PREFACE. (TO THE FIRST EDITION.) THE Sermon which gave rife to the publication of thefe, having being offered to the world as a Sermon of Yorick's, I hope the most ferious reader will find nothing to offend him, in my continuing thefe volumes under the fame title: left it should be otherwife, I have added a fecond title-page with the real name of the Author-the firft will ferve the bookfeller's purpose, as Yorick's name is poffibly of the two the more known;and the fecond will eafe the minds of thofe who fee a jeft, and the danger which lurks under it, where no jeft was meant. I fuppofe it is needless to inform the Public, that the reafon of printing thefe Sermons arifes altogether from the favourable reception which the Sermon given as a fample of them in TRISTRAM SHANDY met with from the world;-That Sermon was printed by itfelf fome years ago, but could find neither purchafers nor readers; fo that I apprehended little hazard from a promife I made upon its republication, "That if the "Sermon was liked, thefe fhould be alfo at the world's fervice;" which, to be as good as my word, they here are, and I pray to GOD, they may do it the fervice I wish. I have little to fay in their behalf, except this, that not one of them was compofed with any thoughts of being printed;-they have been haftily written, and carry the marks of it along with them.-This may be no recommendation;-I mean it however as fuch; for as the Sermons turn chiefly upon philanthropy, and thofe kindred virtues to it, upon which hang all the law and the prophets, I trust they will be no lefs felt, or worfe received, for the evidence they bear, of proceeding more from the heart than the head. I have nothing to add, but that the reader, upon old and beaten fubjects, muft not look for many new thoughts 'tis well if he has new language in three or four paffages; where he has neither the one nor the other, I have quoted the author I made free with.-There are fome other paffages where I fufpect I may have taken the fame liberty, but 'tis only fufpicion, for I do not remember it is fo, otherwife I fhould have reftored them to their proper owners; fo that I put in here more as a general faving than from a confcioufnefs of having much to answer for upon that score. In. this however, and every thing elfe which I offer or fhall offer to the world, I reft, with a heart much at:eafe, upon the protection of the humane and candid, from whom I have received many favours, for which I beg leave to return them thanks-thanks. CONTENTS. There be many that fay, Who will fhew us any good?- Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Which now of thefe three, thinkeft thou, was neighbour unto him that fell amongst the thieves? And he faid, 1 returned, and faw under the fun, that the race is not to the fwift, nor the battle to the strong-neither yet bread to the wife, nor yet riches to men of underftanding, nor If any man among you feem to be religious, and bridleth And when Jofeph's brethren faw that their father was dead, they faid, Jofeph will peradventure hate us, and will cer- And he faid unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou haft been careful for us with all this care;-what is to be done for thee?wouldft thou be spoken for to the king, The ox knoweth his owner, and the afs his master's crib; |