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of the hearers. But single sermons, unless there be some popular name, or some subject of immediate interest, to support them, mostly fall stillborn from the press: whereas even straws, when bound together, acquire some degree of strength. Three of them, having been designed for the students of the University, are akin to those which precede them, in the topics and mode of argument, and would be equally unfit for other congregations. That on Selfsacrifice, preacht in Trinity College Chapel at the Annual Commemoration, was to have been printed at the time, agreeably to a practice which had then prevailed for several years in the College, and which, it is desirable, should be preserved. For the preacher on such occasions is naturally led to speak of those questions, whether practical or speculative, which are exciting discussion in the University and he will often introduce some tribute to the members of our body who have recently past away: so that a collection of such sermons, in addition to what other merit they might have, would be interesting as a historical record. But as I had exprest strong disapprobation of the system of Moral Philosophy, which had for many years been sanctioned by the authority of the University, I felt it would be requisite to point out its falsehood and its mischievous tendency more in detail, either in a preface or appendix. Circumstances prevented my doing so for some months; and then, as each day brings its own task, that of the past was left incomplete. At present such a

commentary is no longer needed for several of the most distinguisht members of our College have since pronounced a like sentence of condemnation against the Utilitarian Ethics. Mr Evans has done so in his Church of God; Professor Sedgwick in his Discourse on the Studies of the University; and Professor Whewell in his Sermons on the Foundations of Morals. One of the highest honours I have ever received was the Dedication of those Sermons, where my admirable friend calls me his forerunner, referring to this Sermon on Selfsacrifice. This has determined me to publish it; and greatly should I rejoice, if it might afford him the slightest help in the grand work he has undertaken. It is a hearty satisfaction to think that, after a sleep of half a century, into which the study of Moral Philosophy fell at Cambridge, from the deadening influence of the authorized system, it is now reviving under his auspices. May the mind, which has compast the whole circle of physical science, find a lasting home, and erect a still nobler edifice, in this higher region! May he be enabled so to let his light shine before the students of our University, that they shall see the truth he utters, and learn to glorify our heavenly Father, who has written His laws on their hearts!

In the tenth Sermon, which was preacht at a Visitation at Hastings, it may be thought that I have dwelt too exclusively on the errours and faults of our Church, and have said too little about the errours and faults of the

Dissenters. Had I been preaching to a body of Dissenters, I should have done the reverse. But I could never perceive that there was any profit in telling people of what is wrong in their neighbours. St Paul does not write to the Corinthians about the errours of the Galatians, nor to the Galatians about the sins of the Corinthians. Hence it has surprised me to find preachers on such occasions labouring to convince their congregation of the spotless excellence of our Church, and of the heinous errours of all who differ from us; both which points the chief part of the congregation are only too ready to allow. Many reasons indeed will withhold a minister, who has a due sense of his own frailties and infirmities, from setting himself up as a reprover of his brethren: nor did I presume to do so. I spoke of evils which are matters of history, of evils by which our Church has suffered and is suffering grievous injury, of evils to which, seeing that they have prevailed so long and widely, we must still be liable and prone. Let us glory in our Church. So far as she is Christ's Body, so far as she is Christ's Spouse, we cannot glory in her too highly, or love her too fervently, or devote ourselves to her too entirely. But even the Church in her earthly form still needs the righteousness of her Lord, and the purification of His Spirit: and greatly does it concern us to know and feel that the chief causes of our weakness lie in ourselves, in the carnal nature which still overlays and clogs the spiritual. While we glory in our Church, let us

confess the sins of her ministers and other members: so may we be led to repent of them more earnestly, and to strive more earnestly against them, and to watch more earnestly against every temptation that would beguile us into them, and to pray more earnestly for the help of the Spirit to purge and preserve us from them.

As the Universities are the great sources from which the Ministry of our Church is supplied, it seemed to me that a Sermon addrest more especially to the Ministry might not be out of place in a collection designed for the students at the University. And so many of them in these days visit Italy, that I have closed the volume with a Sermon preacht at Rome, treating of some of the feelings with which a traveler ought to be animated. From its subject, it came home to the hearts of a part of the congregation; and in compliance with their wishes I endeavoured to obtain the consent of the papal censor to its publication at Rome, having received a hint that such consent would not be withheld. For I had been misunderstood, as was natural enough, in the passage where I termed Rome "this fateful city," and had been supposed to have called it "this faithful city;" whereupon, while some of my Protestant hearers were offended by the expression, rumour was busy in reporting that a sermon had been preacht at the English Chapel speaking very favorably of Romanism. It will be seen that there was not a word to that effect; although I could not refrain from warning my hearers

against the indecency with which the English often behave in churches abroad, even while divine service is going on. Nor was there a word against Romanism: for it does not appear to me seemly or honorable for a person preaching at Rome by permission and under the protection of the Government, to invey openly against the errours of the Church of Rome. His task is indeed one of extreme delicacy and difficulty: for he has to watch over his own congregation, that he may preserve them in the truth. But this will always be done most effectually by preaching the truth positively, by urging the great Protestant doctrines instantly and constantly: in such a situation more especially is this the course which every right feeling imperatively enjoins. The imprimatur which I applied for, was not refused: but proceedings at Rome are so dilatory, that months past by, and I came away before it was obtained. Perhaps the delay was a civil substitute for a

refusal.

I had meant to subjoin a few notes to these Sermons, in support or illustration of some of the arguments and statements. But as my absence from home, and want of books to refer to, with other occupations, would prevent my getting these notes through the press for some months, I have thought it best to reserve them for an appendix, and no longer to defer a publication which has already been too long delayed.

On this day I cannot forget, that on this day he, whom

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