SERMONS BY ADOLPHE MONOD, PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AT MONTAUBAN. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, BY THE REV. WILLIAM HICKEY, M. A., RECTOR OF MULRANKIN, DIOCESE OF FERNS, IRELAND. LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS-STREET. BIBL PREFACEЕ. THE following translation embraces several of the published discourses of M. Adolphe Monod, who deservedly occupies so distinguished a position in the Reformed Church of France. When he undertook to prepare them for the English reader, the translator was not insensible to the difficulties of the work. He could not hope to transfer all the eloquence and force of the original compositions to his translation, and much of their beauty must, therefore, be sacrificed. Still, however, he is encouraged to think that his humble task, though imperfectly executed, will not be altogether fruitless, and that even in their present enfeebled form, "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" may so pervade these discourses, that they may direct the thoughts of those who shall read them towards "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world." Acuteness of reasoning, with a very vigorous and original style, have rendered M. Monod a remarkably effective preacher of the Gospel in France, where the Evangelical purity of his doctrines shines brightly in its contrast with the Socinian principles and Rationalism, which have so deeply tainted the Protestant Churches on the Continent. It was not until after he had completed his version of "Dieu est Amour," (1 John iv. 8,) that the translator became aware of its having already appeared in an English garb. Had he been before acquainted with the eloquent and faithful translation in which Mr. Charlesworth has produced it, the version which is given in this volume would not have been inserted among the other Sermons. The recently published Sermons of M. Monod entitled, "La Femme," have not been included because they have been already translated and published. Those admirable ones entitled, "L'Ami de l'Argent," (on Luke xii. 15,) and "Le Geolier de Philippes," (Acts xvi. 22-24,) have been omitted from the present volume, because the translator was unwilling to increase its limits to an expensive and inconvenient size. JANUARY, 1849. |