-Man but dives in death; Dives from the sun, in fairer day to rise; HULL: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR; AND MAY BE HAD OF J. BOURNE, BEMERSLEY; TRAVELLING OR THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF ANY OF THE PREACHERS IN THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONNEXION. 1830. 200 PREFACE. THE present is a day of active exertion. Idleness is neither a characteristic of the pious nor the irreligious. Various are the means adopted by the mischievous and unwearied spirit of infidelity for the purpose of inducing us to regard religion with indifference, impugn it with subtilty, and reject it with scorn. The doctrine of man's immortality, and other fundamental truths of Revelation, are attacked by wit and genius in every possible way; and these attacks are attended with a zeal and activity which would do honour to a better cause. Unhappily in too many instances they awfully succeed. This being the case, what does religion expect of all who worship at her altars? Surely she expects, nay she requires, that every follower of Christ should consecrate himself, with a deep devotion to the promotion of his master's interest. Such being the views not only of the writer of the following pages, but of a considerable part of the religious world, it is not surprizing that the press should be teeming at the present day with productions on almost every part of revealed truth. Did I think it of importance I might observe, that I have been requested, and repeatedly urged to publish, by persons whose wisdom and piety I think much superior to my own; and that numbers who have heard the leading particulars of the following Discourses from the pulpit, have expressed an earnest desire to have them for perusal in the family and in private. But though these ideas are not destitute of weight, and though they have frequently been urged by authors, yet I do not conceive that they Аа are sufficiently important to justify the publishing of a work. As to the merits of this volume it will be with the public to judge, to judge. I have no doubt, however, but that persons of just literary taste will find it very imperfect. Perhaps it may be proper to remark, that this is the first effort I have made at writing for the public, that the work has been prosecuted amidst the constant pressure of other engagements, that a great part of the manuscript was written when I was very unfavourably situated for such employment,—and that in consequence of my numerous engagements as an Itinerant Preacher, several of the sheets have gone through the press when I was from home, and consequently had not the opportunity of correcting them. I hope, however, that its doctrines will be found fully to accord with the decisions of unbiased reason, and with the truths of that Book by which "life and immortality are brought to light;" and I pray that it may be the means of spiritual profit to all who read it. བ12 Should the present volume meet with a tolerably good reception, and should it please the unerring Disposer of all events to spare my life a little longer, it is my design to publish a second, embracing among others the following topics: the resurrection of the human body, the last judgment,-the future miseries of the wicked, and the unceasing blessedness of the righteous. T SERMON HI. bas THE SAVIOUR'S ADMONITION EXPLAINED AND FORCED. EN- |