WILLIAM J. IRONS, M.A.

OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD,

AND MINISTER OF ST. PETER'S, WALWORTH, SURREY.

BOD

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON,

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD,

AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL.

MDCCCXXXVIII.

LONDON:

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, PRINTERS,

ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.

ΤΟ

EDWARD BOUVERIE PUSEY, D.D.

(LATE FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE)

CANON OF CHRIST CHURCH,

AND REGIUS PROFESSOR OF HEBREW

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD;

THIS VOLUME

(BY HIS PERMISSION)

IS PRESENTED; WITH A DEEP FEELING

OF THE AUTHOR'S OBLIGATION

TO HIM

FOR THE BLESSINGS OF HIS LEARNED INSTRUCTION,

HIS CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE,

AND HIS HONEST FRIENDSHIP.

PREFACE.

VERY little needs to be said to introduce these Lectures to the reader. They were delivered in Advent last, at Saint Mary's, Newington; and there is the same reason for publishing, which there then was for writing and preaching them. I desire to assist, as far as I am able, those who are seeking to clear and define their thoughts, respecting the origin, nature, and power of the Christian Ministry. I have aimed only at plainness and fairness in the statement of the argument; and have adopted