dearest affections: and with well-founded confidence in the Giver of all good, do her future subjects anticipate from her mild sway of the sceptre of her ancestors, the fullest reward of your Royal Highness's maternal care and solicitude.

I have the honour to subscribe myself,

With profound respect,

Your Royal Highness's

Most obliged and devoted servant,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFA СЕ.

THE following pages owe their existence to no precipitate desire on the part of the Author, to obtrude them on public observation. By not a few of his Subscribers, it will at once be remembered, that he has repeatedly shrunk from an undertaking so very responsible, as that of committing his pulpit efforts to the press, when urged to it by them with the most obliging and affectionate earnestness. And indeed, did he consult only his own apprehensions, he might still have doubted whether he ought not to withhold from the general eye compositions which cannot, in the utmost, have more than very limited claims to general approval or attention. At their renewed suggestions, however, he has

been led, on the other hand, to fear that he might incur an imputation of a certain kind of self-indulgence, were he to remain any longer unmoved by their united impressions and wishes. In yielding to their judgment, he will be truly happy to find others pronouncing that judgment to have been swayed by more than the partialities of their generous and valued friendship, and that man's eternal interests are even in the slightest degree herein aided or promoted. Most amply rewarded will he be, on learning that the purpose with which he sends forth his humble labours in their present form, is at all answered, that the blessed God is honoured, the sincere Believer edified, and the thoughtless Worldling awakened. For the many imperfections in the service of his crucified Master, which will here be but too visible to the experienced and spiritual reader, he confidently hopes for that forgiveness, which, in the retirement of his closet, he has daily occasion to entreat at the Throne of grace.

At the same time, he takes encouragement and comfort, from the assurance that every such reader will give him the benefit of his prayers, and will especially supplicate that, to some of

his fellow sinners, this volume, though so poor an instrument, may be permitted and privileged to speak with persuasion and effect of "the things that belong unto their peace."

Ramsgate, May, 1836.