Chapter I: Preface

I have collected in these volumes several Speeches, Addresses and occasional Sermons, which I have delivered at various times during the last seven years. Most of them were prepared for some special emergency: only two papers, that on "The Relation of Jesus to his Age and the Ages," and that on "Immortal Life," were written without reference to some such emergency. All of them have been printed before, excepting the sermon "Of General Taylor," and the address on "The American Scholar;" some have been several times reprinted. I do not know that they are worthy of republication in this permanent form, but the leading ideas of these volumes are very dear to me, and are sure to live as long as the human race shall continue. So I have published a small edition, hoping that the truths which I know are contained in these pages will do a service long after the writer, and the occasion of their utterance, have passed off and been forgot. I offer them to whom they may concern.

THEODORE PARKER.

AUGUST 24, 1851.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

I.

THE RELATION OF JESUS TO HIS AGE AND THE AGES.--A Sermon preached at the Thursday Lecture, in Boston, December 26, 1844 PAGE 1

II.

THE TRUE IDEA OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH.--A Discourse at the Installation of Theodore Parker as Minister of the Twenty-Eighth Congregational Church in Boston, on Sunday, January 4, 1846 23

III.

A SERMON OF WAR.--Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, June 7, 1846 63

IV.

A SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE ANTI-WAR MEETING IN FANUEIL HALL, February 4, 1847 113

V.

A SERMON OF THE MEXICAN WAR.--Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, June 25, 1848 127

VI.

A SERMON OF THE PERISHING CLASSES IN BOSTON.--Preached at the Melodeon on Sunday, August 30, 1846 185

VII.

A SERMON OF MERCHANTS.--Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, November 22, 1846 227

VIII.

A SERMON OF THE DANGEROUS CLASSES IN SOCIETY.--Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, January 31, 1847 279

IX.

A SERMON OF POVERTY.--Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, January 14, 1849 333

X.

A SERMON OF THE MORAL CONDITION OF BOSTON.--Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, February 11, 1849 364