01.00p. Preface

CHRIST, AND HIM CRUCIFIED

PREFACE
In presenting these pages to the Christian public, the object of the author is simply to exhibit Christ and Him crucified as the only hope of a lost world. In this essay we have endeavored to speak of the Excellency of the subject- of the Person of Christ- of the Glory of Christ- of Christ Crucified- of Redemption by Christ- of the New Song in Glory- of the Sum and Substance of the Gospel- of the only Hope of the Sinner- and of the Cross of Christ. This volume is now commended to the blessing of God. May He grant that, through these page, some despairing soul may be led to hope in Christ and Him crucified. May sinners be attracted by the glory of the cross of Jesus; may saints he built up in their "most holy faith;" and to the Eternal Father, Son, and Spirit, a triune God, be all the praise.

And now, dear reader, in the language of William Mason, "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, wishing you sweet comfort in perusing these meditations. If our Lord gives you as much in reading as I have found in writing them, you will have great reason for love and praise. Accept them, as the labor of one who is no prophet, neither a prophet’s son, but who would glory in being a saved sinner, by the cross of Jesus;" and whose delight it ever is to dwell on the blessed theme of redeeming love.

"Blest Savior, with delight I dwell
On themes no mortal tongue can tell;
The glory of your cross exceeds
All human and angelic deeds."

Blessed Jesus! Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer. Amen.

"Though billows of sorrow should roll,
And surround me on every side;
Yet you can the tempest control,
My Savior, my Refuge, and Guide.
Your smile makes the soul to expand,
And graces celestial to grow;
With rapture I gaze on the land
Where pleasures incessantly flow.
’Tis there my dear Savior resides,
In fullness of glory and grace;
And there the pure river that glides
Through regions of joy and of peace.
The life-yielding tree there shall spread
Its branches luxuriantly round;
The saints robed in white shall be fed,
With fruits from Immanuel’s ground.
How deep is the mystery of grace!
The theme of bright seraphs above;
To see the sweet beams of his face,
To dwell in the essence of love!
My Father! your nature is love;
In Jesus your image I view!
Oh may I behold him above,
And praise him eternally too.
May this my delight ever be,
On earth his rich grace to record;
And when from these temples set free
With joy ascend up to the Lord."