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THE

WORKS

OF

SAMUEL STENNETT, D. D.

LATE PASTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ASSEMBLING IN LITTLE WILD STREET,
LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, LONDON.

NOW FIRST COLLECTED INTO A BODY:

WITH SOME

ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS.

BY WILLIAM JONES,

AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BIBLICAL CYCLOPÆDIA, ETC.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

1. DISCOURSES ON THE DIVINE AUTHORITY, ETC. OF THE HOLY

SCRIPTURES.

II. OCCASIONAL DISCOURses.-III. TRIP TO HOLYHEAD, ETC.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG, 73, CHEAPSIDE.

1824.

TO THE

CHURCH AND CONGREGATION,

ASSEMBLING IN

LITTLE WILD STREET,

NEAR

LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS.

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

As my view in discoursing of The Divine Authority and Various Use of the Holy Scriptures, is not polemical but practical, you will not expect in the following Sermons a particular investigation of these important subjects:-subjects which have been largely and ably discussed by many excellent writers. All I mean is, to bring the general ideas into a narrow compass, and to place them in a plain and easy light.

IN the three first Sermons are stated the general grounds on which the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are held to be divine. In the fourth are pointed out the uses to which they are to be applied. In the fifth a general view is taken of the most material objections of unbelievers. This is followed, in the sixth, with other deductions of a practical kind from the facts before stated and proved. And in the two last Sermons is shewn at large the duty which Christians owe to the Holy Scriptures.

My aim in discoursing of this subject, and throwing it into the form just described, is-to engage the serious and cordial attention of all to this Sacred Book-to impress on their minds the most awful and venerable ideas of the blessed God, with whose finger it was written, and thereby prevent their treating

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it as a mere human composure-to convince them that this is the only infallible test by which every question in religion is to be tried to represent the reasonableness and importance of preserving sacred the right of private judgment—to assist the impartial enquirer in his endeavours to come at the true meaning of Scripture-and, above all, to fix on the heart, with the blessing of God, a deep sense of the infinite utility and indispensable importance of entering into the spirit of those divine truths it reveals.

If these ends should in any degree be attained by these plain Sermons, my heart will rejoice; and I have no doubt but you, my Friends, to whose candour and affection, for a long course of years, I owe so many obligations, will cordially unite with me in praise to Him, on whose influence and grace the success of our mutual endeavours for promoting real religion and saving the immortal souls of men, entirely depends.

I am, my dear Friends,

Muswell-Hill, May 7th, 1790.

With great Affection,

Your Servant,

in the Gospel of Christ,

SAMUEL STENNETT.

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