PREFACE.

TH

HE Sermon which gave rise to the publication of these, having been offered to the world as a Sermon of Yorick's, I hope the most ferious reader will find nothing to offend him, in my continuing these volumes under the fame title: left it fhould be otherwife, I have added a fecond title-page with the real name of the Author-the firft will ferve the bookseller's purpofe, as Yorick's name is poffibly of the two the more known ;-and the fecond will eafe the minds of thofe who see a jeft, and the danger which lurks under it, where no jeft was

meant.

I fuppofe it is needless to inform the Public, that the reafon of printing these Sermons arifes altogether from the favourable reception which the Sermon given as a sample of them in TRISTRAM SHANDY met with from the world;-That Sermon was printed by itself fome years ago, but could find neither purchafers nor readers; fo that I apprehended little hazard from a promise I made upon its republication, "That if the Sermon was liked, these fhould be "alfo at the world's fervice;" which, to be as good as my word, they here are, and I pray to God, they may do it the fervice. I wish. I have little to fay in their behalf, except this, that not one of them was compofed with any thoughts of being printed; they have been haftily written, and carry the marks

of it along with them.-This may be no recommendation;-I mean it however as fuch; for as the Sermons turn chiefly upon philanthropy, and those kindred virtues to it, upon which hang all the law and the prophets, I truft they will be no less felt, or worse received, for the evidence they bear, of proceeding more from the heart than the head. I have nothing to add, but that the reader, upon old and beaten fubjects, muft not look for many new thoughts -'tis well if he has new language in three or four paffages, where he has neither the one nor the other, I have quoted the author I made free with.

-There are fome other paffages, where I suspect I may have taken the fame liberty, but 'tis only fufpicion, for I do not remember it is fo, otherwife I fhould have reftored them to

their proper owners; fo that I put it in here more as a a general faving than from a consciousness of having much to answer for upon that score in this however and every thing else, which I offer or fhall offer to the world, I reft, with a heart much at cafe, upon the protection of the humane and candid, from whom I have received many favours, for which I beg leave to return them thanks

thanks.