SERMONS preached at THE OPENING SERVICES of the WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL, In 1866, AT MALVERN, by Rev. W. M. Punshon , Rev. W. Arthur , Rev. J. H. James , Rev. C. Prest , Rev. J. Priestley , Rev. G. Smith , Rev. G. Wood . With a Preface by Knowles King. LONDON: JOHN SNOW & CO., IVY LANE, paternoster row ; WARREN HALL & CO., CAMDEN ROAD. 1866. to RALPH BARNES GRINDROD, of malvern , m.d. , ll.d. , f.l.s. , f.r.g.s. , f.g.s. , &c., &c., This Volume of Sermons is res

The Sermons which make up this volume were preached at Malvern, in 1866, at, and immediately after, the opening services of the Wesleyan Chapel there. This beautiful and commodious building owes its erection to the piety and energy of the Rev. W. M. Punshon , who, in the year 1862, proposed by Lectures, and otherwise, to raise a fund for building Wesleyan Chapels in places of summer resort. This proposition was well responded to by Mr. Punshon’s friends, and the Wesleyan public, and forty thousa

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”—1 Peter ii. 5. There is a manifest reference in the fourth verse to the personage alluded to in Psalm cxviii. 22, 23: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”  And this passage is applied by Christ to himself in Matthew xxi. 42: “Jesus saith unto them, Di

“That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”— Hebrews ii. 14, 15. There is a special and ordained connection between the incarnation and the death of our blessed Lord.  Other men die in due course after they are born; he was born just that he might die.  He came “not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give” his “life a ransom for many.”  It is therefore

“And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness.”— Hosea vii. 2. Is it possible for any man to conceive of truths more fitted to arrest the attention and impress the heart than are those contained in this volume?  It has been said that if a blank book had been put into our hands, and every one of us had been asked to put into it the promises we should like to find there, we could not have employed language so explicit, so expressive, and so suited to all our varied wa

“And thy years shall not fail.”— Hebrews i. 12. You know that these words are taken from the hundred and second Psalm.  There, they are addressed to God the Creator; here, to Christ the Redeemer.  In both cases they express the same truths.  Man finds himself here, looks out to what he can see around him, and then in thought passes on to what he cannot see.  He knows that a very little while ago he was not here, he was not anywhere.  He has an instinct within which tells him that though it is so

“Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”— Amos iv. 12. This chapter refers to the condition of Israel at the time of this prophecy, and to the expostulation and threatened procedure of God concerning the nation.  God’s people had revolted from Him; they had sunk into idolatry; they had been often reproved, but had hardened their necks, and therefore the Lord, after recapitulating the calamities which had befallen the

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”—1 Peter i. 10, 11. There is a peculiar interest attaching to the writer of this epistle.  Although it was probably in old age, when a large experience of labour and sorrow had chastened his s

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians ii. 5. The Saviour left His followers an example that they should tread in His steps; and His example in everything that appertains to His human nature, is not only practicable but essential.  We cannot imitate His power, or His wisdom, or His miracles, or His sufferings, or anything in which His Divine nature was manifested or employed; but we can imitate His meekness, His patience, His zeal, His self-denial, His superiorit