T HE Sermon which gave rife to the publication of thefe, having been offered to the world as a Sermon of Yorick's, I hope the most ferious reader will find nothing to offend him, in my continuing these volumes under the fame title: left it should be otherwife, I have added a fecond title-page with the real name of the Author-the firft will ferve the bookfeller's purpofe, as Yorick's name is poffibly of the two the more known;-and the fecond will ease the minds of those who see a jeft, and the danger which lurks under it, where no jeft was meant, I fuppofe it is needlefs to inform the Public, that the reafon of printing these Sermons arifes altogether from the favourable reception which the Sermon given as a fample of them in TRISTRAM SHANDY met with from the world;-That Sermon was printed by itself some years ago, but could find neither purchafers nor readers; fo that I apprehended little hazard from a promise I made upon its republication, "That if the Ser66 mon was liked, thefe fhould be "alfo at the world's fervice;" which, to be as good as my word, they here are, and I pray to God, they may do it the fervice I wish. I have little to fay in their behalf, except this, that not one of them was compofed with any thoughts of being printed; they have been haftily written, and carry the marks of it along with them.-This may be no recommendation;-I mean it however as fuch; for as the Sermons turn chiefly upon philanthropy, and those kindred virtues to it, upon which hang all the law and the prophets, I trust they will be no lefs felt, or worse received, for the evidence they bear, of proceeding more from the heart than the head. I have nothing to add, but that the reader, upon old and beaten fubjects, muft not look for many new thoughts -'tis well if he has new language; in three or four paffages, where he has neither the one nor the other, I have quoted the author I made free with. -There are fome other paffages, where I fufpect I may have taken the fame liberty, but 'tis only fufpicion, for I do not remember it is fo, otherwife I fhould have reftored them to their proper owners; so that I put it in here more as a general faving, than from a confciousness of having much to answer for upon that fcore: in this however, and every thing elfe, which I offer, or fhall offer to the world, I reft, with a heart much at cafe, upon the protection of the humane and candid, from whom I have received many favours, for which I beg leave to return them thanks thanks. |