ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS, BY THE LATE REV. WILLIAM PALEY, D.D. SUBDEAN OF LINCOLN, PREBENDARY OF ST. PAUL'S, AND RECTOR, OF BISHOPWEARMOUTH. SECOND EDITION.. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND ORME,, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1808. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Author of these Sermons, by a codicil to his Will, declared as follows:-" If my life had been spared, it was my intention to have printed at Sunderland a Volume of Sermons-about 500 copies; and I had proceeded so far in the design as to have transcribed several Sermons for that purpose, which are in a parcel by themselves. There is also a parcel from which I intended to transcribe others; but the whole is in an unfinished state, the arrangement is not settled, and there are many things which might be omitted, and others which may be altered or consolidated." The codicil then goes on to direct, that, after such disposition should have been made respecting the Manuscripts as might be deemed necessary, they should he printed by the Rev. Mr. Stephenson, at the expence of the testator's executors, and distributed in the neighbourhood, first to those who frequented church, then to farmers' families in the country, then to such as had à person in the family who could read, and were likely to read them; and finally, it is added, "I would not have the said Sermons published for sale." In compliance with this direction, the following Sermons were selected, printed and distributed by the Rev. Mr. Stephenson, in and about the parish of Bishop Wearmouth, in the year 1806. These Discourses were not originally composed for publication, but were written for, and, as appears by the Manuscripts, had been preached at the Parish Churches of which, in different parts of the Author's life, he had the care. It was undoubtedly the Author's intention that they should not have been published; but the circulation of such a numbe as. he had directed by his will to be distributed, rendered it impossible to adhere to the other part of his direction; and it was found necessary to publish them, as the only means of preventing a surreptitious sale. TO THE HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND SHUTE BARRINGTON, L.L.D., LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. MY LORD, THE celebrated author of this posthumous volume, has limited, by will, the press to five hundred copies, and confined the distribution of them to the Parish of Bishopwearmouth. All within the circuit of distribution will justly appreciate the bequest, and receive it as a most expressive mark of their late Pastor's solicitude for their conduct and their happiness: all without will hear with regret, that the publication is restricted, since they cannot participate in its benefits. I do not apprehend, however, that I shall improperly exceed the prescribed limit, or go against the in b |