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GEORGE HORNE, D.D.

Late Lord Brishop of Norwich)

Publifhd Nov 15. 1793, by G.G. & J. Robinson, Paternoster Row

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AND G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, T. CADELL, AND

F. AND C. RIVINGTON, LONDON.

M.DCC.XCIII.

PREFACE.

AVING been prevented, for a time,

HAV

by the discharge of a laborious, but highly honourable office, from performing the more immediate duties of my profeffion, I was yet defirous, that I might not seem to lose the clergyman in the magiftrate, of still continuing to do something towards promoting the great end and purpofe of life. And though the frequent returns of bufinefs gave little hopes of compofing fresh difcourfes, it's intervals, I thought, might fuffice to digeft and publish fome, which had been already composed.

This form of publication is generally fuppofed lefs advantageous, at present, than any other. other. But it But it may be queftioned, whether the fuppofition does juftice to the age, when we confider only the refpect which has fo recently been paid to the fermons of

VOL. I.

a

the

the learned and elegant Dr. BLAIR. And greater respect cannot be paid them, than they deserve.

The multitude of old fermons affords no argument against the publication of new ones; fince new ones will be read, when old ones are neglected; and almost all mankind are, in this respect, Athenians.

Befides, there is a tafte in moral and religious, as well as in other compofitions, which varies in different ages, and may very lawfully and innocently be indulged. Thousands received inftruction and confolation formerly from fermons, which would not now be endured. The preachers of them served their generation, and are bleffed for evermore. But because provision was made for the wants of the last century in one way, there is no reason why it should not be made for the wants of this, in another. The next will behold a fet of writers

of

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