The acts of Saint Mary Magdalene considered, in a series of discourses

Front matter

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THE ACTS

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE,

Preface

These sermons are given to the public, partly because the Author was persuaded to publish them at the repeated request of several persons who heard many of them delivered, and expressed a desire to have in their possession the whole connected series, and who entertained the belief that, if they appeared in print, they might promote the interests of piety and religion ; and partly because he himself was of opinion, that the delineation of so prominent a scriptural life as that of S. Mary Magdalene, especially when viewed in combination with the passages concerning the penitent woman of the city and the sister of Martha and Lazarus and so forming one consistent character, (an attempt which he believes has not been made by any previous writer,) might be found both attractive and instructive ; and by means of the additional interest attaching to a connected narrative might render the lessons which he desired

Vlll PREFACE.

to convey more engaging, even to many to whom sermons ordinarily offer little attraction.

The idea of the series was conceived by the Author when serving his first cure, in 1844, at S. John's, Westminster, and preparing discourses for the pulpit ; and was kept before his mind, he trusts, by the gracious Spirit of God, until it has gradually developed into the connected view of the scriptural details of S. Mary Magdalene's life furnished in the present volume. The sermons have undergone considerable amendments and additions since their composition for the pulpit ; and as, besides this, two of them were never preached, they have, therefore, the less right to claim any interest from the several places of their delivery. Suffice it, therefore, generally, to say that they were delivered before metropolitan congregations, in the years 1844, 1846, and in the present year.

The passages in the Appendix have generally been added, to give the reader confidence in the Author's views ; which, however, were formed, for the most part, independently of them. The Author's conviction of the identity of Mary Magdalene and Mary sister of Lazarus sprang from a serious meditation and scriptural research on the

PREFACE. IX

subject, consequent on the strong assertion to that effect of a learned writer of the present day ; but he is glad to be able to adduce so much authority tending to confirm that conviction.

It has been thought desirable, for obvious reasons, to furnish a translation of the Latin quotations in the Appendix from Lamy, &c. ; but the French language being now so common an acquirement, it was deemed best to leave the two or three passages in that language in their original form.

It is due to those who, more than two years ago, requested the publication of this series, to say, that they would have made their appearance at a much earlier date, had not all the Author's disposable time, during a period not unattended with the distracting cares of a frequent shifting of home and position, been devoted to another publication, which he considered of far greater importance than this work is likely to prove to the interests of the Church.

Hixon,

Feast of S. Andrew the Apostle, 1848.