A VOLUME OF SERMONS, DESIGNED TO BE USED IN RELIGIOUS MEETINGS, WHEN THERE IS NOT PRESENT A GOSPEL-MINISTER. BY DANIEL A. CLARK, A. M. LATE PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN AMHERST, MASS. "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; but he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully." JER. XXIII. 28. "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle ?" 1 COR. XIV. 8. AMHERST, MASS. PRINTED ANd published BY CARTER AND ADAMS, L. S. District of MASSACHUSETTS, to wit, District Clerk's office. "The BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the Seventeenth day of December A. D. 1825, in the Fiftieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, DANIEL A. CLARK, A. M. of the said District has deposited in this Office the Title of a Book the right whereof he claims as Author in the words following, to wit: A Volume of Sermons, designed to be used in Reigious Meetings, when there is not present a Gospel-Minister. By Daniel A. Clark, A. M. Late Pastor of the first Church in Amherst, Mass. prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; but he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully." Jer. xxiii. 28.-"For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" 1 Cor. xiv. 8. In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an Act entitled "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving_and Etching HisJOHN W. DAVIS. torical and other Prints." Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. PREFACE. THE writer of this volume would say, to those who have encouraged, or may patronize its publication, that it is with great diffidence he has entered upon the work. Whether it is what you wished, or expected, you are now to judge. My hope is that God will make it useful. I feel disposed to take only a low place, among my brethren in the ministry, many of whom have yet committed few or none of their productions to the press, and am not conscious of any governing passion for authorship. Hence it may not be improper to give, in a few words, the history of my views, relative to this volume. I have long believed, that sermons of a distinguishing character, and in a popular dress, having point, and pungency of application, are very much needed in the American churches. Most of the sermons printed are occasional, or if otherwise, being printed singly, and seldom collected into volumes, or extensively circulated, are quite out of reach. They have, on a limited scale, done great good, but most of them, however excellent, are at length consigned to neglect with waste papers. Many excellent volumes too, have been published, and have edified the churches, and helped mature for heaven a multitude of believers; but which from their occasional, metaphysical, or exclusively doctrinal character, are judged unsuitable to be read in evening-meetings, to which so often, even good men, bring a mind, as well as a body, worn down with fatigue; and need, for their edification, some repast that can hold their powers waking. Discourses adapted to such an occasion, which must often be read badly to a dull audience, must have poured into them, all the novelty, vivacity, force, and pungency possible. The truth should be condensed, and the doctrines exhibited in that practical shape, that shall tend to keep, up through every paragraph, a deep and lively interest, (RECAP)} 78327 |
