OLD WINE AND NEW:
Occasional Discourses.
BY
THE REV. JOSEPH CROSS, D.D., LL.D.,
AUTHOR OF "EVANGEL," "KNIGHT-BANNERET," "COALS FROM
THE ALTAR," "PAULINE CHARITY," AND
"EDENS OF ITALY."
NEW YORK:
THOMAS WHITTAKER,
2 and 3 Bible House.
1884.
Copyright, 1883,
By JOSEPH CROSS.
Franklin Press:
RAND, AVERY, AND COMPANY,
BOSTON.
DEDICATORY EPISTLE.
To THOMAS WHITTAKER, Esq., Publisher, New York.
My Dear Friend: In former times and other lands,when one wrote a book, he inscribed the volume to somedistinguished personage—a bishop, a baron, a monarch,a magnate in the world of letters—through whose nameit might win its way to popular favor, and achieve a successhardly to be hoped for from its own merit. Suchovershadowing oaks seemed necessary to shield from sunand storm the tender undergrowth; and the dew that layall night upon their branches the breezy morning shookoff in showers of diamonds upon the humbler herbage attheir roots. In an age pre-eminently of self-reliance anda country characterized no less by personal than politicalindependence, authors have learned at length to walkalone, marching right into the heart of the public with nopatronage but that of the publisher; and if a book havenot the intrinsic qualities to bear the scorching beams andfreezing blasts of criticism, down it must go amidst thedébris of earth's abortive ambitions and ruined hopes.Not so much from conscious need of help as from highesteem of the noblest personal qualities, therefore, I begleave upon this page to couple with my own a worthiername. Two years ago, when I placed in your trustyhands the manuscript of Knight-Banneret, I had theleast possible idea of the harvest which might growfrom so humble a seed-grain cast into a very questionablesoil. The result was an encouraging disappointment;and Evangel soon followed, enlarging thehorizon of hope; and Edens of Italy sent a refreshingaroma over all the landscape; and Coals from theAltar kindled assuring beacon-fires for the adventurer;and Pauline Charity, supported by Faith and Hope,walked forth in queenly state. During the publicationof these several productions, so pleasant has been ourintercourse—so great your kindness, candor, courtesy,magnanimity, hospitality, and every other social virtue—thatI look back upon the period as one of the happiestof my life; and now, at the close of the feast, hopingthat our last bout may be the best, I cordially invite youto share with me Old Wine and New.
Yours till Paradise,
JOSEPH CROSS
Nov. 1, 1883.
PREFACE.
Dear Reader: In the preface to Pauline Charity,did not the writer promise thee that volume should behis last? Some months later, however, at the bottomof the homiletical barrel, he found a few old acquaintances,in threadbare and tattered guise, smiling reproachfullyout of the dust of an undeserved oblivion.He beckoned them forth, gave them new gar