The Methodist Preacher: Or, Monthly Sermons from Living Ministers

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT:
District Clerk's Office.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-ninth day of December, A. D. 1829, in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, SHIPLEY WELLS WILLSON, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor in the words following, to wit:

"The Methodist Preacher, or Monthly Sermons, from Living Ministers. Edited by Shipley Wells Willson, Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

"Go-into all the world, aud preach the Gospel to every creature....CHRIST.

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine....PAUL.

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an act entitled "an act supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

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PREFACE.

The Christian public of the present times manifest an increasing desire for the spread of the gospel, and the advancement of the cause of TRUTH. Much has been done, and more is doing to spread the Glad tidings of salvation to every part of the habitable Globe. The Gospel of the Kingdom, which according to the promise of the Saviour, was to be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations, is now spreading from land to land, and from sea to sea. The holy Apostles and their successors are going into all the world, preaching the Gospel to every creature; and the God of missions is evidently with them, confirming the word with signs following. The Itinerant system adopted by the REV. MR. WESLEY, and practised upon by the Ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has not been a very remote cause of raising the tone of Christian piety to its present state of excellence. The true spirit of vital religion has been revived and extensively promoted through their instrumentality. Their zeal and faithfulness have certainly been rendered a blessing to the Church and to the world. Their writings as well as their preaching have done much in dissipating the mists of error, and in spreading the knowledge of evangelical truth. The same gospel whether from the pulpit or the press, is still full of promise; and if its doctrines are disseminated with the same degree of self-sacrifice and perseverance that have hitherto attended the disinterested labors of those, who have thus far published them; they will unquestionably continue to produce as great, and even greater results than ever. The periodicals that have been devoted to the interests of religion among us, have been remarkably successful in removing the prejudices that formerly existed against us as a people; they have reflected so much light on our doctrines, that something more than misrepresentation and ridicule are now necessary to prevent their good effects. People used to be more in the habit of hearing, and making up their judgment from what they had heard; but now they do differently; they are more accustomed to reading, and of making up their judgment from what they have soberly and attentively read. It may be thought by some, that those well conducted periodicals that were published previous to the commencement of The Methodist Preacher, were sufficient organs for the purposes of the Church; yet it is known and acknowledged by many if not all, that although this may not be so extensively useful in all respects as those, yet still it may, on some accounts, be equally as serviceable: It is not designed to interfere, neither is it supposed possible for it to interfere with the periodicals already referred to, but to occupy a ground not improved by them, and act as their faithful, though humble coadjutor in spreading a correct knowledge of the TRUTH. While error is stalking abroad under the specious pretensions of liberality and orthodsxy; and assumes the livery of the sanctųary—and the sacred desk--as affording the greatest promise of success in accomplishing its self-interested, and self-pleasing, and self-aggrandizing objects; it is certainly the duty of the Watchmen of Zion to sound the alarm; and use every possible endeavor both from the pulpit and the press, to guard the souls of inen against the subtle illusions of the enemies of sound doctrine and pure religion.

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The private members of the Church should also faithfully stand to their posts, and endeavor both by precept and example to suppress the influence of prevalent errors, contribute all in their power to the spread of the genuine doctrines of the gospel. They should gird on the weapons of their warfare, which are mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong holds of Satan, and valiantly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. As the abettors of a false theology have adopted methods of different descriptions to diffuse their opinions ;—

'Which lead to bewilder and dazzle to blind ;'

so should the advocates of sound divinity use every means in their power to counteract their influence; and take as much pains to circulate the doctrines of the Bible, as they do to spread the principles of their own self-wrought systems.

PERIODICALS of various sizes aud names have been employed as vehicles to carry abroad the poisoned viands of those who are indefatigable in their endeavors to persuade others to receive them, as the bread of life. Thus many corrupt the word of God and change his truth into a lie, and make the heart of the righteous sad, whom the Lord hath not made sad; and strengthen the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

As there are already so many periodicals, it may be proper here to assign a few of the reasons, that have led to the publication of this.

1. The health of the Editor having failed him so far that he was not able to serve the church as he had formerly done, by preaching the gospel, and as there was no way opened that promised a support for his family, it occurred to him that a publication of this kind might be cominenced without interfering with any of the publications of our Church; and at the same time, that he might be as useful in the cause of God and to his family in this way, as he had been in his former labors.

2. It was believed that the gospel as preached by the Ministers of our Church had been the glorious instrument of the awakening, conversion, and salvation of many thousands of souls, and that those sermons in print would be attended with as good effects,— effects equally as disheartening to our enemies, as they are encouraging to our friends.

3. That, those who have been benefited by this preaching cannot fail of being pleased with the publication of some of the sermons in a form, that will admit of their being preserved in a volume that will make a valuable addition to their libraries.

4. That, we might have a cheap and convenient method of bringing before the public the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel as believed and taught by our Ministers : for the distinguishing doctrines of Methodism as delineated in the sermons of its Clergy, cannot fail to interest, instruct and edify all those who will read them without prejudice.

5. That, our Ministers might have an opportunity of extending the sphere of their usefulness in addressing the Church and the world, on the doctrines and duties of our holy religion, by explaining, enforcing, and defending the truth, as conscientiously believed by them.

6. That, we might become more extensively acquainted with the talents of our Ministers :—and to afford a special opportunity for the cultivation of the talent for writing sermons, to our young Preachers.

7. That, the Societies of our Church, which are not regularly supplied with the preaching of the Gospel, might be furnished with a volume of choice sermons suitable to be read on the Sabbath; and that their families might have the sermons of our own Ministers, of our own times, to preserve as proper helps to domestic instruction, and social worship.

It would be very easy to assign as many more reasons as are given above, but those are altogether sufficient.

The Editor would here say to his Brethren in the Ministry, that he is inexpressibly grateful to them for their past assistance, both as Contributors and Agents; they are earnestly requested to continue their labors of love, and in their prayers commend the METHODIST PREACHER to the blessing of God.

Boston, Dec. 20th, 1830.

SHIPLEY WELLS WILLSON.

CONTENTS.

No. I.—SERMON I.

BY REV. WILLBUR FISK, D. D.

THE PROPERTIES OF THE LAW AND GOSPEL DISTINGUISHED.

ROMANS, viii. 2, 3, 4.

For the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin

and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own

son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh :

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but