ME OF THE PARABLES, AND ISTORICAL PASSAGES OF NEW TESTAMENT. BY JAMESP. WILSON, D. D. THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA, District of Pennsylvania, to wit : BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-sixth day of September, a the thirty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, 1. D. 1810, James P. Wilson of the said District, hath deposited in this Office, he title of a book the right whereof he claims as author, in the words followig, to wit: "Lectures upon some of the Parables and Historical Passages of the New Tes ment. By James P. Wilson, D. D. Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church 2 Philadelphia." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, “An et for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, nd books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein entioned." And also to the act, entitled "An act supplementary to an act, ntitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of aps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the me therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of deigning, engraying, and etching historical and other prints." PREFACE. BY lecturing, large portions of the sacred scriptures are brought into view, the connexion is rendered more intelligible, and greater inducements are offered to the people to read, and become acquainted with the oracles of truth, than by sermonizing on detached sentences. A doctrine or a duty shown to be fairly founded upon a parable, detailed reproof, course of argument, or obvious example of the Saviour, will usually, and ought always to have a more decisive influence upon the minds of the hearers, than when it rests upon the arguments of a preacher, though supported by many detached quotations from Holy Writ. Such reasons have induced the writer of this little book, generally, to deliver a lecture on every sabbath afternoon; for the most part suited to the subject of the morning sermon. He never committed to memory, nor read a sermon, or lecture in publick since he began the ministry. These are therefore but outlines, or skeletons, not the lectures themselves; which were at much greater length. This statement is designed as an apology both for the shortness, and other defects of these preparations; which were composed merely for private use, and given to the printer without transcription; except the lectures on the resurrection of Christ, and the last one, which were written since the printing of the book commenced; and by no means as a censure upon those, who read or rehearse in publick, their sermons or lectures. Every brother should pursue the course, which he deems to be most for the edification of himself, and his people. 5268 526820 (RECA107856 J. P. W. |