TO THE VENERABLE THE ARCHDEACON OF WILTS, AND TO THE CLERGY PRESENT, AT WHOSE DESIRE IT IS PUBLISHED, THIS SERMON IS INSCRIBED BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. THE author of the following Sermon is unwilling that it should appear before the public without a few remarks from him. When desired by the Archdeacon to preach at the late Visitation, he could not but feel some awkwardness in being placed in such a position. He was called upon to address those, to most of whom he is considerably junior, and unknown. He was therefore anxious to address them upon a subject which he hoped, by the assistance of God, might prove useful, but upon which he was not called upon dogmatically to advise. This feeling may perhaps have led him into error,-certainly he is quite aware how very imperfect is his attempt to do justice to his subject. Still he is thankful to God, who alone could give him the power of uttering any thing conducive to the honour of His name; and he is grateful to his Brethren for their approbation. His only trust now is, that even one person may be led, by reading this Sermon, seriously, and by prayer for the Holy Spirit, to examine the subject for himself,—that the glory of God the Father may be advanced, and the praise of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and the unity-the peace and the enlargement of His Holy Catholic and Apostolical Church. |
