THE SABBATH-DAY BOOK; OR, Scriptural Meditations FOR EVERY LORD'S-DAY IN THE YEAR. BY J. LEIFCHILD, D.D. LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY; AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS. 1846. 1120. PREFACE. IN penning these Meditations, the author has had chiefly in view the benefit of those whose circumstances compel them to spend the whole, or a portion of the Lord's-day in their own abode. Such a detention from the worship of the sanctuary, however unwelcome, may, from a variety of circumstances, be unavoidable; such as the attention due to the junior branches of a family, ailments of body, distance of residence, and many similar impediments. In such cases, it seems desirable that they should be assisted and encouraged to engage in a religious service resembling that of which they are deprived, though in a more private and domestic manner; and thus to compensate themselves, and others, in some happy measure, for the deprivation. To furnish them with assistance, for this purpose, is the design of the present publication. These Meditations are not parts of sermons upon the respective texts, but such sermons condensed, and recast in a form better adapted for self-reflection, or the meditation of a select class. This design, while it has directed the choice of the subjects, has necessarily abridged the number and variety of the topics. It was felt that subjects of a devotional, experimental, and practical, rather than of a critical, historical, and disquisitional cast, were by far the most appropriate; and to such, therefore, the author has chiefly restricted himself. He has aimed, however, at as much variety as was compatible with this limited range; and, if this circumstance should occasion a repetition of the same thought and phraseology, he hopes that this will be found to be the case in only a few instances, and that in them the connexion in which such repetition occurs will give to it some novelty of form and aspect. The sacred writers were not scrupulous of borrowing from one another, and from themselves; but the new position in which what they thus repeat occurs, renders it difficult to conceive that its place could have been more appropriately or beneficially supplied. While the author has dwelt on fundamental truths, he has abstained from controversial points; and carefully avoided, to the utmost of his power, everything sectarian, or favouring the peculiarities by which any of the classes of Christians who are termed orthodox are distinguished. The peacefulness of the closet-the calm meditations of the social circle, ought surely not to be disturbed by the obtrusion of any such points. They meet us sufficiently elsewhere: into these hallowed spots it is very desirable they should not be permitted to enter. May the catholic spirit of that apostolic benediction be traced through all these pages, and promoted by them: "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." |