к SERMONS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS, DELIVERED CHIEFLY ON COMMUNION OCCASIONS; TO WHICH IS APPENDED THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF REAL CHRISTIANS. BY THE REV THOMAS BOSTON, OF ETTRICK. IN TWO VOLUMES, ABERDEEN: GEORGE AND ROBERT KING, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 74-8-36. 554. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION. It is absolutely certain that the following Discourses are the genuine Works of the worthy Author whose name they bear: they have been transmitted through the hands of his lineal descendants. From the handwriting-which is such as was common in the beginning of the eighteenth century-though now rather antiquated, as well as from the information of those who had access to know, it appears these Sermons were the original autographs, written at the time of the dates affixed to them; but to those acquainted with the spirit and manner of Mr. BOSTON's other writings, the perusal of the Discourses themselves will finally convince them they are genuine. The character of the Author as a judicious, evangelical, and practical writer, is long ago finally established. The Discourses now offered to the public have been selected from a variety of his manuscripts, with considerable care, and faithfully transcribed by one fully qualified for this service. They were chiefly composed by the Author in that period of his life when his mind was most vigorous, his knowledge of the gospel very enlarged, his religious attainments highly eminent; and at a time, too, when, from a variety of circumstances, he was enabled to pay particular attention to the formation of his Discourses. They are equally full and judicious with those already published; and we are persuaded will be much relished by those who understand and value the most accurate methods of teaching evangelical truth. They discover that serious and spiritual strain, that perspicuity of language, that happy fertility of Scriptural proof and illustration, which are conspicuous in his other Works. Several respectable Ministers and Christians have expressed an earnest desire of their being sent forth to public view. As the former Works of this great and good man have been eminently blessed to the edification of many, it is devoutly hoped the present publication will produce the same effect. Rev. JOHN BROWN, Minister, Whitburn. Rev. EBENEZER BROWN, Minister, Inverkeithing. 144055 CONTENTS OF VOL. IV. PAGE. CHRIST'S PEOPLE, A WILLING PEOPLE. PSAL. cx. 3.-Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, THE SOUL'S ESPOUSAL TO CHRIST. 2 Cor. xi. 2. For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you LUKE i. 74, 75.-That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness, and THE LORD'S HELPING HIS PEOPLE. 1 SAM. vii. 12.-Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord MOURNING THE ABSENCE OF CHRIST. LAM. iii. 49, 50.-Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any inter- |