Fellow-Christian! the wish to be admired as a fine writer held a very
subordinate place in my thoughts and feelings in the composition of
this volume. Let then its comparative merits and demerits, in respect
of style and stimulancy, possess a proportional weight, and no more,
in determining your judgment for or against its contents. Read it
_through_: then compare the state of your mind, with the state in
which your mind was, when you first opened the book. Has it led you to
reflect? Has it supplied or suggested fresh subjects for reflection?
Has it given you any new information? Has it removed any obstacle to a
lively conviction of your responsibility as a moral agent? Has it
solved any difficulties, which had impeded your faith as a Christian?
Lastly, has it increased your power of thinking connectedly?
Especially on the Scheme and purpose of the Redemption by Christ? If
it have done none of these things, condemn it aloud as worthless: and
strive to compensate for your own loss of time, by preventing others
from wasting theirs. But if your conscience dictates an affirmative
answer to all or any of the preceding questions, declare this too
aloud, and endeavour to extend my utility.[2]
[2] In the place of this Address the first edition, 1825, had the
Advertisement which we now print at the end of the Author's Preface,
p. xix.--ED.
Ουτως παντα προς ἑαυτην επαγουσα, και συνηθροισμενη ψυχη,
αυτη εις αὑτην, ραιστα και μαλα βεβαιως μακαριζεται.