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THE

WORKS

OF

HUGH BLAIR, D.D. F.R.S. ED.

ONE OF

THE MINISTERS OF THE HIGH CHURCH,

AND

PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC AND BELLES LETTRES IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH;

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

A SHORT ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE AND CHARACTER

OF

THE AUTHOR.

BY JAMES FINLAYSON, D. D.

IN FIVE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

SERMONS.

London:

PRINTED FOR T. CADELL AND W. DAVIES; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON;
LONGMAN, HURST, REES, Orme, and BROWN; SCATCHERD AND LETTER-
MAN; J. CLarke and co.; J. AND A. ARCH; R. SCHOLEY; BALDWIN,
CRADOCK, AND JOY; J. ASPERNE; T. HAMILTON; R. SAUNDERS; LLOYD
AND SON; AND G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER: A. CONSTABLE AND CO.;
MANNERS AND MILLER; AND FAIRBAIRN and anderson, EDINBURGH;
AND G. CLARK, ABERDEEN.

1820.

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TO THE

QUEEN.

MADAM,

WHEN the First Volume of these Sermons was published, I did not presume to request the liberty of prefixing to them a name so illustrious. Encouraged by the favourable manner in which the Public has received Two Volumes, I now humbly beg leave, on the publication of a Third*, to lay them all before Your MAJESTY.

Had I been in doubt to whom they could be presented with the greatest propriety, the public voice would instantly have directed me to the Person to whom I have now the honour of addressing myself. Discourses intended to promote religion and virtue can be inscribed to none more suitably than to One who, in the highest station of life, has ever supported the cause of religion by her conspicuous regard

Dr. Blair's Sermons originally formed Five Volumes; and this Dedication was prefixed to the Third, which contained Sermons XXXI-L.

for it; who has advanced the interests of virtue, by her distinguished example; and who, by a happy union of the amiable with the estimable qualities, has commanded the love and respect of a great nation.

It is a signal blessing to a kingdom when a Person whose character would have reflected honour upon any condition of fortune, is placed by Providence in that elevated rank, which allows her virtues to shine with extensive lustre, and to diffuse their auspicious influence over a whole land.

That this influence of Your MAJESTY'S virtues may long continue to be felt; that while they alleviate the cares, and increase the comfort of our gracious Sovereign; while they improve the minds, and contribute to the felicity of Your illustrious offspring; they may, at the same time, successfully exert their power in forming the public manners on a pattern so worthy of imitation! shall be my sincere wish and earnest prayer.

I have the honour to be, with profound respect,

MADAM,

Your MAJESTY's most humble,

And most devoted servant,

HUGH BLAIR.

TO THE READER.*

AFTER the very favourable reception which the Four former Volumes of my Sermons have met with, both at home and abroad, I had resolved not to presume on offering any more to the Public. To this publication of another Volume, my present situation gave rise, being now, by the infirmity of very advanced age, laid aside from all the labours of the pulpit; and possessing, of course, more retirement and leisure than formerly, it occurred to me sometimes, to look back into Sermons, most of which had been composed a great many years ago, with a view to observe how far they agreed in the strain of thought with those which I had written at a later period. In reviewing them, passages sometimes appeared which I imagined might be serviceable, either for admonition or consolation to various classes of persons; and the thought began to arise in my mind, that by employing my present leisure, as long as health allowed, in preparing some of those Discourses for the press, it might be in my power to be still of some use in the world. Encouraged by this idea, I went on to revise and correct one Sermon after another, often making alterations and additions, till the present Volume arose.

* Originally prefixed to Vol.V. containing Sermons LXXII-XCI.

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