PREFACE. THE Sermon which gave rife to the publication o thefe having been offered to the world as a Sermon of Yorick's, I hope the moft ferious reader will find nothing to offend him, in my continuing the volumes under the fame title: left it should be other. wife, I have added a fecond title-page with the real name of the Author- -the firft will ferve the book feller's purpose, as Yorick's name is poffibly of the two the more known ;—and the fecond will eafe the minds of those who see a jest, and the danger which lurks under it, where no jeft was meant. I fuppofe it is needlefs to inform the Public, that the reafon of printing these Sermons arifes altogether from the favourable reception which the Sermon given as a sample of them in TRISTRAM SHANDY met with from the world. That Sermon was printed by itself fome years ago, but could find neither purchafers nor readers; fo that I apprehended little hazard from a promise I made upon its republication, "That if the Sermon was liked, these should be al"fo at the world's fervice; which, to be as good as my word, they here are; and I pray to God, they Vol. V. may do it the service I wish. I have little to fay in their behalf, except this, that not one of them was compofed with any thoughts of being printed ;they have been haftily written, and carry the marks of it along with them.- This may be no recommendation -I mean it however as fuch: for as the Sermons turn chiefly upon Philanthropy, and those kindred virtues to-it, upon which hang all the law and the prophets, I trust they will be no less felt, or worse received, for the evidence they bear, of proceeding more from the heart than the head. I have nothing to add, but that the reader, upon old and beaten fubjects, muft not look for many new thoughts'tis well if he has new language: in three or four paffages where he has neither the one nor the other, I have quoted the author I made free with. There are some other paffages, where I fufpe&t I may have taken the same liberty but 'tis only fufpicion, for I do not remember it is fo, otherwise 1 should have restored them to their proper owners; fo that I put it here more as a general faying, than from a consciousness of having much to answer for upon that score. In this, however, and every thing -elfe which I offer, or fhall offer to the world, I reft, with a heart much at eafe, upon the protection of the humane and candid, from whom I have received many favours, for which I beg leave to return them thanks-thanks. CONTENTS. And the barrel of meal wafted. not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which he spake by the Man that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble: If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, that man's religion is vain. And when Jofeph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they faid, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly re- |