ORVILLE DEWEY, D.D.

OR OF THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK:

RANCIS & CO., 252 BROADWAY.

BOSTON:

H. FRANCIS, 128 WASHINGTON-STREET

1852.

tke.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846.

BY C. S. FRANCIS & CO.

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New Yor

PRINTED BY MUNROE AND FRANCIS,

BO3TON...

PREFACE.

I HAVE collected into these Volumes, most of the Sermons and Essays that have been published with my name; and have added some Sermons not before printed, together with Articles from Reviews, and Occasional Discourses. A new arrangement is made, in order to bring the Discourses under certain heads. The title of the Volume first published, "Discourses on Various Subjects," is dropped. The first Series in this Edition, "On Human Nature," embraces several of those Discourses; others are omitted; and others, placed under another Head. Discourses on "Human Life," follow; and then, a number of Discourses, for which I could find no more definite title than "The Nature of Religion." In the first Sermon of the succeeding series, on "Commerce and Business," I have attempted by a revision of the Argument, to reply to an objection sometimes urged against its main doctrine, with regard to the use of superior knowledge, power or opportunity. I have met with those who argued thus: "We have a right to take every advantage of each other; it is perfectly honest to do so, because we have agreed to do so. It is a matter of compact, whose chances and risks we mutually agree to take." Now I maintain that the general moral policy of

trade foroias such compact. The remainder of the Se Volume is occupied by a Miscellaneous Collection of courses on Politics and Society, and by reprints of Revi and Occasional Sermons and Addresses. The Third lume, or the one which is to occupy that place in the I tion, is already published—as it has been some time out print, and was called for-under the title of " Discour and Reviews upon Questions in Controversial Theology a Practical Religion." My apology for these details is, tl they seemed to be necessary to explain to those who ha purchased my publications, the character of the prese Edition.

Let me add, that no attempt is made at a full discussi of any of the subjects embraced in these Volumes. I su pose that a Treatise is not usually expected in a Volum of Sermons. Pulpit Discourses are, from the nature of th case, more like separate Essays, than successive portion of a regular Treatise.

I have now said all that is necessary, perhaps, in a Pre face; and yet, in sending forth a revised Edition of my Publications, I am disposed to add one or two remarks.

I have sometimes regretted that it has been my fortune to communicate with the Public through Sermons. I doubt whether there is any one vehicle of communication-Art, Literature, Poetry, Fiction, the Journal, or the Newspaper -in the way of which public opinion has thrown so many obstructions and difficulties. In the first place, it has laid a jealous restriction upon the topics of the Sermon, the style, the modes of illustration-the whole manly freedom of utterance. In the next place, having thus helped to make it tame and common-place, it has branded what is partly its own work, with that fatal epithet, dull. In fact,

on, the printed Sermon, has scarcely any recogce among the great and noble arts of expression nication. It is not appreciated as such. It has imulus either of praise or blame from any high Literary Criticism.

t say, I am far from saying, that all this is the e public, or of public opinion. It is the fault of ner rather; it is the error essentially of our relias and feelings. In this view I know of no more fact connected with the history of Christianity that the Sermon should in all ages have been prolull. I confess that I am stung to indignation and the bitter taunt implied in it, and would willingly my hands all the disabilities and difficulties of of communication, if I could give the feeblest deon, that it is not altogether deserved. The Essay, says: Might not all the Sermon-books in the anguage, after the exception of three or four dozen be committed to the fire without any cause of ream not bold enough to expect that these volumes ould escape the doom; it would be a solace to me believe, that they might stimulate others to do d that, from their ashes, something should arise, d be worthy to live.

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