PREFACE* IT is not always easy to select themes for sermons. Even those who are able to give all their time to reading and study are sometimes glad of a suggestion by which they are directed to a topic; how much more is this the case when a man is all the week engaged in commercial pursuits, and then has to preach twice on the Lord’s-day. These are called lay-brethren by those who believe in a special priesthood; I can only say that whatever they are called they are among the right honourables of