D N34M DEDICATION OF VOL. II. TO THE REVEREND DR. HARMS, FIRST PREACHER IN THE CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS AT KIEL, I RECOLLECT that when I had the pleasure of seeing you some years ago, you expressed to me—what very probably you have long since forgotten-your sympathy with this undertaking for the general cause of Christianity, and even remonstrated with me for not carrying it on. If anything whatever, certainly such language from your lips-the lips of such a witness and combatant for the cause of Christ-would be an incentive to me. I would gladly have saluted you with it on your jubilee, in which with so many others I took a cordial interest; but as this was not possible, I beg you to accept, with your accustomed kindness, this volume, which contains a continuation of the sketches, as a supplementary gift, and as a small token of the sincere respect and love with which the author calls himself Yours, A. NEANDER Berlin, August 15, 1846. PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME. I NOW publish the Second Volume of my Sketches from the History of the Christian Life, which are taken from the same point of view as the first. Those which relate to the missionary history of the Middle Ages, closing with Raimund Lull, appear to form a small finished whole by themselves, on which account I have not extended this part any further. In this, as in the former volume, I have given only the results of my studies in reference to the Christian life, without anything which in itself can claim the attention of scholars or give it, a scientific value. May the Lord accompany with his blessing these testimonies to that which, coming from above and raised above the changes of time, directs our looks above-these records of the motions of His Spirit in the lives of believers as manifested amidst all the distractions of humanity, which point to the source of the stream that flows through all ages! The profits of this volume are devoted to the object so dear to my heart, mentioned in the Preface to the first-the benefit of the Society of Students called after my name, for the support and relief of their sick and indigent associates. I mention this in order to add, that if any reader should, in consequence of this statement, be disposed to contribute to this object, I shall gratefully receive every gift of love. My dear and respected colleague, Counsellor Lichtenstein (to whom we are deeply indebted for the care with which he manages the financial concerns of the Society), has also expressed his willingness to receive contributions for the same object, in consequence of the kindly interest he takes in it. In conclusion, I heartily thank my dear young friend, Mr. Schneider, for the attention he has paid to everything connected with the correction and printing of the work. It will gratify, I hope, not a few readers that Mr. Schneider has again taken the trouble to copy some select original passages. Berlin, August 15, 1846. A. NEANDER. NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR. The work now translated originally appeared in three volumes, Berlin, 1822; a second edition was published in 1825-1827; a third edition of Vol. I. was published at Hamburgh in 1845, and of Vol. II. in the following year. |