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So great and constant is the demand for the HOMILIST, that, notwithstanding the immense sale the work has met with from the beginning, the FIRST and SECOND volumes of the present series are sold out, whilst the stock of the THIRD, FOURTH, and FIFTH volumes is running very low. Either of the last seven volumes— complete in themselves will be sent POST FREE DIRECT to any address in England for 6s. 6d. per volume. Address-A. Thomas, 123, Loughboro' Park, Brixton, London. American Subscribers

can be supplied by SMITH & ENGLISH, Philadelphia.

The next volume, the TENTH of the Editor's Series, will contain a new and very important department, entitled SCIENTIFIC FACTS USED AS SYMBOLS.

"Books of Illustrations," designed to help preachers, are somewhat, we think, too abounding. They are often made up, to a great extent, of anecdotes from the sentimental side of life, and not always having a healthful influence or historic foundation. We find that preachers and hearers are getting tired of such. Albeit illustrations are needed by every speaker who would interest the people, and are sanctioned by the highest authority. Nature itself is a parable. Hence we have arranged with a naturalist, who has been engaged in scientific investigation for many years, to supply the HOMILIST with such reliable and well ascertained facts in nature, as cultured and conscientious men may use with confidence, as mirrors of morals and diagrams of doctrines.

NOTICES OF THE PRESS.

"There is a prevailing spirit in this publication which perpetually reminds you of his (Robertson's) sublime utterances. Dr. Thomas is a man of a (spirit so profound and comprehensive, so catholic and charitable, that the HOMILIST could not be other than that which it is. For the man always underlies the book which he writes. The HOMILIST is so rich in exquisite utterances, that the attempt at quotation in this notice would be to commence illimitable enlargement. On the whole, we have two things to remark in connection with this publication-viz., first, that the HOMILIST is the best preacher's annual which we know; second, the last volume is the best of the twenty-six which it concludes, being, indeed, the commencement of a new series. We do not highly laud when we affirm that in the department of religious literature to which it belongs, it has no worthy competitor."-Dundee Daily Advertiser.

"That the author is fully equal to the discussion of such topics, few who are acquainted with his qualifications will presume to deny. He is evidently a man of refined taste and cultivated intellect. He has rendered high service to the cause of truth as an expositor and a critic. There are passages which, for richness of imagery and choiceness of rhetoric, have scarcely been surpassed. The very significance and symbolism of language seems to be exhausted in the elegant structure of many of these nervous and inspiriting paragraphs."-Church Standard.

"This is the best and most widely-circulated of the books published in England for the promotion of pulpit oratory. It is carefully edited, and replete with solid matter. Its stand-point is large-hearted, above creeds and evangelical in the widest sense. Its contents fully justify us in recommending it to preachers and theologians generally, and in Germany also."-Dr. Lange.

PREFACE.

THIS Volume, the THIRTY-FOURTH of the entire Work, is the ninth of the New Series-THE EDITOR'S SERIES.

Although considerably upwards of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VOLUMES have been sold, it will be gratifying for our friends to know that the demand is as great as ever.

As the old key-note will still rule the melodies of the HOMILIST, and no new specific description is requisite, the former Preface may be again transcribed.

First: The book has no finish. The Editor had not only not the time to give an artistic finish to his productions, but not even the design. Their incompleteness is intentional. He has drawn some marble slabs together, and hewn them roughly; but has left other hands to delineate minute features, and so polish them into beauty. He has dug up from the Biblical mine some precious ore, smelted a little, but left all the smithing to others. He has presented “germs” which, if sown in good soil, under free air and an open sky, will produce fruit that may draw many famishing spirits into the vineyard of the Church.

Secondly: The book has no denominationalism. It has no special reference to "our body" or to "our Church." As denominational strength is not necessarily soul strength, nor denominational religion necessarily the religion of humanity, it is the aim of the HOMILIST to minister that which universal man requires. It is for man as a citizen of the universe, and not for him as a limb of the sect.

Thirdly: The book has no polemical Theology. The Editor-holding, as he does, with a tenacious grasp, the cordial doctrines which constitute what is called the "orthodox creed"-has, nevertheless, the deep and ever-deepening conviction, first, that such creed is but a very small portion of the truth that God has revealed, or that man requires; and that no theological system can_fully_represent all the contents and suggestions of the great Book of God: and, secondly, that systematic theology is but means to an end. Spiritual morality is that end. Consequently, to the heart and life every Biblical thought and idea should be directed. Your systems of divinity the author will not disparage; but his impression is, that they can no more answer the purpose of the Gospel, than pneumatics can answer the purpose of the atmosphere. In the case of Christianity, as well as the air, the world can live without its scientific truths; but it must have the free flowings of their vital elements. Coleridge has well said, "Too soon did the doctors of the Church forget that the heart--the mortal nature-was the beginning and the end, and that truth, knowledge, and insight, were comprehended in its expansion."

The Editor would record his grateful acknowledgments to those free spirits of all Churches, who have so earnestly rallied round him; to the many who have encouraged him by their letters, and to those especially, who have aided him by their valuable contributions. May the "last day" prove that the help rendered has been worthily bestowed; and that the HOMILIST did something towards the spiritual education of humanity, in its endeavour to bring the Bible, through the instrumentality of the pulpit, into a more immediate and practical contact with the everyday life of man!

Holly Bush, Loughborough Park,

London.

DAVID THOMAS.

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