Of Edward Irving, when he died fifty years ago, a London editor wrote: "He was the one man of our time who more than all others preached his life and lived his sermons." To preach one's life were hardly apostolical, though to live one's sermons might be greatly Christian. At the former the author never aimed; of the latter there is little danger of his being suspected. Yet this book is in some sort the record of his personal history. For a farewell gift to the world, he long contemplated an autobiography--had actually begun the work, written more than a hundred pages, and sketched a promising outline of the whole; when, in an hour of indigestion, becoming disgusted, he dropped the enterprise, and made his manuscript a burnt offering to the "blues." As a substitute for the failure, these discourses represent him in the successive stages of his ministry, being arranged in the chronological order of production and delivery, with dates and occasions in footnotes--the only autobiography he could produce, the only one doubtless to be desired. Should grace divine make it in any measure effectual to the spiritual illumination of those who honor it with a perusal, he will sing his _Nunc Dimittis_ with thankful heart, and wait calmly for the day when every faithful worker "shall have praise of God." Farewell. J. C. Feast of All Saints, 1883. CONTENTS. Discourse. I. Filial Hope. 1829 II. Rest for the Weary. 1830 III. My Beloved and Friend. 1833 IV. Refuge in God. 1838 V. Parental Discipline. 1840 VI. Joy of the Law. 1842 VII. Sojourning with God. 1858 VIII. Building for Immortality. 1859 IX. Wail of Bereavement. 1862 X. Wisdom and Weapons. 1863 XI. Love tested. 1866 XII. Manifold Temptations. 1866 XIII. Contest and Coronation. 1866 XIV. Calvary Token. 1866 XV. Heroism Triumphant. 1868 XVI. Fraternal Forgiveness. 1869 XVII. Christ with his Ministers. 1872 XVIII. Kept from Evil. 1873 XIX. Contending for the Faith. 1874 XX. The Fruitless Fig-Tree. 1876 XXI. Christian Contentment. 1883 XXII. "Ye know the Grace." 1883 OLD WINE AND NEW. I. FILIAL HOPE.[1] Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.--1 John iii. 2.