00p Preface

PREFACE The rain in Israel fell periodically, at set seasons of the year — the one about seed time, the other just before harvest. The former prepared the ground for the seed — the latter filled the ear and prepared the corn for the sickle. Truth is often compared to rain in God’s Word, and in this book you will find truth calculated to impress the mind of the sinner, and lead him to seek salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are some portions intended to convince of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come — and to lead the convinced one to the cross for refuge and for rest. This is the early rain. And here also, are portions designed . . .
to comfort those who are cast down,
to refresh those who are weary,
to strengthen those who are weak,
to decide those who are wavering,
to stimulate those who are declining,
to recover those who have wandered, and
to benefit all classes in the family of God. This is the latter rain. As truth is like one tree with many branches, or one river with many streams; so this book seeks one object — the reader’s everlasting welfare, by a variety of subjects.

Reader, the writer wishes to do you good — but he has no hope of doing so, without the power and influence of the Holy Spirit being put forth; let me beseech you therefore to pray that the Holy Spirit may descend on you while you read, and apply to your heart, the simple truths presented, with his own invincible power. If that power is exerted — you will be quickened, comforted, and sanctified, and will bless God, that the volume ever came into your possession! But without that power — all our efforts will be vain. We may never meet on earth — but we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ; may we meet there as justified believers to be rewarded, and may you testify that this book has been made a blessing to your soul. Peace be with you, and love with faith, from our Lord Jesus Christ. So prays, Yours in Jesus,
James Smith, 1856