PRACTICAL SERMONS: DESIGNED FOR VACANT CONGREGATIONS AND FAMILIES. BY ALBERT BARNES. PHILADELPHIA: HENRY PERKINS, 134 CHESTNUT STREET. 1901, June 17. Laurence Bradford, FEB111002 (961) ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON. PRINTED BY T. K. & P. G. COLLINS, PHILADELPHIA. PREFACE. THE title of this volume sufficiently indicates its design. It is published, because it is supposed that there is a want of such sermons constantly occurring. There are numerous congregations in this. country, which, unhappily, have not the regular preaching of the gospel, and in which, in order to maintain public worship, it is necessary to make use of printed sermons. It is not supposed that these are better sermons than have before been published for such an object, but that there might be an advantage in having a greater variety; and that an interest might exist in behalf of those recently published which could not be excited for even a better volume that has been frequently perused. There are not a few families, also, it is supposed, which would be interested in a volume of sermons, and in which, it is hoped, good might be done by their perusal. The discourses in this volume are wholly practical. They were intended to be such as would be adapted to impress on the mind the importance and necessity of personal religion, and to urge the necessity of a holy life, as the first great duty of man. There are no sermons in the volume which professedly discuss the doctrines of Christianity; and no sentiments are intended to be advanced which would offend evangelical Christians of any denomination. The appeals, illustrations, and arguments to a holy life, are based on the supposition of the truth of the evangelical doctrines; but it was no part of the plan to discuss those doctrines, or to make them prominent. I may be permitted, perhaps, to say, in justice to myself, that, my usual manner of preaching to my own congregation is much more doctrinal in its character than the perusal of these sermons might lead a reader to suppose. These are intentionally selected for their practical character. Washington Square, Philadelphia, June 16th, 1841. ALBERT BARNES. CONTENTS. SERMON I. The Freeness of the Gospel· Rev. xxii. 17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. SERMON II. The Love of God in the Gift of a Saviour 25 John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting SERMON III. Why will ye die?..... Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die? 1 Kings xviii. 21. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but The Misery of forsaking God ............103 Jer. ii. 13. My people have committed two evils;-they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cis- SERMON XI. The Principles on which a Profession of Religion should be made. No. 1........164 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye sepa- rate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daugh- |