which signalized the abolition of the African slave-trade; the opening of the East to Christian instruction; the emancipation of Europe from a military usurpation; the wide diffusion of just principles of liberty; the increased attention devoted to moral and political economy, with a view to better the condition of mankind; the modern reviviscence and extension of several societies which had previously existed for the promotion of religious and benevolent objects throughout the world; and the origin and wonderful progress of those more recent Bible and Missionary Institutions which have now taken fast root in every quarter of the globe, all simultaneously operating to hasten on the time when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; the astonishing progress of education under the system of mutual instruction-the vast powers of which were unknown to Europe till long within the period of which we are speaking-and the societies formed to diffuse its benefits throughout the world, and the important results of their exertions: and, besides all this, societies for the conversion of the Jews, societies for promoting virtue and suppressing vice, societies literary and philosophical, mendicity societies, savings banks and friendly societies, anti-slavery societies, PrayerBook and Homily societies, prison discipline societies, church-building societies, colonization societies for the outcasts of Africa, societies for assisting indigent clergymen, societies for improving the condition of the poor-to say nothing of numerous institutions of a more limited kind, which have for their object the relief of various calamities incident to our fallen humanity. Nor is it the least pleasing feature of the events which we have witnessed and recorded, that our own clergy are enlisting themselves in increasing numbers under those Scriptural banners which the Martyrs and Reformers of our church delighted to bear; and that of her laity, also, multitudes, influenced by Christian mo tives, aspire to assist in the general extension of religious knowledge. It is comparatively little, that any particular publication may have been enabled to contribute towards these glorious results; but each has its own circle of influence; and the conductors of the Christian Observer would hope, that a work conseientiously, however feebly, devoted to these objects, could not have been so long continued and so widely circulated without conducing, by the blessing of God, in some humble measure, to the end proposed. Indeed, scarcely a month elapses without their receiving communications, many of them from persons now occupying eminent posts of usefulness in the public eye, which prove that "their labours have not been in vain in the Lord." This is their consolation, and this, it is trusted, will animate them to renewed and persevering exertion. While this Preface is passing through the press, the Editor has received many communications approving of the design of publishing a selection from the Family Sermons, and expressing much interest in the Christian Observer. He has great pleasure in subjoining, with the kind permission of the writers, the two following, from two much esteemed and venerated friends,—Mr. Wilberforce and Mrs. Hannah More. "My dear sir,-I have heard, with very great pleasure, of your intention to collect into a volume a selection of the Sermons dispersed throughout that very valuable periodical, the Christian Observer, thus rescuing from the mass those sound and excellent portions of Divinity, and presenting them to the public in a compendium, which will be a real acquisition to it. The volume will be most acceptable to many of your readers, not only for their own use, but to present to families in which the Christian Observer is hitherto unknown. I have taken this work from the very beginning, and I continue to prize it as highly as I have ever done, and count its now long range of volumes not among the least valuable part of my library. "I am, dear sir, with much esteem, "Yours faithfully, "HANNAH MORE." “My dear sir,—I have heard with great pleasure that you are about to publish a volume of the Sermons that for a long period have constituted each one article in every Number of the Christian Observer; for with such of the sermons as have been read to me (the weakness of my eyes preventing my reading them myself) I have been much pleased. Would you not also extract some other articles from the Christian Observer? I know of no publication of the kind which contains so many of superior merit. The cause I have just specified has, to my regret, rendered me less acquainted with the Christian Observer than I formerly was; but I think so highly of it, and of the many excellent Contributors to it (many of them, alas! friends, that are now no more), that I must rejoice in any circumstance which will be likely to draw it into augmented notice. "Iam, my dear sir, "Yours, very sincerely, 66 W. WILBERFORCE." The great augmentation of the number of the religious charitable societies forbidding the detail of their important transactions, at the length they deserve, in the body of the work, a plan was adopted in 1828 of appending some of the chief documents in full, as published by the societies themselves. This plan has given great satisfaction to all parties. At the mere cost of the paper and print, societies are thus enabled to communicate very widely with the public; many of the readers being their own subscribers, who would never otherwise see their occasional or periodical papers; and others, persons not connected with the society, who thus become interested in its proceedings. The papers are also thus preserved, after being read, and at the end of the year may be bound up by themselves, a title-page being given for the purpose. The documents thus rescued will form an interesting series for future reference. New subscribers wishing to begin with the volumes commencing with these documents (namely, 1828 and 1829), may, for the present, obtain copies complete : but should it ever be necessary to reprint the whole or part of these volumes, the appended papers cannot, of course, be inserted. CONTENTS. SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF SANCTIFIED AFFLICTION. Isai. xxxviii. 16.-O Lord, by these things men live; and in these 1 Kings xiv. 12, 13.-The child shall die; and all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good things towards the CHRIST'S POVERTY THE CHRISTIAN'S RICHES. 2 Cor. viii. 9.-Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye Jer. xxxvii. 1-3.-And king Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, reigned instead of Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar, b |