They are published, as you will easily recollect, nearly word for word, as they were delivered. _Particular reasons_ have induced me to do this. In one discourse only is there a deviation from the original form; _that_ on the Apostle's caution _Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,_ or the danger of instability, and pernicious tendency of error. What was merely local is omitted, but the sentiments in substance are carefully retained.
Many learned and judicious Characters, both of the Clergy and Laity, have urged to the publication of THESE DISCOURSES, as being _peculiarly_ adapted to the day in which we live, and the state of Religion in our nation: as _calculated_ for, and greatly _needed_ in Christian Families; there being no such series of discourses to be found in any Volume already published. The design of them is to convince such as need conviction--to reclaim such as may be wandering into error--to confirm the wavering--to console the Christian,--and to exhibit to all; some of the important, essential practical principles of pure and undefiled Religion.----It is only necessary to add--My prayer to God is, that they may, by his divine blessing, be the means of preventing the spread of error and irreligion, and of reviving the decaying interest of piety and holiness, which can only be revived and supported by a more strict and conscientious regard to ALL DIVINE INSTITUTIONS.
That man has no principle within himself, by whatever name it may be called, which is adequate to all the purposes of his salvation, or a sufficient guide in matters of faith and practice.
Ephes. ii. 12. _That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world._
The ways in which the holy scriptures are perverted by unlearned and unstable men.
2. Peter, iii. 16, 17. _As also in all his Epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness._