Sketches and incidents, or, A budget from the saddle-bags of a superannuated itinerant

Preface

In order to give the following sketches a slight aspect of unity, the author has adopted an arrangement which he hopes will not detract in the most scrupulous estimation from the general veracity of the work.

Though adapted to the Sunday-School Library, it is chiefly designed for the advanced youth of the Church ; and the author would not dissemble that, in his matter and in his style, he has studied to meet the wants of this interesting class. While our denominational literature abounds in standard works for adults, and includes an excellent series for Sunday schools, it is comparatively destitute of such productions as have been furnished to the youth of the Calvinistic portion of the religious community, by Robert Philip, the Messrs. Abbott, <kc. The present publication, though of a widely different character, will be acceptable, it is hoped, to the same class of readers. Perhaps its more fragmentary form

PREFACE.

may serve its object. The author has sought to convey in these sketches important lessons, and to excite an affection for the character and institutions of the Church. A few of them have already been extensively circulated in the religious prints. The interest which they have thus excited has encouraged their publication in the present form.

Some of these articles present coincidences and deno&mmts so remarkable as to probably excite suspicion of their veracity. The reader will bear in mind that such singular incidents do occasionally occur in the current of common-place events — that the present examples are not given as specimens of average events, but are professedly sought out as anomalous. Though the writer has discreetly (as he thinks) used his imagination, in a few instances, for the illustration of important subjects, yet most of the extraordinary cases referred to, so far as they are related on his own authority, he knows to be substantial facts; and those related on the authority of others are well authenticated.

Contents

PAOB

Introduction 7

Early Methodist Preaching 9