Thomas Sherman

Aids to the Divine Life a Series of Practical Christian Contemplations Thomas Sherman

The little work which is here presented to the reader in a new dress, was originally published in the year 1680, under the following Title: "Divine Breathings: Or, a Manual of Practical Contemplations; Tending to Promote Gospel Principles, and a Holy Life in Christ". As regards the book itself, if, as a clever writer has somewhere said, "great books, like large skulls, often have the least brains," it possesses the double recommendation of being small, and having brains beyond its size. I have only to add that in the present edition the archaic spelling has been modernized, and obsolete words and forms of expression updated, and the one hundred contemplations, of which the work originally consisted, digested under twenty-one general heads. It is hoped that, at all events, these alterations will not detract from the value of the work; no liberties having been taken with the sentiments of the author. And on the sure ground of the excellence of those sentiments, praying that the Divine blessing may once again accompany its publication, I commend this volume, small in size but not in value, to the prayerful perusal of the Christian reader.