Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by WILEY & PUTNAM, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. J. P. WRIGHT, Printer, 122 Fulton St., N. Y. To Col. JAMES LARNED, MY DEAR SIR, of Washington City: July 4th, 1844. To no one with so much pleasure or propriety can I dedicate this very imperfect and inadequate Memorial, as to yourself. To your kindness and partiality was I indebted for the happiness I have enjoyed in preparing it, and though I am very sensible that the papers of your distinguished brother might have been committed to some person more able than myself to do him justice, yet, I may be allowed to say, to no one cherishing higher respect for his virtues, or sincerer regard for his fame. If, in this portrait, you distinctly recognize his expressive countenance, and he seem again to live before you, and more, if to the thousands who gathered admiringly around him during the brief period he was permitted to dwell on earth, the recollections of what he was, of what he said, and of what he did, become more vivid and permanent, I shall receive for this humble tribute, an ample reward. I have the honor to be, Sir, With perfect respect, Your friend and obedient servant, R. R. GURLEY. gift 11-7-31 PREFACE. It is unnecessary, perhaps, to explain the various causes which have operated to prevent the earlier appearance of this volume. Though some years have elapsed since most of the papers of the late Mr. LARNED were obligingly placed at my disposal, a few were received at a later date, and, desirous as I was of giving to them early attention, causes beyond my control, duties not to be postponed, compelled me to lay them aside for a period of less disturbing cares and more quiet contemplation. In the mean time,. I sought various opportunities of conversation with those who had personally known him, and, during a visit to New Orleans, enjoyed the pleasure of social intercourse with many to whom he had been a pastor, and who were happy to communicate their recollections of his manners, his character, and his eloquence. It is a duty, as well as pleasure, to acknowledge special obligations to the Rev. Dr. Post, of Charleston, S. C., and the Rev. J. N. DANFORTH, of Alexandria, D. C., for much valuable aid, and to other friends, too numerous to mention, for interesting facts and suggestions. No small difficulty was felt in the selection of the discourses for publication. While a few of those chosen are from the early productions of their author, most are from those preached but a short time before his death. Others, and several of them perhaps of merit equal to any here submitted, still remain, and may hereafter constitute another volume. It is a very general, and, I think, just opinion, that no minister of the same age, has ever, at least in this country, left deeper impressions of his eloquence than Mr. LARNED, though, in regard to the causes, there may be some diversity of sentiment. It will be found, that however much, in the preaching of Mr. Larned, is to be ascribed to his voice and manner, the matter and style of his discourses are remarkable, that they are worthy of critical examination and study, and that those who would combine in their sermons ease and elevation, simplicity and energy, who would leave to their hearers no time to sleep, and no wish to be absent, regret only at the brevity of the service, and delight at the return of the Sabbath, will find the perusal and re-perusal of these compositions to their advantage. But I trust they will be read for higher ends-that, 1 |