THE WORKS OF LAURENCE STERNE IN FOUR VOLUMES, WITH A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. A NEW EDITION, WITH APPENDIX, CONTAINING SEVERAL UNPUBLISHED EDITED BY JAMES P. BROWNE, M.D. VOL. III. LONDON: BICKERS AND SON, 1, LEICESTER SQUARE, W.C. 1873. PREFACE. (TO THE FIRST EDITION.) THE Sermon which gave rise to the publication of these, having been offered to the world as a Sermon of Yorick's, I hope the most serious reader will find nothing to offend him, in my continuing these volumes under the same title. Lest it should be otherwise, I have added a second title-page, with the real name of the author:-the first will serve the Bookseller's purpose, as Yorick's name is possibly, of the two, the more known;—and the second will ease the minds of those who see a jest, and the danger which lurks under it, where no jest was meant. I suppose it is needless to inform the Public, that the reason of printing these Sermons arises altogether from the favourable reception which the Sermon given as a sample of them in TRISTRAM SHANDY met with from the world: - that Sermon was printed by itself some years ago, but could find neither purchasers nor readers; so that I apprehended little hazard from a promise I made upon its republication, 'That if the Sermon was liked, 'these should be also at the world's service;' which, to be as good as my word, they here are; and I pray to GOD they may do it the service I wish. I have little to say in their behalf, except this, that not one of them was composed with any thoughts of being printed; they have been hastily written, and carry the marks of it along with them. This may be no recommendation ;-I mean it however as such; for as the Sermons turn chiefly upon philanthropy, and those kindred virtues to it upon which hang all the Law and the Prophets, I trust they will be no less felt, or worse received, for the evidence they bear, of proceeding more from the heart than the head. I have nothing to add, but that the reader, upon old and beaten subjects, must not look for many new thoughts; -'tis well if he has new language in three or four passages: where he has neither the one nor the other, I have quoted the author I made free with.-There are some other passages where I suspect I may have taken the same liberty; but 'tis only suspicion, for I do not remember it is so, otherwise I should have restored them to their proper owners; so that I put in here more as a general saving, than from a consciousness of having much to answer for upon that score. In this however, and everything else which I offer or shall offer to the world, I rest, with a heart much at ease, upon the protection of the humane and candid, from whom I have received many favours, for which I beg leave to return them thanks-thanks. CONTENTS. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?- Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us! Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?-And he said, He And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruise of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by the prophet Elijah.-1 Kings xvii. 16. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.-Luke xviii. 14, First Part. 78 |