Volume 7

THE seventh yearly volume of Sermons is sent forth to the world with the Author’s heartiest thanksgivings, and sincerest prayers. Eight years of public ministry amid thronging multitudes supply the most blessed recollections. The faithfulness of God, the fellowship of Christ, the comforts of the Spirit, the power of prayer, the prevalence of faith, the force of truth, the glory of the gospel, and other kindred heaven-born truths, have received plentiful illustrations in our experience, for which we would render our joyous praise. Preserved in Jesus amid daily temptations, supplied with strength for incessant labours, guided through singular difficulties, and comforted under ferocious attacks, we can sing unto the Lord who hath been at our right hand in every time of need. The All-sufficiency of God we have joyously proved, while the insufficiency of the creature we have painfully felt. Vain is the help of man, but glorious is the right arm of the Most High.

The reader will frequently be compelled to observe the imperfections and infirmities of the preacher as they show themselves in these hasty productions, but if he be taught of God, this will only cause him the more fully to acknowledge the grace and power of our glorious Lord, who works by feeble means, and makes the weakness of the instrument a foil to set forth the more clearly the glory of the great worker. In our case no flesh hath whereof to glory. What the Lord hath wrought cannot in this instance be ascribed to human learning, position, influence, title, family, or refinement. Unaided by any of these things, the country-lad preached as the Spirit gave him utterance, and as a London pastor he desires to do the same. Power belongeth unto God; as for mortal might, what doeth it? There at thy altar, O Lord, let all honour and glory be laid! We are thy debtors, immersed in debt, and we can give thee nothing but our love, and even the power to offer this we must first of all receive at thy hands.

These discourses are purely extempore, and although reported with singular accuracy, as there are no manuscripts with which to compare the report, errors will creep in. The hasty manner of the getting-out of the sermons, must again excuse the sadly numerous errata. As to the preacher’s style, he who expects elaboration and exact accuracy in an extempore discourse, and especially in a report printed the next day, and published the next, deserves to be disappointed. Such as they are we send them forth; we wish they could be revised and improved, but as this cannot be done, we issue them as best we can.