unto their sincerity in this act of religious worship, the object in view, by giving publicity unto it, is gained. N. B. To accommodate subscribers, as the number of subscriptions are expected to be sufficient to defray expenses, the prices will be as follows: For each copy stitched, 62 1-2 cents; in boards 68 1-2 cents; bound and lettered 75 cents. PREFACE. THE following Sermons were at first intended solely for the instruction and direction of the congregation with which the author is immediately connected; but as they were not without their use there, in clearing up the duty of covenanting, recommended in them, to different persons who had been formerly labouring under difficulties concerning it, this has been an inducement to him to lay them before the public, in hopes that they may not be altogether unprofitable to others. It is from no delight in controversy that he now presents the public with these few Sermons on a controverted point; but from a firm persuasion of the importance of the subject, and of the religious world standing in great need of genuine information concerning it; and this information, he hopes, he has been enabled to give, both in scriptural manner and with a christian spirit. The world has been already favoured with several valuable publications on this subject, which, if they were generally known and perused, might in a great measure supersede the necessity of that here laid before it. But these are now comparatively but in very few hands, and, so far as is known, none of them are on such an extensive plan as the present. Besides, the spiritual and evangelical nature of the duty has not always been so uniformly kept in view in some of them, as could have been wished; and in almost the whole, the important ends to be served by it have been greatly overlooked. Add to all this, that a new publication on any subject will often excite attention to it, while a book written some time ago, will scarcely ever be either called for, or perused. The notes that sometimes appear at the bottom of the page, are not adduced with any design to augment the flame of controversy, or to cherish a spirit of litigation among brethren, of which we have already had more than enough; but for the purpose of correct ing some misrepresentations, and wiping off some aspersions cast upon that religious body with which the writer stands connected. He, in his manner of writing, makes no pretensions to elegance, nor has he, in transcribing these Sermons for the press, affected ornament of any kind, but sends them forth in the same plain and familiar style in which they were delivered in the pulpit, and which he has always considered as best calculated for the instruction and edification of common hearers. The author has no expectation that these Sermons are ever to be read, or sought after, by the far greater part of those who stand most in need of instruction about the duty here recommended. He knows the taste of the times too well, to hope that any thing, either on such a subject, or coming from such a quarter, will obtain an attentive perusal from many of the readers of the present day. Prejudice and party-spirit run too high for this. The very title of the book will with many decide its fate, and determine them nevez to look into it. It is almost only from Seceders that he can expect a patient hearing; and to them he would in a special manner recommend the subject, as constituting an important branch of their own religious profession. Their instruction and edification is what he has mainly in view; and if these Sermons shall, through the divine blessing, prove the mean of removing the difficulties that any of them may be under with respect to the duty therein recommended, of giving them a more clear and scriptural view of its nature and warrantableness, of assisting them in the defence of it when attacked by its adversaries, of quickening their zeal in its behalf, and of exciting them to, and directing them in the performance of it, the end of their transcription and publication is in a great measure gained. That such may be the effect of them, is the desire and prayer of CUPAR-ANGUS, ALEXR. ALLAN. |