Transcribed from the 1846 J. Hatchard and Son edition by DavidPrice,
OR,
THE WORLD, THE VISIBLE CHURCH,AND
THE PEOPLE OF GOD,
AT
THE ADVENT OF THE LORD.
BYTHE
REV. EDWARD HOARE, A.M.
CURATE OF RICHMOND.
LONDON:
J. HATCHARD AND SON.
Kingston:SEELEY. Richmond: J.DARNILL & SON.
1846.
SERMONS ON THE SCRIPTURALPRINCIPLES
OF OUR PROTESTANT CHURCH.—Price2s.
Richmond:
PRINTED BY W. OFFORD,
BREWER’S LANE.
The following Lectures on theWorld, the Visible Church, and the People of God, contain thesubstance of three Sermons preached in the Advent season of lastyear. They were written, and even committed to the presswith the full expectation that our happy connexion would longremain unbroken. But it has pleased God to open before meanother sphere of labour, which I have thought it right toundertake; and you must now receive this little volume as p. iva partingmemorial from one who can never cease to take the deepestinterest in your welfare.
I should have preferred leaving with you something morecharacteristic of the general tenour of my ministry; somethingcontaining fuller statements upon the grand saving doctrines ofthe Gospel, such as the completeness of the atonement, thepresent, free, and perfect justification of every poor sinnerthat believes in Jesus; and the new birth as wrought by the HolyGhost in the soul, and invariably accompanied by the fruits ofthe Spirit in the life. These are the truths which I hopehave filled my sermons, and which I pray God may be writtenindelibly by the Holy Ghost upon your hearts.
But I trust the subject of this little volume may not bealtogether ill-suited to p. vour present circumstances, inasmuch asby directing us to the church’s dangers, it may lead us topray for the church’s safety. If the view taken ofSt. Paul’s prophecy be correct, we live in times ofpeculiar peril, and must be prepared for a further increase ofseduction and apostacy within the visible church. Howearnest then should be the prayers of God’s people, inbehalf of God’s ambassadors! He alone can make usable ministers of the New Testament; He alone can preserve us asfaithful witnesses for Christ. I know well, brethren, thatyou have prayed habitually for me, and for that assurance I mostheartily thank both God and you. And now I leave it withyou as my earnest and solemn charge, that you will not relaxthose prayers, but increase and multiply them in behalf of himwho is about to fill my place. Let his hands bestrengthened by the believing intercessions of a faithful flock;let him go int