SERMONS.

By JOSIAH, Lord Bishop of
Kilmore and Ardagh.

Infcribed to the CLERGY of his two
Diocefes.

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always
in Remembrance of thefe Things, tho' ye know
them, 2 Pet. I. 12.

Not for that we have Dominion over your Faith,
but are Helpers of your Foy; for by Faith ye
ftand, 2 Cor. 1. 24.

DUBLIN:

Printed by GEORGE GRIERSON, Printer to
the KING'S Moft Excellent MAJESTY,
at the King's Arms and Two Bibles in
Effex-ftreet, M, DCC, XXXVIII.

TO THE

READER.

HE World is already so full of

Tprinted Sermons, that fome

Apology may justly be expected from every one who adds to the Number. And I could wish that I had lefs to that Head.

say for my felt
felt upon

It is now many Years fince I was difabled for preaching, by an overftrain of my Voice in the Pulpit, at a Time when I had a Cold with a Hoarseness upon me. And fince the Providence of God hath taken from me the Power of discharging that Branch of my Epifcopal Office which confifts

A 2

confifts in preaching, the next Thing to it, is to convey my Thoughts and Inftructions from the Prefs; that fo my Talent, fuch as it is, may not be quite ufclefs; and that my Clergy, and others within my Jurifdiction, may read, what they cannot hear publickly from my Mouth.

They may be fupplied with much better Difcourfes, published by the Bishops, and other eminent Divines of our Communion; particularly thofe of Archbishop Tillotson and Dr. Samuel Clarke, who are the great and standing Models, and will continue to be fuch, till our Language is grown obfolete; and even then their good Sense will retain its fterling Value after the Purity and Beauty of Stile are worn off by Time. But these are Books of Price, which every one cannot purchase, and having been long current, it is poffible

that

that Discourses coming fiefh out of the Mint, tho' of coarfer Allay, may by their meer Newness draw Attention, and work fome good Effect on the Reader, which I pray God they may.

The folemn Promise I made at my Confecration To exercife my felf in the holy Scriptures, fo as to be able by them to teach and exhort with wholesome Doctrine, was no fmall Motive to this Undertaking, as being the only Means left to me for making good that Promise.

If a critical Reader fhould observe fome Coincidence of Thoughts, and even of Expreffions in the following Sermons, he will confider that this was imperceptible to an Auditory who heard them at different Periods of Time, and if it appears now by their being collect