The work of the ministry must be acknowledged, by all who believe the truths of revelation, and hope for happiness beyond the grave, to be the most important in which a human being can possibly engage. It extends, in its effects and consequences, beyond the boundaries of time, and involves the future happiness or misery of millions, by leading them to felicities or woes which baffle all our calculations.

The political decisions of senates may afflict nations with calamity, or deliver them from it; but the good and evil which they administer must terminate with the present life. It is not so with the ministry of the gospel.

The effects which result from the pious or unfaithful labors of those who act as ambassadors for God, may, indeed, be perceived in every stage of human probation; but they will appear more conspicuous as life draws toward a close: — they will remain unextinguished at death, and assume, in eternity, a visible and permanent form. The man who engages in this solemn work is not merely accountable to God for his own soul, but becomes responsible also for the souls of those who have been committed to his care. The sacred writings have guarded his office with the most awful sanctions. Both promises and threatenings conspire to keep alive his hopes and fears, by holding out, in the most pointed language, the rewards or punishments which await him in a future world. On the one hand, we are assured that “they who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever;” while, on the other, we are clearly informed that “those watchmen who see the sword coming, and neglect to give the people warning, shall have their blood required at their hands.”

Impressed with these momentous realities, the author of these discourses, having at an early period of life undertaken the sacred task, turned his thoughts to an examination of the various duties which became his station.

In this survey he saw them to be both numerous and diversified, blending and incorporating themselves with every department of life and he was soon convinced that nothing but a strict attention to these varied connections, could preserve that consistency of character which should always distinguish the heralds of everlasting peace. With an eye to this end, occasional incidents became his monitors; — real life furnished him with many instructive lessons; and experience and practice have since confirmed him in his adherence to obligations which were first adopted from principle.

These discourses may, therefore, be considered as the result of practical observation, rather than of learned inquiry; and of real experience, rather than of deep reflection.

But, though the author turned his attention to this subject in the manner that has been hinted, and for reasons that have been assigned, he had no desire to publish his thoughts to the world. This originated in another circumstance.

Having been called upon, occasionally, to preach before the Methodist conferences, where the great bodies of preachers belonging to the connection were assembled, he could not but express his ideas of the nature of the gospel ministry, and advert to the duties which should be sustained, by all those who conscientiously engage to preach Christ and him crucified.

The approbation with which his views were received, particularly in America, induced many who heard his observations to solicit their publication; from a persuasion that they might prove as useful in the closet as they had been satisfactory to those who had received them from the pulpit.

These importunities he, however, for a long time withstood; till, in crossing the Atlantic Ocean on one of his voyages, the pages now presented to the reader assumed nearly their present form, undergoing such amendments and corrections, and receiving such additions, as were thought necessary to prepare them for the public eye. A train of favorable circumstances concurred during the voyage to facilitate the completion of the author’s undertaking. He was secluded from the world, — had nothing to fear from interruption, — was going on a ministerial errand, and had with him the works of some French authors, particularly those of M. Massillon, the pious bishop of Meaux, whose views on the subject were congenial with his own.

Thus circumstanced, he began to arrange his thoughts; but found, as he proceeded, that what he had originally compressed into a single discourse, actually branched itself into four; no part of which he could possibly retrench without doing injustice to a subject that he was endeavoring to elucidate, or rejecting that assistance of which he was anxious to avail himself. In years that are past, he trusts that these sermons have been rendered a blessing to many; and, as truth is not to be impaired by age, he has reason to hope that their republication will continue to be attended with the divine blessing. This is his primary inducement to send a new impression of them into the world. He feels confidence that the leading features of the ministerial character and duties are delineated agreeably to the doctrines of the gospel, as he endeavored in every part to take the prophets and apostles for his guides. Relying, therefore, on the promises of Him who has declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church, he commits this little book to the world, with an earnest hope that God will make it a blessing to many souls.