THE Author offers the following pages rather as a specimen of what he wished to do, than of what he has actually accomplished. He is aware that a great variety of matter, deeply interesting to the clergy, lies scattered through many and expensive volumes, which are not within the reach of the clergy in general. He was anxious to collect as much as his time and other circumstances would allow. He trusts that the following pages, wanting as they confessedly are in many particulars, may nevertheless not be altogether unacceptable to his younger brethren in the ministry; and he will receive, with the deepest gratitude, any hints, or information, from such as may be disposed to assist him in rendering his work more generally useful, in a future edition.