The nature and principles of love, as the end of the commandment declared in…

These Sermons were preached by the Reverend Author of them a little while before his Entrance into Rest. I cannot learn that the occasions of them were extraordinary, ⟨image 3⟩or that he had any design in them beyond that which accompanied the ordinary course of his Ministry; muc• less a purpose to publish them, a• conceiving them either more useful or more needful, or more laboured than the rest of his constant and frequent Exercises in the same kind. Neither did he leave any such Copy of them as might be helpful towards such an end. But they were taken from his mouth by the diligence of a Dexterous Hand, who at first designed nothing but his own use and edification by them; until observing how soon after the preaching of them, God was pleased to call him off from his Painful Labour in his Vineyard, and so to cut short all expectations of farther administrations of Truth and Grace, by the Trust and Dispensation committed unto him; he resolved to make them public, for the good and benefits of others. And as herein ⟨image 3⟩he followed his own Inclination and Judgement; So if any thing be found in these Discourses as to Phrase of Speech, or manner of Expression, not answering that Accuracy, which this Author was known to have used in all his Writings published by himself; he alone must bear the blame of it, from them who think such defects blame worthy. These things I could not but acquaint the Reader withal, that he may look for no more in these Sermons, but what he might have found in the Constant Ministry of the Reverend Author. But yet I must say, upon their perusal, that take them under the Circumstances mentioned, they give no ill or disadvantageous Account of the Ordinary Labours and Endeavours of this Eminent Minister of the Gospel. Thus did Mr. Caryl use to preach, sometimes twice, sometimes thrice in the Week, always showing himself a