Transcribed from the 1861 B. Seeley edition by DavidPrice. Many thanks to the British Library for making theiredition available.
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A Sermon
IN CONNECTION WITH THE CENSUS OF1861,
PREACHEDIN
ST. THOMAS’ CHURCH,ISLINGTON,
OnSUNDAY EVENING, APRIL 7,
BYTHE
REV. GEORGE ALLEN,
Theological Associate, King’sCollege, London,
INCUMBENT.
PUBLISHED BYREQUEST.
B. SEELEY, ISLINGTON GREEN;
SEELEY, JACKSON, & HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET.
The profits of publication will bedevoted to the purchase of the new
Organ recently erected in the Church.
My dear Friends,
This Sermon was not written with aview to publication. I have consented to its being printedat the earnest request of several of the most experienced membersof the congregation, to whose judgment, I felt it would be butfalse modesty not to defer, when they assured me that theyconsidered it might, under God, be the means of doing good, andthat its publication would be a source of pleasure to yougenerally.
The Sermon—prepared amidst the pressure of parochialduties—is printed by desire exactly as it was deliveredfrom the pulpit. I must therefore crave your indulgence forwhatever imperfections may be found in it.
With all its faults, however, I dedicate it to you as anexpression of warm affection and gratitude for the p. 4many kindnessesI have received at your hands; and earnestly praying that theAlmighty will graciously vouchsafe His blessing to this feeble,but I trust sincere, endeavour to promote His glory and yourspiritual good,
I have the happiness to subscribemyself,
Your faithful Friend and Minister,
GEORGE ALLEN.
Upper Barnsbury Street, Islington,
8thApril, 1861.
Numbers i. 1, 2, 19.
“And the Lord spake untoMoses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of thecongregation, on the first day of the second month, in the secondyear after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, takeye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel . .. As the Lord commanded Moses,so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.”
The reading the words of the text,dear brethren, will make it obvious, that I desire this evening,to direct your attention to thoughts connected with the greatnational act now taking place, the numbering the people, thecensus. Whils