TO THE

REV. J. H. SPRY, D. D.

RECTOR OF ST. MARYLEBONE,

AND

PREBENDARY OF CANTERBURY,

THIS VOLUME

IS

(BY HIS PERMISSION)

INSCRIBED WITH RESPECT AND REGARD,

BY

THE AUTHOR.

SERMONS.

SERMON I.

GENESIS Xxiv. 63.

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.

It is astonishing how many of our days are consumed in an easy indifference to the beauties of nature. What with superfluous sleep, and inactive habits both of body and mind, and the variety of artificial entertainments that keep us from the cool and open air, not only is precious time passing unredeemed, but some very powerful opportunities of exalted sentiment, and of religious feeling, are thus suffered to waste

B

away with little or no improvement. I hear of persons who have never seen, nor cared to see, the sun rise in their lives. But what a loss is theirs! Who that has "taken the wings of the morning," and tasted the freshness of the mountain-air, and, thus inhaling health and spirits, has watched the peeping streaks of day, stealing onwards upon the sight, and widening at every step the crimson pavement, until, at last, the whole magnificence of the East arrives; the golden portals are thrown open; and the great monarch of the firmament comes forth" as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course!"-who that has seen this, would exchange the elevation of such a moment, or envy the slumbers of a drowsy pillow? It is the same, in kind if not in degree, with every prospect of the scenes of nature! "These as they change, Almighty Father, these are but the varied God!" And yet, perhaps,