winning and instructive, than those of HORNE and PORTEUS; or more luminous and convincing than those of HORSLEY and PALEY. And if a spirit of meekness, and of almost apostolic primitiveness of character, added to deep learning and harmonious style, be sought for, who, in times gone by, shall we place above the late gentle and lamented HEBER ? It were bad taste, perhaps, to eulogise the living; but the Editor is much deceived, if, in the pages of this "Selection," there be not found specimens of sound scriptural analysis, accurate reasoning, and powerful declamation, which yield to no productions of a similar nature that have preceded them. The Editor takes leave of the "gentle Reader" in the language of one of the brightest ornaments of the English Bench*: "I shall only crave leave that I may "remember Jerusalem, and call to mind the pleasures "of the temple, the order of her services, the beauty "of her buildings, the sweetness of her songs, the "decency of her ministrations, the assiduity and economy of her Priests and Levites, the daily "sacrifice, and that eternal fire of devotion that "went not out by day nor by night. These were * JEREMY TAYLOR, Collection of Offices or Forms of Prayer, &c. 1658. 8vo. Preface. The Author is speaking of the excellence of the LITURGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. "the pleasures of our peace; and there is a rema"nent felicity in the very memory of those spiritual "delights which we then enjoyed as antepasts of "heaven, and consignations to an immortality of "joys." It may be essential to state that, in the prefix to the first volume, some mention was made of incorporating several events in the LIFE of CHRIST in the course of these Sermons. If few or none of these events are found in them, it arises, as will be immediately seen, from the Editor's intention of writing a LIFE OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR, as the first of a series of volumes (being a COMPANION to the present Work) under the denomination or title of " CHRISTIAN CLASSICS." INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. In the selection of such sermons as may help to promote the best interests of the CHRISTIAN RELIGION, it cannot be matter of surprise that the incomparable SERMON ON THE MOUNT, by the blessed author of that religion, should stand foremost in the list. The eulogies bestowed upon that discourse may be said to be without limits and without number. To particularise them were unnecessary. From the days of the Fathers of the church, to the more recent effusions of modern divines*, the strain of panegyric has been uniformly warm and consistent. But among those who have predicated upon the leading features of its excellence at least among those whose labours have come under my own observation- - none have accomplished this task with more skill and effect than the eminent prelate from whose justly popular " Lectures" the ensuing two discourses are selected. The earnest attention of the reader is requested to such an admirable illustration of the incomparable original, A preliminary observation or two may not, however, be unacceptable. Our blessed Lord, having afforded unequivocal proofs of his divine mission by his baptism and resistance to temptation, proceeds at once to the fulfilment of his appointed ministry; and the first step towards its successful execution is, the reformation of the lives of human beings by the amendment, or rather by the reconstruction, of the whole code of their morals. "Think, I would beseech you, upon the Sermon on the Mount. W there have words that were spoken with authority; words, such as never man spake; words, that come home to the heart, and bring it into cap vity." LE BAs, Bishop of London's Visitation Sermon, 1830. |