In Sermons published on this principle, the reader must not expect any laboured accuracy either of style or statement. For the language is best fitted for its purpose, in proportion as it approaches to the simplicity, without risking the irreverent familiarity, attaching to extemporary address. And the positions are purposely urged, in imitation of our inspired patterns, with such anxiety to enforce the point immediately in hand, as leaves it to the reader to supply all obvious and necessary qualifications. The references to local peculiarities are retained, with a view to the greater usefulness of the volume in the writer's own parish and neighbourhood. What little explanation these require will be found in the following remarks, and in the papers contained in the Appendix.

Sermon II. was preached soon after the opening of the new parish church, of which an account is given afterwards in connexion with Sermon XVI.

Sermon III. was preached on a new year's day. This accounts for the expressions in page 50.

Sermon VI. page 98. The case here described, and throughout the volume often alluded to, is common to many parishes, in which the numbers of the people have rapidly outgrown the means of edification provided by the Church. In Sedgley, till within these few years, for a population fast approaching to twenty thousand, there was but one resident minister, and a church that might accommodate about four hundred persons. There are now three churches, with room for four

thousand; and four resident clergymen. Whilst of other places of worship there are for Romans two, Presbyterians one, Independents two, Baptists three, Wesleyan Methodists four, Primitive Methodists two. And the numbers who regularly attend these chapels may be about equal to those who frequent the church. Whilst many, indifferent to distinctions of creed, attend occasionally at either, according to the hour, the weather, or the popularity of the expected preacher. And many more, probably one half of the adults, attend habitually no where at all. See Appendix, No. X.

Sermon IX. page 147. The parish of Sedgley abounds in coal, ironstone, and limestone; and the manufacture of iron is carried on to a large extent in all its branches. The smoke, and other circumstances connected with mining and manufacturing, account easily for the nonresidence of many of the principal proprietors. In this absence of parties who should make it their chief business to better the condition of the poor, and in the dearth of any adequate provision of pastoral superintendence, the offences in this passage reproved have grown to a more than ordinary height. The "repairs against the morrow," page 149, furnish a curious instance of refinement in Sabbath breaking. Though the larger furnaces are kept at work during the Sunday, which is said to be a case of necessity, the smaller fires are for the most part on that day put out. But the occasion is often taken for repairs in the brickwork, which being exposed to the action of fire is of course very frequently out of order.

In a

parish thus circumstanced, the exhortation on the poor laws, page 150, is much needed. An attempt has been lately made to obviate some of their defects by the institution of a visiting society. See Appendix, No. V. The Clothing Club, in connexion with the Schools, has been found to be an useful appendage. See No. VI.

Sermons XI, XII, on the important subject of Christian politics, were preached during the late times of political excitement. They are designed at once to uphold the due authority of government, and to rebut the offensive objection, current against the ministers of religion, that they are opposed to the progress of liberty. In a matter where party spirit so grievously prevails, no man can expect to give universal satisfaction. But the prevalence of this evil spirit makes it so much the more the duty of the Clergy to enforce Christian principles in political conduct. When in politics there shall be no need of honesty and integrity, of justice, mercy, and truth, then, and not till then, it may be safely admitted, that religion has nothing to do with politics.

Sermon XI. was published as a separate tract, at the close of the year 1830; and seconded by the circulation of a paper on machine-breaking. See Appendix, No. VIII.

Sermon XIII. was preached on the putting up a new church clock. This accounts for expressions in pages 210, 225.

Sermons XIV, XV. The profanation of the sabbath is a sure consequence of the state of things mentioned in connexion with Sermon IX. It occupies therefore a prominent place through

out the volume. Drunkenness is another sin of frequent mention in these Sermons, because of frequent occurrence in this parish; and that, especially on the sabbath day. The ordinary temptations to tippling are here aggravated by the enormous number of public houses, by the practice of paying wages at these scenes of revelry, and by the defective constitution of the common Friendly Societies. See Appendix,

No. IX.

Sermon XVI. This Sermon was preached at the opening of Sedgley Church, on Monday, July 6, 1829. This beautiful gothic edifice, having cost above ten thousand pounds, was presented to the parish by the patron, the Earl of Dudley; who has also lately erected spacious schools; repaired, or rather renewed, and enlarged, the Vicarage house; augmented the Vicarage; and handsomely endowed the Commissioners' Church at Coseley, to which, besides furnishing a very valuable site, he has appropriated the subscriptions originally raised for rebuilding the parish church. See Appendix, No. X.

Sermon XVIII, page 297. One of the cases of variance here alluded to, was the scandalous disunion in the Bible Society; a convulsion, to which from its discordant elements, such a Society is obviously liable. The other case, was the disturbance which prevailed throughout the mining district of the south of Staffordshire, at the close of the year 1831.

Sermon XIX. was preached on the Wake Sunday. This accounts for expressions in pages 314, 317. At this season, and on other occasions, bull-baiting is still practised in this

parish and neighbourhood, chiefly as an allurement to some neighbouring public house.

Sermon XX. page 338. These remarks, and some others which occur in this volume, relating to the apprehended visitation of the Cholera, were seconded by the circulation of a tract, which will be found in the Appendix, No. IV.

Appendix, No. VII. is designed for the cover of Savings' Bank Books. No. XI. is added in order to correct the false representations which have been made in the parish as to the value of the Living. No. XII. illustrates many of the others. Of the rest some account has been already given.

In conclusion, the Writer must thankfully acknowledge, that besides the munificence already recorded in the patron, he has experienced both in the resident parishioners, and in the proprietors whose absence he regrets, a readiness to contribute according to their ability to the various parochial improvements. And, in a volume which he hopes many of them will look into, he is glad to take the occasion to express his hope, that they will continue to be cordially united, in the supply of what yet is lacking, and the amendment of what yet is wrong.