this, as an insult to mankind, and a reflection upon gentlemen in all the holy orders; and all the very excellent dignitaries of church and state! The author can only reply, in vindication, that he has followed the example of the Patriarch Jacob, who preached to asses; and of our Saviour, who sent a challenge preachment to the voluptuous monster, Herod, styling him "that fox," a cunning and ferocious brute, that he held in utter contempt. After all, there is some reason to suspect that the preachers referred to, will censure these sermons, for being destitute of some things which they ought to contain; as also, for not wanting some things which they contain. But, as "humanum est errare," there is no perfection in this life, the reader must receive them as they There should have been two volumes of them, for the sake of fashion, as that has become the customary style of publishing; but it has been thought convenient to postpone one, 'till such time as it should appear how the first was received. are. And, another thing: these sermons should have been dedicated to many subordinates of their excellencies, named in the dedication; with hopes that they also would join in recommending them to public notice; but the author feared offending their modesty, by the flattery of a dedication; and for that reason, they have not been named. Once more. The author has deferred setting his name to these discourses, until the twenty-fifth edition, when he may perhaps find "D. D." to fix to them, like other authors. If the clergy, or others, think it improper thus to preach to quadrupeds, the author may, perhaps, publish, by-and-by, sermons to Doctors in Divinity; when he will pay some regard to method, and the regular set-to rules of composing sermons. Doubtless, every preacher ought to consider the qualifications of his audience, and preach accordingly. Though there may be some things that seem to savor, a little, of the ludicrous, in these sermons, the reader may rest quite assured that he will find also, some very serious things, highly worthy of his notice. Thus much the preacher can say for himself, that having enjoyed almost "three score and ten years,” during the latter portion of it, on witnessing the corruption and profligate tendency of things, in both church and state, he has often rejoiced in having authority from the Royal Freacher," to rebuke the "madness of the times." When Jackson came into the chair of state, HE saw, distinctly, in that melancholy fact, that public, American virture, was sinking from her glory; and that rice, was emerging from its infamy; and he did not hesitate then, publicly, to sound the note of alarm. And the time has now come, when the basest would have us recognize them as on the same level with the best! And whoever dares, even with authority from the living God, to expose and reprobate this state of things, expects to be visited by the million, with implacable wrath. But in all this wrath, there is nothing to be deprecated by us; as these patricides are unsusceptible of solid argument, or any holy principle; we have, therefore, no solicitude about their censure or applause we would, indeed, were it possible, do them good. This is at least a negative merit, which some preachers of the age cannot claim; and with which they will never le endowed; endowed with, did I say? They could not be endowed with what is negative! Call it anything you please, for I have done. COMPILER. N. B. Yet, he will here superadd, that, having, on a certain evening, exhibited the plan, and leading features of the contents of this work, to one of the most distinguished critics in Biblical literature and ecclesiastical history, now PRESIDENT of one of our Colleges, he gave it his most emphatic and substantial testimony of approval; presenting the author with ten dolars, with the assurance that if he would send him one copy, when it should lcome from the press, he would consider himself amply remunerated. A |