SERMONS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS: BY THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, M. A., SOMETIME FELLOW OF LINCOLN-COLLEGE, oxford. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY J. KERSHAW, 1825. ADVERTISEMENT ΤΟ THE PRESENT EDITION. THE two Volumes now before the reader, it is presumed, contain all the Sermons that have ever been published in Mr. Wesley's name, either by himself, or by those persons who had access to his Papers after his decease. In the first Volume are comprised all the Sermons that were published in four volumes in the duodecimo size, in the year 1771, to which reference is made in the Trust-Deeds of the Methodist Chapels, as containing, with Mr. Wesley's Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, the standard doctrines of the religious Connexion, of which that eminent man was the Founder. It is to these Sermons, that the general Preface, which immediately succeeds this Advertisement, properly belongs. The second Volume commences with five Discourses, that were published by Mr. Wesley in a separate form, and that do not appear to have been embodied, during his life-time, in any of those Collections of Sermons with which he favoured the Christian world. Among these Discourses will be found two of peculiar interest. One of them relates to the work of God in North-America. It bears the date of 1778; but was reprinted about twenty years afterwards, with a few alterations. The other Discourse is on the subject of Earthquakes. It was first published in 1750; in all probability within a few weeks of the memorable eighth day of March in that year, on which the shock of an earthquake was strongly felt in the Metropolis of Great Britain, and excited general consternation and alarm. Although this impressive Sermon was published anonymously, no doubt can be entertained as to its being the production of Mr.Wesley's pen. The sentiments and manner are purely Wesleyan; and it is also advertised for sale, among his other single Sermons, in several of Mr. Wesley's old catalogues. Both these Sermons have long been extremely rare; and were overlooked by the late Editor of Mr. Wesley's Works in sixteen octavo Volumes. The fifty-five Discourses which immediately succeed those just mentioned, first appeared in the Arminian Magazine; they were afterwards revised by Mr. Wesley, and published in four duodecimo. |