ADVERTISEMENT.

My object in the following volume has been to reduce to the level of the private soldier's capacity, a connected view of the whole scheme of man's redemption. In the prosecution of this design, I have striven to make plain to him that the religion of the Gospel is a religion of love; that it is not opposed either to the duties of the noble profession of arms, or to the frank and manly carriage which those duties create; and that he worships to the best effect whose devotion enters into the every day occurrences of life, causing him to thank God sincerely for all the blessings which surround him, and restraining him from abusing these to his own and to his neighbours' hurt. At the same time I

have embraced every opportunity that presented itself, of pointing out that in ourselves we are weak and wretched creatures-that the best hopes of the best of men would amount to nothing, were there not a Redeemer to depend upon; and that there is no man, however heavily laden his soul may be, who is justified in regarding himself as shut out from the hope that he may participate, if he set rightly about it, in the blessing which Christ died to purchase. In particular I have laboured to convince my military readers, that to them, more than to all other classes of persons, a deep yet a cheerful sense of religion is necessary. For the soldier's life hangs continually by a single hair. In peace he is liable to service in all climates,-in war, the sword of the enemy is for ever at his throat; what must that man's feelings be, if the monitor that is within tell him, that from God he is and must be an alien. So also with reference to the retired veteran, my

object has been to draw him into a sober and serious consideration of all that God has done for him, throughout a life of constant trials and dangers and difficulties. How far I may have succeeded in accomplishing these ends, it is not for me to determine; but, if I have accomplished them, then shall I feel that God's blessing has gone with my labours; for the view of religion which I have studied to present is one, of the justice of which I myself entertain no doubts whatever.

If, to the general reader, I shall appear to dwell somewhat too much upon the fortunes of a soldier's life, or to make use of language which he may deem too homely, I beg of him to remember that I publish, as I preached, especially for the benefit of the members of the British army. I do not know that any attempt of the kind has ever been made before. But I make it, not only without diffidence, but gladly; praying God that He will render me a humble instrument in his

hands, for the promotion, among a class of men to whom I must always be peculiarly attached, of that kind of religion, which shall render them loyal to their prince, active in the discharge of their duties, jealous of their well-earned reputation, and above all, true to the God who has created, who preserves, and who will eventually call both them and me to judgment.

Royal Hospital, Chelsea,

November, 1835.