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Southern District of New-York, ss.

1895

BE it remembered, that on the 22d day of May, A. D. 1826, in the 50th year of the Independence of the United States of America, Austin Dickinson, of the said District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a Book, or Periodical Work, the right whereof he claim as (L.S.) Editor and Proprietor, in the words following, to wit:-"The National Preacher; or Monthly Sermons from Living Ministers; Edited by Rev. Austin Dickinson, New-York." In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and preprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an Act, entitled An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints. JAMES DILL, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

THE Editor was led to undertake this Publication from having travelled extensively in the United States, and seen and heard much of the want of a preached Gospel. It seemed very desirable, that some simple method should be adopted, through which millions of fellow-sinners, going down to death, might be addressed, at once, on the great subject of salvation. The idea occurred that Ministers in the different States doubtless had Discourses, prepared in some of their happiest moments of thought and feeling, which, if concentrated in a Work of this kind, might reflect light on the desolate places, as well as on the churches of our land. It was thought, also, that this method of introducing Ministers of different sections of the church and of the nation to each other and to the Christian public, might be the means of promoting among good men a more general harmony of feeling and effort, and thus widening and strengthening that band of brotherhood which is to encircle the world. It seemed, moreover, that it might be desirable as an item of history, that there should be some National Work, from which men of other nations and languages, and of future ages, might have the opportunity of knowing what was the character of preaching in the United States, in this era of Christian enterprise, and of the Holy Spirit's gracious operation.

The encouragement received, during the first year, has exceeded the most sanguine expectations. So much so, that second and third editions of back Numbers have been called for; and, in all, upwards of one hundred thousand copies of Numbers have been published.

The Editor, however, is aware that the Work is comparatively but little known. Scattered as its Numbers have been

throughout our extended territory, they appear, among a population of twelve millions, but as drops in the ocean. The num

ven.

ber of Subscribers does not yet average one to each Post-office in the United States. For a more extended usefulness among our rapidly increasing population, the Work must rely on the co-operation of the intelligent and the blessing of HeaThe Editor will spare no reasonable effort or expense for rendering it worthy of introduction to every family. Upwards. of forty Clergymen, in different parts of the United States and of five Christian denominations, most of whom are known to the public as Authors, are engaged to contribute Sermons for succeeding Volumes.

That the Work, from year to year, may grow in piety and vigour of thought-may continue to find favour with God and man-may find its way to the palaces of princes, as well as to. the cottages of the poor-and may be instrumental in advancing all our benevolent institutions, and in impressing divine truth on millions yet unborn-is the ardent prayer of the

NEW-YORK, May, 1827.

EDITOR.

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