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PREFACE
TO
THIS
EDITION.
elegance
the
philosopher
for
their argument
and
;the
saint
for
their piety."
It
is
not
easy to
do
justice
to the,
character
of
the
Doctor
as a
practical
writer. Without
the affectation
of
learning,
_eloquence,
or
novelty; his
discourses
are
always judicious, beautiful,
and
new.
The
matter
of
them is sweetly evangelical
and
experimental.
While
they
address
the
judgment
they
speak also to
the
heart;
and
while
the language-
is
singularly
perspicuous
and
simple,
it
is
enriched with the
most
natural
and striking
illustrations,'
which
are
never
mean,
though
borrowed
from
the
most
familiar
objects.
But
if
on
any
topic he
peculiarly
excels,
it
is
in
addressing
the
afflicted
and
dis-
consolate
christian,
to
whom he opens
the exhaustless
stores;
of
evangelical'
consolation
;
while
from
the most
cogent
motives
he
urges
to
universal
holiness
and
benevo-
lence.
The eloquent
Dr.
KNox
having
occasion,
in his
Christian
Philosophy,
to
quote
a passage
from
our
Author's
Sermons, in which
he says,
"
the
reader will
.find
a'great
deal
of
truly
evangelical
instruction,"
gives
the
following
'eulogy
on
the
preacher
:
"
Ike
was
not
only
a'
devout
'and zealous
Christian, but a profound
scholar,
a
natural
philosopher,
a
logician,
and
a
meta
-
physician.
His
life
and
conversation exhibited 'a
pattern
of
every
Christian virtue.
For
my own
part,
(adds the
Dr'
.)
I
cannot
but
think`
this
good man approached
as
nearly
to
Christian
perfection,
as
any
mortal
ever did
in
this sublunary
state ;
and therefore
I
consider
him
as
a
better interpreter
of
the
Christian
doctrines than
the
most
learned critics,
who,
proud
of
their
reason
and
their
learning,
neglected the very life
and soul
of
Christianity,
the
living everlasting
gospel,
the
superna-
tural
operation
of
divine
grace."