Volume 3

WE do most heartily give thanks unto the Father of Mercies for His abundant goodness to us through another year. The past year has been a period of peculiar and special blessing. It was preceded by a storm of trouble which well-nigh overwhelmed us; “but the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” “The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”

The congregations during this year have been immense and enthusiastic. Vast numbers have no doubt been attracted by curiosity, which was excited by the fearful catastrophe, and thus the Lord hath brought good out of evil. If the matter had ended here there would have been little cause for rejoicing and great reason for anxiety; but the Lord, the Holy Spirit, has been pleased to apply His own Word with power to the hearts of many, who are now the living witnesses of the saving power of the Gospel. Our Church Meetings have been joyous occasions, for we have there heard marvellous stories of profligates reclaimed, drunkards converted, and desponding souls delivered.

While the doctrine contained in these sermons is precisely the same as that of the preceding volumes, yet the subjects are of a different class, and it is not possible for the preacher to dive very frequently into the deep things of God. His anxiety for the salvation of souls leads him to select themes which are rather awakening than instructive, and therefore more adapted for the babes in grace than for strong men in Christ Jesus. The Sermons preached at the Music Hall are intended to arrest the attention of the careless, and alarm the consciences of the hardened. The reader will not, therefore, find in them that fullness and depth of doctrine which he may desire.