TO THE CONGREGATION
OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF BOLTON,
THESE SERMONS
ARE INSCRIBED AND DEDICATED,
WITH AFFECTIONATE REGARD,
BY THEIR PASTOR AND FRIEND,

J. S.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The author has been repeatedly urged to print a volume of his Parochial Sermons; and perhaps he owes some apology to those friends, whose kind advice, on this head, has been for years neglected. He was apprehensive, that the interest, excited by his discourses from the pulpit, would not be adequately revived by their appearance in print; or at most, that they would be impressive only upon those who had heard them: and he moreover thought, that the christian world was already provided with more than a sufficiency of such publications. However, whether these opinions be well founded or not, he has been at length prevailed upon to defer to the wishes and judgment of others.

It is almost needless to observe, that the Sermons were written without any, the most distant, view to publication; they pretend to nothing, but the simple and earnest inculcation of christian principle and practice; and as this is the author’s sole object, so does he pour forth his humble prayer, that what, by God’s help, he has planted and watered, may, by God’s blessing, be increased to the glory of His own great name, and the edification of His Church.

CONTENTS.

SERMON I.
AWAKE THOU THAT SLEEPEST AND ARISE FROMTHE DEAD.

Ephesians v.14.—Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arisefrom the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

[Preached January 10th, 1830, 1st Epiph., [vii] and at Chester Cathedral, August 1st,in the same year.]

Page [1]

SERMON II.
THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OFCHRIST.

Ephesians iii.8.—The unsearchable riches of Christ.

[Preached January 9th, 1831, 1st Epiph.]

[20]

SERMON III.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLOOD.

Genesis vi.7.—It repented the Lord, that He had made man upon theearth and it grieved Him at His heart; and the Lord said, I willdestroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth.

[Preached February 6th, 1825, Sexag.]

[38]

SERMONIV.
THE PRESERVATION FROM THEFLOOD.

Genesis vi.8.—Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

[Preached February 13th, 1825.]

[56]

SERMON V.
DO THIS GREAT WICKEDNESS AND SIN AGAINSTGOD,

Genesis xxxix.9.—How then can I do this great wickedness and sin againstGod?

[Preached March 6th, 1825, 3rd Lent.]

[76]

SERMON VI.
ON THE JOURNEY TO EMMAUS.

Luke xxiv.32.—And they said one to another, Did not our heart burnwithin us, while He talked with us by the way, and while Heopened to us the Scriptures?

[Preached April 13th, 1828, 1st Easter, and at ChesterCathedral July 12th, 1829.]

[95]

SERMON VII.
IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THEPROPHETS.

Luke xvi.31.—If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither willthey be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

[Preached June 1st, 1823, 1st Trin.]

[114]

SERMON VIII.
PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR.

1 John iv.18,—There is no fear in love, but perfect love castethout fear: because fear hath torment; he that feareth is not madeperfect in love.

[Preached June 16th, 1822, 2nd Trin.]

[134]

SERMON IX.
HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OFGOD.

1 Peter v. 6.—Humble yourselves underthe mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

[Preached June 19th, 1825, 3rd Trin.]

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SERMON X.
THOU ART THE MAN.

2 Samuel xii. 7.—And Nathan said toDavid, Thou art the man.

[Preached July 14th, 1822, 6th Trin., and at Chester CathedralJuly 6th 1823.]

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SERMON XI.
THE WAY OF THE LORD EQUAL.

Ezekiel xviii.25.—Ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal. Hearnow, O house of Israel; is not My ways equal? are not your waysunequal?

[Preached October 10th, 1824, 17th Trin.]

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SERMON XII.
THE NEW MAN.

Ephesians iv.24.—That ye put on the new man, which after God is createdin righteousness and true holiness.

[Preached October 13th, 1822, 19th Trin.]

[209]

SERMON XIII.
THE WEDDING GARMENT.

Matthew xxii.2.—The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king whichmade a marriage for his son.

[Preached October 31st, 1824, 20th Trin.]

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SERMON XIV.
WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, BE FRUITFUL ANDINCREASING.

Colossians i.10.—That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto allpleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing inthe knowledge of God.

[Preached November 9th, 1823, 24th Trin. and at ChesterCathedral, August 20th, 1826.]

[252]

SERMON XV.
THE WORD OF THE LORD PRECIOUS.

1 Samuel iii.1.—The word of the Lord was precious in those days; therewas no open vision.

[Preached December 9th, 1827. 2nd Advent]

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SERMON XVI.
DISTINCTIONS TO BE MADE ON THE DAY OFJUDGMENT.

Matthew xxiv.40.—The one shall be taken and the other left.

[Preached December 12th, 1824, 3rd Advent.]

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SERMONXVII.
GOD MADE MAN UPRIGHT; MAN MAKES HIMSELFMISERABLE.

Eccles. vii.29.—Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made manupright, but they have sought out many inventions.

[Preached August, 1828, and at Chester Cathedral, June 28th,1829.]

[310]

SERMON XVIII.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD REVEALED TO THEM THATFEAR HIM.

Psalm xxv.14.—The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; andHe will shew them His covenant.

[Preached November 19th, 1826, and at Chester Cathedral, July29th, 1827.]

[329]

SERMON XIX.
RESIST THE BEGINNINGS OF EVILTEMPTATION.

Proverbs iv. 14,15.—Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not inthe way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn fromit, and pass away.

[Preached October 10th, 1830.]

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SERMON XX.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST FOR THOSE WHO DO THEWILL OF GOD.

Mark iii.35.—Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is Mybrother and My sister and mother.

[Preached February 3rd, 1828.]

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SERMONXXI.
ON SEEKING OUT THE WORKS OF THE LORD ANDPRAISING HIM.

Psalm cxi. 1,2.—I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart; inthe assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them thathave pleasure therein.

[Preached November 23rd, 1828.]

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SERMON XXII.
DILIGENCE AND PERSEVERANCE IN THECHRISTIAN RACE.

Philipp. iii. 13,14.—Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; butthis one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I presstoward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God inChrist Jesus.

[Preached March 28th, 1830, and at Chester Cathedral,September 5th, in the same year.]

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SERMON I.
AWAKE THOU THAT SLEEPEST.

Ephesians v. 14.

Wherefore, he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

In this chapter the Apostle has been reminding his Ephesian converts of the state in which they were, before they had received and obeyed the call of the gospel. The people of Ephesus were highly endowed, in the world’s estimation, not only with riches, but also with talent and learning, and refinement; with all the arts and ornaments of civilized life. And yet, how does St. Paul describe them in the 8th verse? “Ye were sometimes darkness;” how in the 12th? “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”