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PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE THIRD EDITION.

THE second edition of this little book having been some time out of print, its Author is encouraged, by circumstances of very powerful interest, to offer it a third time for the service of the younger members of the Redeemer's family. It was originally written with special regard to the requirements of young persons, in the congregation of which he has for some years been the pastor; but there have occurred so many instances of its apparent usefulness to other persons, that he cannot question whether it be his duty to venture another edition. In its improved form, and with many and important additions, he now humbly, but with cheerful hope, commits it to the blessing of the "God that heareth prayer." To this hope he is the more encouraged by the remembrance that there is so much in the book of which he can only be supposed to claim the

credit of compilation. This frequent citation from other writers is, indeed, very liable to objection; but on the particular subjects here discussed, and for the benefit of those to whom such a publication could alone be important, such a method (while it could be pursued without injury to others) appeared to the writer to be so peculiarly eligible, that he has, in truth, adopted it from preference rather than from necessity-from conviction more than from convenience. In this particular case, he would gladly have presented a book which, if adorned with a frontispiece, might have presented portraits of the wisest and best men, of various ages and communities, uniting to direct the young Christian to the footstool of mercy,―himself only presuming to introduce the guides, and to note the general agreement of their directions with the one absolute and inspired authority.

As this paper will be followed by the original preface and dedication, the compiler would here respectfully terminate his present remarks; but there is a subject on which, however reluctantly, he concludes it to be desirable that, in a volume offered to the prayer-leaders of England, some few considerations should be suggested.

In the former editions, as in the present, there were hints under the head of " Objections to

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