PREFACE. SOME years ago Mr. Kebles MS. Sermons were entrusted to us, with a view to our making selections from them for publication. This has been done, and eleven Volumes have been, published, under the superintendence of Dr. Pusey, who wrote a Preface to the Volun e for Lent, which was the first published, though now standing fourth of the ten Volumes which form the series for the Christian Year. Vol. XI. being a miscellaneous collection. But together with the mass of Sermons dating from the year 1815 to 1865, thus reaching over half a century, and other MSS. sent to us, there were a large number of scraps of paper of all sorts and sizes, backs of letters, of parish notices, C., C., past counting, but weighing, when put together, over five pounds. These had been found, when Mr. Kebles papers had to be removed from Hursley Vicarage, scattered about in all kinds of places, and had been carefully collected by his nephew, the Rev. J. Keble, jun. , from whom we received them. . These sketches bring vividly before me the recollection of days long ago, how he used to sit at the round table in the little Hursley Vicarage drawing-room, bending over his book or paper, in the midst of conversa They were at first set aside, while we were occupied with the work of selecting the Sermons, and preparing them for the press but when that began to draw to a close, the loose papers were looked into, and the more they were considered, the more valuable they appea ed varying extremely in character, there was in them that combination of exceeding simplicity with deep and accurate theology, and wonderful familiarity with Holy Scripture, which is such a marked characteristic of his Sermons and many of them had an originality peculiarly his own, which their very shortness and abruptness seemed to bring out, even more forcibly than if they had been filled out into finished compositions. A number of them were copied, and shewn to Dr. Pusey, who entirely approved of their publication, and kindly looked over and compared with the originals, by far the larger number of those which form the contents of the present Volume. Specimens of them have since been occasionally submitted to others, in whose judgment we had confidence, and in every case the expressions of approval have been strong and uniform. In more than one instance the opinion was even given, that these outlines would be, to some, of more value than finished Sermons. It has been thought that they may be of use in two ways first as notes or sketches for Sermons this was no doubt the purpose for which they were originally tion grave or gay, in which he would from time to time take part, taking off his spectacles, looking up, and breaking in with please say that again, I did not quite hear.-R. F. W. written, and as it may beinteresting and instructive, especially to young preachers, to see how the Author himself expanded his notes, a few have been introduced. into the Volume, of which the working out will be found amongst the series of Sermons for the Christian Year, alluded to above -thus No. xxvi. of these outlines will be found worked out into Sermon 16, Vol. 111. No. xxvii. in Sermon 18 of the same Vol. No. xciv. seems to have been expanded into two Sermons, viz. 20 and 21. in Vol. I. No. cii. will be found in Sermon 20, Vol. IX... Read less