PARRY & M°MILLAN,

SUCCESSORS TO A. HART LATE CAREY & HART.

P

ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by

ALBERT BARNES,

in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the Eastern District of

Pennsylvania.

STEREOTYPED BY JOHNSON & CO
PHILADELPHIA.

Printed by T. K & P. G Collins

PREFACE.

THE title of this volume sufficiently indicates its design. It is published, because it is supposed that there is a want of such sermons constantly occurring. There are numerous congregations in this country, which, unhappily, have not the regular preaching of the gospel, and in which, in order to maintain public worship, it is necessary to make use of printed sermons. It is not supposed

that these are better sermons than have before
been published for such an object, but that there
might be an advantage in having a greater variety;
and that an interest might exist in behalf of those
recently published which could not be excited for
even a better volume that has been frequently pe-
rused.
There are not a few families, also, it is
supposed, which would be interested in a volume
of sermons, and in which, it is hoped, good might
be done by their perusal.

WOR 20JUN 3 4.

3

The discourses in this volume are wholly practical. They were intended to be such as would be adapted to impress on the mind the importance and necessity of personal religion, and to urge the necessity of a holy life, as the first great duty of man. There are no sermons in the volume which professedly discuss the doctrines of Christianity; and no sentiments are intended to be advanced which would offend evangelical Christians of any denomination. The appeals, illustrations, and arguments to a holy life, are based on the supposition of the truth of the evangelical doctrines; but it was no part of the plan to discuss those doctrines, or to make them prominent. I may be permitted, perhaps, to say, in justice to myself, that, my usual manner of preaching to my own congregation is much more doctrinal in its character than the perusal of these sermons might lead a reader to suppose. These are intentionally selected for their practical character.

ALBERT BARNES.