an advantage which they could not have, in any great degree, when attending the regular services at church. In this arrangement, the Author, with very great pleasure, took a part; and as several of his friends, from time to time, expressed their opinion that his little Lectures were not ill-adapted to the proposed object, and might, perhaps, if more generally known, be useful to other Sunday-school children; he has acted on the recommendation of a highly valued friend, (by whose kind and judicious advice, he has many, many times been beneficially directed), and sent them to the press. It may, perhaps, be necessary to assign some reason for the frequent introduction of Anecdotes and Poetry into the Sermons. With regard to the use of Anecdotes, in illustrating religious truth, it may be sufficient to quote the opinion of a late eminent writer, who was an accurate observer of the operations of the youthful mind, and therefore on such a subject no unworthy authority," Stories, he observes, fix children's attention. The moment I begin to talk in any thing like an abstract manner, the attention subsides. The simplest manner in the world will not make way to children's minds for abstract truths. With stories I find I could rivet their attention for two or three hours." If, however, the Author's true reason for adopting such a mode of illustration be given, it isthat his own earliest recollections of Divine truth are associated with striking Anecdotes. No religious instruction was impressed so effectually on his own mind in childhood, as that, which his first and kindest instructor-the Parent whom he reverences and loves, concluded with a story. - A word as to the Poetry. Dr. Watts's Hymns are used in the Sunday-schools, and in one Sermon, the Author acci dentally quoted a stanza or two from one of them, and was delighted to see that they immediately caught the attention of his little audience, for he observed that several of the children followed him in repeating this circumstance induced him to quote from them more frequently, and he has been pleased in finding that the words, "as your beautiful little hymn teaches you," have never failed to call back the wandering attention of his young hearers. The Author only adds his earnest hope and prayer, that his little volume may, through the Divine blessing, be useful to the rising generation. Beverley, 30th May, 1832. Note. As the sermons were not numbered when they were sent to the press, they are not printed in the order in which they were preached; this will account for the references in Sermon VI. and others, to some of those which follow them. CONTENTS. PAGE |