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النشر الإلكتروني

TWENTY-ONE

DISCOURSES,

DELIVERED IN

THE PARISH CHURCH OF WROCKWARDINE,

IN THE COUNTY OF SALOP.

BY THE AUTHOR

OF

"A MONUMENT OF PARENTAL AFFECTION TO A DEAR AND

ONLY SON."

LONDON:

JOHN HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY.

1827.

498.

LONDON:

IBOISON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY STREET, STRAND.

ΤΟ

ANNA MARIA,

THE

UNIVERSALLY ESTEEMED AND TRULY EXCELLENT LADY OF

WILLIAM CLUDDE, Esq,

OF ORLETON, IN THE COUNTY OF SALOP.

DEAR AND HONOURED MADAM,

AFTER publishing a few discourses about eight years ago, there appeared not the slightest probability that any addition would ever be made to their number. Contrary, however, to all reasonable expectation, I now present myself to your notice with a second volume in my hand, which I would fain send abroad under your favourable countenance.

It must be confessed that, shortly after the appearance of my first volume, I became more remiss than usual in committing my sermon-notes to the flames; not indeed with any view to their future publication, but rather for the less creditable purpose of making some further use of them in my public addresses. Such were my intentions, when it pleased the allwise God to disqualify me for all my official duties, by the sudden infliction of a dangerous and distressing disease.

In the progress of my complaint, and after I had suffered several months under its debilitating influence, my thoughts were accidentally directed to certain little manuscript sketches which lay confusedly scattered about the drawer of my desk. My first impression on the sight of them, was this; that, while I still retained the power of disposing of them, it would be prudent to destroy them without hesitation: this, however, was presently succeeded by a de

sire previously to acquaint myself with their contents. This therefore I immediately essayed to do but before my review had extended to the amount of twenty lines, I found myself under the necessity of abandoning the task as altogether insuperable. After an interval of several weeks, I repeated the trial, but with no better success: when I contented myself with giving a strict and solemn order for the annihilation of all these papers, on my decease. At the distance, perhaps, of two months from this period, my desire to look over these small MSS. was so ardently rekindled, as to engage me in a third attempt for that purpose, which succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations. I was now enabled, not only to peruse these little packets, but even to fill those numerous chasms in them, which had been originally left with the design of affording more scope to my feelings at the time of their delivery.

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