DEDICATION TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF SERMONS. 1,111/111. TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ASSEMBLING IN BERRY-STREET, LONDON. Christian Friends, dearly beloved in our Lord, IT is in the service ofyour souls that Ihave spent the best period ofmy life ministering thegospel among you. Two and twentyyears are now ex- pired, since you first called me to this delightfulwork; and from that timò nay cares and labours, my studies andprayers, have been employed in your behalf. I trust they have been accepted with God, and, through his al- mighty blessing, have obtained some success. As to their acceptance with you, Ihave too many and plain evidences to admit a doubt of it ; which I have often thankfully acknowledged to God and you. Your forward kindness bath always forbid my requests, nor do I remember that you ever gave me leave to ask auy thing for myself at your hands, by your con- stant anticipation of all that .1 could reasonably desire. While I was thus walking among, you in the fellowship of the gospel with mutual delight, God was pleased to weaken my strength in the way, and thereby has given you á fairer opportunity to show the vigour of your affection under my long weaknessand confinement. Your diligence and zeal in maintaining public worship in the church, under the pastoral care of my dear brother and colleague*, your special days and hours of prayer for my recovery, your constant and fervent addresses to the throne ofgrace on my account, in your weekly solemn assemblies, and your chearfulsupply of my necessities under so tedious an affliction, have made me your debtor in a high degree, and have strengthened the bands of my duty, by adding to them the bands of your love. As soon as I was capable of the smallest attempt of service, you re ceived me with all joy in the Lord: And though we Were rivals in this pleasure, yet" you will allow that my joywas, at least equal to yours; for I, think I can pronounce it with great sincerity, that " there is no place, nor company, nor employment, on this side heaven, that can give mesuch a relish of delight, as(when I stand ministering holy things in the mickt ofyou." As fast as my health increases, you may assure yourselves it is devoted to your edification. It often grieves me to think how poor, feeble, and short, are mypresent labours among you ; and yet what days offaintness Igenerallyfeel after every such attempt : So that I am continuallyprevented in my design of successive visits toyou, by the want of active spirits while I tarry in the city; and if I attempt to stay but a week or ten days there, I find a sensible return of weakness; so that I am constrained to retire to the ,ebuntry-air, in order to recruit and maintain this little capacity ofservice. I bless God heartily, and you are my witnesses; that inmy better seasons of health heretofore, and in the intervals ofmy studies, Iwas not a stranger to your private families, nor thoughtless of your souls' improvement. What shall I do now to make up these defects ? What can I do more pleasing and profitable toyou, than to seize the advantages of my retirement, * Mr. Samuel Price. a
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