DEDICATION TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF SERMONS. To the Church of Christ assembling in Berry-street, London. Christian Friends, dearly beloved in our Lord; IT is in the service of your souls that I have spent thebest period ofmy life ministering the gospel among you. Two and twenty years are now expired since youfirst calledme to this delightfulwork ; from that time my cares and labours, my studies and prayers, have been employed in your behalf. I trust they have been accepted with God, and, through his almightyblessing, have obtained some success. As to their acceptance with you, I have too many and plain evidences to admit a doubt of it ; which I haveoften thankfullyac- knowledged to God and you. Yourforward kindness hath always forbid my request, nor do I remember that you ever gave me leave to ask any thing for myself at your hands, by your constant anticipation of all that I could rea- sonably desire. While I was thus walking among you in the fellowshipofthe gospel with mutual delight, God was pleased to weaken my strength in the way, and thereby has given you a fairer opportunity toshew the vigour of your affec- tion under my long weakness and confinement. Your diligence and zeal in maintainingpublic worship in the church, under the pastoral care of my dear brother and colleague*, in your special days and hours of prayer for my recovery, your constant and fervent addresses to the throne of graceon my - account in your weeklysolemn assemblies, and' your cheerful supply of my necessities under so tediousan affliction, have made me your debtor in a high degree, and have strengthened thebands of myduty, by adding to them the bands of your love. As sòon as I was capable of the smallest attempt of service, youreceived me with all joy in the Lord : And though we were rivals inthis pleasure, yet youwill allow that my joywas, at least equal to yours ; for I think I can pro- nounce it with great sincerity, that " there is no place, nor company, nor em- ployruent, on this side heaven, that can give me such a relish of delight, as when I stand ministering holy things in themidst of you." 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 my present laboursamong you ;, and yet what days of faintness I gene- rally feel after every such attempt : So that 1 am continually prevented in my design of successivevisits to you, by the wantof active spirits while I tarry in * Mr. Samuel Price.
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