BIRMINGHAM:

PRINTED BY T. KNOTT, JUN.

B

OTHE

ΤΟ

THE CONGREGATION

ATTENDING THE SUNDAY MORNING LECTURE AT

THE CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS,

GLOUCESTER.

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

WHEN I quitted Gloucester at

Christmas last, a wish was expressed that I should leave behind me some memorial of my public ministry among you. Deference to the judgment of those whom I respected and loved, induced me to consult their feelings rather than my own; and I determined to employ the first moments of leisure after my removal to this place in preparing for the press a few of the Sermons which had in substance been ad

dressed to you. The constant pressure of multiplied engagements has prevented the earlier fulfilment of my purpose, and, at the same time, obliged me to deviate considerably from the plan I at first marked out for its execution. The following discourses are now presented to you, not without a painful sense of their unworthiness to meet either the public eye or that of those kind friends for whom

they were primarily intended. I trust, however, the attempt, imperfect as it is, to comply with the wishes of my former hearers, will be accepted as an assurance of the affectionate regard I bear them, and of my undiminished concern for their spiritual welfare. I entreat your prayers that the Great Head of the Church may vouchsafe to pardon what is amiss in this little volume, and to overrule that which may be agreeable to His Will to the furtherance of His own glory, and the present and eternal happiness of all into whose hands it may come.

Humbly beseeching God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bless you with all spiritual blessings in Him,

I remain, my dear Friends,

Your faithful and affectionate

Servant in Christ,

GEORGE HODSON.

BIRMINGHAM, October 31, 1825.

CONTENTS.

ERRATA.

PAGE

79, last line of note, dele inverted commas.

95, in note, for John ix. read 2 John 9.

3

122, line 6 from bottom, for mercy common, read misery common.

131,

for Oracle, read Oracles.

2 from top, for furnitures, read furniture.
2 from bottom, for SHALT, read wILL.

149,

166,

....

189, 14 from top, for the, read this.

197,

281,

290,

...

.....

....

12

.............. dele apostrophe.

I............. after loins, insert apostrophes.
3. after throne, insert comma.

300, 3 from bottom, for the success, read its success.

304, 3 from top, for deliverance, read deliverances.

-

ed upon all men, for that all have sinned....
Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment.
came upon all men to condemnation, even so
by the righteousness of one the free gift
came upon all men unto justification of life.
For, as by one man's disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
many be made righteous.

22

they were primarily intended. I trust, how-
ever, the attempt, imperfect as it is, to com-
ply with the wishes of my former hearers, will
be accepted as an assurance of the affection-
ate regard I bear them, and of my undiminish-
ed concern for their spiritual welfare. I entreat
your prayers that the Great Head of the Church
may vouchsafe to pardon what is amiss in this
little volume, and to overrule that which may
be agreeable to His Will to the furtherance of
His own glory, and the present and eternal
happiness of all into whose hands it may come.

Humbly beseeching God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bless you with
all spiritual blessings in Him,

I remain, my dear Friends,

Your faithful and affectionate

Servant in Christ,

GEORGE HODSON.

BIRMINGHAM, October 31, 1825.