PREFACE.

AN affectionate desire to honour and perpetuate the memory of one greatly beloved and lamented by all who knew him, has led to the appearance of the following Discourses. They were never intended for the press; the original MSS. being all in a short hand peculiar to the Author, and not always easy of solution, even with the aid of a key found among his papers. With these increased disadvantages of a posthumous production, it is still hoped that the present volume will not be found altogether destitute of intrinsic interest to the numerous kind friends who have manifested their regard for the departed, or their sympathy with the survivors, by assisting towards its publication.

It is the personal experience and practice of a Minister of CHRIST, that must give weight to his testimony. And truly did our deceased brother exemplify in his life, the reality and power of the Word

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which he preached. From the GOSPEL were derived, through Grace, the principles of his conduct, and the superadded ornaments of a character naturally lovely. This also proved the support and consolation of his meek spirit, under many trying vicissitudes; and this had prepared him to meet his sudden summons :-so that the sacred and precious truths here delivered, and as it were bequeathed to us, may be regarded as having been tested to the uttermost. And now," he, being dead, yet speaketh." A voice, not from the tomb, but "from the excellent glory" before the Throne of GOD, sounds in our ears:- "That which

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we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the FATHER, and with HIS SON JESUS "CHRIST."—" Not one thing hath failed, of all the good things which the LORD our God hath spoken: "all are come to pass, and not one thing hath failed "thereof."- "Oh taste and see that the LORD is Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!" "Be not slothful, but followers of them,

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good!

who, through faith and patience, inherit the pro"mises."

To many of the Subscribers to this volume, the following brief notices of the ministerial life of the

Author, and of the circumstances of his afflicting removal, will not be uninteresting:

The Rev. Charles Neat was ordained Deacon, by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, on the 24th of March, 1816; when the following entry appears in his diary: 66 Thus wishes are realized, and my prayers

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my

answered; and for these mercies I would render

unfeigned thanks to Him who hath done all things well."

He was ordained Priest, on Sunday the 29th of January, 1817, in Gloucester Cathedral, by the late excellent and lamented Bishop Ryder; being appointed to the Curacy of Temple Church, Bristol. Hence, in consequence of ill health, Mr. Neat removed to the Curacy of Mawgan and St. Martin's, in Cornwall; commencing duties there on the 7th of June, 1818, with this prayer, as recorded in his journal:-"May the LORD own and bless me, in this part of His vineyard!"

From Cornwall, Mr. Neat removed, in 1820, to the Perpetual Curacy of Aldershot, near Farnham, Surrey; preaching there, for the first time, on Easter-day. 'The prospect (he remarks) is dis"couraging; but may the LORD cause these dry bones. "to live!"

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Having seen it to be his duty to accept an ap

pointment from the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, and the coasts of the Mediterranean being assigned as his sphere of labour, Mr. Neat "left Aldershot on the 29th of September, 1823; having preached there, for the last time, on the preceding day, to a very numerous and affected congregation; "-embarked for Gibraltar on the 11th of October; and arrived on the 30th. Thence (having been permitted, during his stay, to assist in the duties of the Garrison Chaplaincy), he proceeded to Leghorn, on the 3d of April, 1824; and arrived on Easter-day, April the 18th.

The following extract from a Letter to one of his dearest and most valuable friends, gives an account of his passage and arrival:

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Lazaretto, Leghorn, 26th April, 1824.

66 MY DEARLY-BELOVED FRIEND

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Being fully persuaded that you take an interest in our movements, I take up my pen to inform you of our arrival in this place. After various conversations with Jews at Gibraltar, it appeared that no particular reason for my longer continuance there existed notwithstanding, there is ground for hope, that our visit will not have been without some beneficial effect. One of the Children of Israel there wept at my last interview with him.