The following discourses, which were found among the manuscripts of the Author after his decease, will, no doubt, be extremely acceptable to those, who have been accustomed to hear the word of truth from his lips, and who, engaged by his eloquence, and won by his entreaties, have, through the influence of divine grace, which he never failed to inculcate as the source of all holy desires, dedicated themselves to God through Jesus Christ, and become wise unto salvation.

As the copies were written delicately fair, and with wonderful accuracy, no pains were requisite to decipher, no labor was wanted to correct them; so that the reader has, in this volume, the genuine works of him, whose name it bears; [ix] and, whatever he may think of the doctrines which it contains, I am much mistaken, if he will not be struck with admiration at the fertility of imagination, the force of argument, and the uncommon elegance of language, which are herein displayed. But, let him take heed, that his attention be not too much engaged by the gay flowers of oratory; let him compare what he here finds written with the scriptures of truth, and let him not be in haste, either to censure or approve, till a competent share of divine knowledge, and a thorough acquaintance with the work itself, enable him to decide, with some appearance of justice, on its merits.

I feel the more inclined to recommend this advice, from the impression, which a cursory view of the following discourses made upon my mind; for, wishing to pay all possible respect to the memory of my deceased friend, no sooner was the idea of a publication suggested, than I volunteered my services to carry it through all its stages, not thinking, at the moment, of any difficulties, which might occur in the accomplishment of the design. Not many hours, I believe, elapsed, before I began to consider, that some degree of responsibility attached to me as an Editor, and that I was bound not to make known to the world any sentiments, of which I did not thoroughly approve; at least, not without offering an antidote for the evil, which they might occasion. Under this persuasion, though extremely reluctant to obtrude myself on the public notice, or to provoke controversy from the Author’s admirers, I sat down with the determination not to let a sentence pass unregarded, which I did not conceive to be strictly conformable to the word of God. Accordingly, when I had perused a few discourses I wrote my animadversions freely; but when I had read and considered all with more minute attention, I found that several of my objections were levelled against words and phrases, and that, though I choose to express myself upon some points differently from the Author, we were perfectly agreed in the principal doctrines of the Christian dispensation. This being the case, I have thought it sufficient to refer the reader to his Bible, the standard of truth and orthodoxy; and though, among the variety of opinions which distract the Christian world, he may conceive it to be almost impossible to find the road to glory, yet I will venture to assure him, the word of Christ authorizing me to do so, if his eye be single his whole body shall be full of light; Mat. vi. 22; i.e. he shall be able clearly to discern the way of salvation; for the Sun of Righteousness shall dispel the mists of error, and gradually diffusing his beams over the soul, shall shine more and more, even to the full splendor of the perfect day.As I firmly believe, that the following discourses, read with candor and attention, are likely to be productive of much good, I shall here take the liberty of obviating the objections, which may be made to one point of doctrine, which forms a prominent feature in the whole. I allude to the justification of a sinner by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. This doctrine, as it is expressed in one or two passages, might induce a hasty reader to throw aside the book, and condemn it severely as leading to licentiousness. But, I can assure him, that the late Vicar of Saint Alkmond admitted no such consequences; and I only request him to read attentively all the discourses in this volume, and he will be convinced that what has been written upon that subject is neither designed to set aside the necessity of self-examination, nor of personal holiness. As a proof of the former, I beg leave to refer him more particularly to Sermon VI. p. 240; and of the latter, to the whole of Sermon II. upon the dedication of the heart to God; in which, as well as in several others, he will find the most forcible exhortations to maintain purity of heart, and to abound in the practice of every good work; insomuch, that if he should take occasion, from any thing here written, to sin, that grace may abound, let him recollect, that he will meet the Author before the judgment-seat of Christ, where he must render an account for his perversion and want of candor, as well as for all his other crimes.

But not only upon this, but also upon other subjects handled in these discourses, there have been, and still are, great diversities of sentiment among divines, not merely among such as are skilful in controversy, and void of the spirit of heavenly love, but among others, who are warmly attached to the cause of Christ, who labor much in the word and doctrine, and whose piety, humility, and other graces, evidently prove that they are born from above, and live under the continued influence of the spirit of holiness. These, conceiving the several systems, which they have embraced, to be most conducive to the glory of God, set them forth with all the eloquence and argument of which they are capable; and sometimes, it must be confessed, in their zeal to defend the truth, forget the candor, which is due to persons, who are equally zealous with themselves, and who may, perhaps, have a larger share of that divine love, which forms the best Christian, though he may be far from making the most able disputant. That which constitutes the essence of Christianity appears to me to be comprised within a very small compass. “The law” is “our school-master, to bring us unto Christ, that we may be justified by faith;” Gal. iii. 24; and faith, working by love, through the operation of the Holy Ghost, gives us a disposition to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. This, I repeat it, appears to me to be the essence of Christianity; but, as the talents and capacities of men are various, as there is a constitutional peculiarity in every individual, and as education, custom, and connexions, conspire to constitute the character, it must be expected that truth will be exhibited in divers manners, not always in its native beauty and simplicity, but clothed with the gaudy decorations of human wisdom and philosophy, about which, and not about the truth itself, contentions may arise, to the great grief and concern of every sincere and pacific disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It has been thought proper to introduce the following Discourses with an Essay, found also among the Author’s papers, entitled, Pure and Undefiled Religion, delineated in its Nature, Influence, Fruits, Evidences, and Consummation. Though no text be prefixed to it, yet it seems to have been originally designed for the pulpit, and to have been written when the subject of negro emancipation first engaged the attention of Parliament. It is unnecessary in this place to point out its excellencies; suffice it to say, that every friend of Pure and Undefiled Religion will rejoice that so valuable a treatise was not disregarded, and consigned, with various unfinished Essays, to oblivion.

THE EDITOR.