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PREFACE.

ENNYSON has said,

"Though truths in manhood darkly join,
Deep-seated in our mystic frame,

We yield all blessing to the name

Of Him that made them 'current coin.""

When choosing the title of my book, on reading the lines over again I perceived that the Poet was referring to our Lord Jesus Christ, who so presented new truth and represented old in parable "and loveliness of perfect deeds" as to enable "Truth" to enter in at "lowly doors."

Small, indeed, may be the influence of any one teacher to give a current form to the ever new and living aspects of religion and morals

too small, perchance, for his name to be remembered or for his memory to be blest; but still the humblest disciple may aspire to follow where He has led, and do his best to give in his own age and country new mould and currency to some of the well-worn and effaced coins which have nearly lost the Master's image and superscription.

The wise and learned have a paper currency which is intelligible to them, and which represents real value; but we still want their learned symbols of exchange converted into current coin for the people.

To explain to the many what is known to the few, but what ought to be common property-this is the simple object of the present volume.

In "Thoughts for the Times" I attempted to strike the key-notes of modern theology, religion, and life. In "Speech in Season" I applied the principles previously laid down to our present social needs and ecclesiastical institutions. In "Current Coin" I deal with some

questions, moral, scientific, and philanthropic, which seem to me to press for more immediate solution at the present moment.

"Current Coin" consists, in fact, of pulpit discourses and platform speeches, delivered in the course of the last year or two, selected and revised.

The original matter in them, if such there be, I am not anxious to claim, whilst throughout I desire to express my obligation generally, but deeply, to those whose wise thoughts and researches I have found most useful.

"

"Materialism" is little more than an attempt to give a still wider currency to Mr. Martineau's invaluable address at Manchester New College, London, and his subsequent papers on Modern Materialism in the Contemporary Review, vol. xxvii. But, in doing this, I have used freely Bain, Herbert Spencer, Maudsley, Buchner, G. Lewes, Croll, Crookes, A. Picton, and others.

The chief authority on "The Devil" is, of course, Roskoff's "History of the Devil," and

Reville's "Origin, Greatness, and Decadence of the Devil."

The mine of wealth consulted in "Crime" is the great repertory of facts and figures contained in "Prisons and Reformatories at Home and Abroad," published by the International Centenary Congress. I am also indebted to Mr. Alsager Hay Hill, of the Labour News Office, for numerous tracts and pamphlets bearing on the question.

In 66 Drunkenness" I owe much to Dr. Richardson, whose pamphlet on that subject supplied me with most of the materials for my republished speech at St. George's Hall. I have also consulted "Convocation Report," 1869, Dr. Carpenter's "Physiology of Temperance, &c.," Quarterly Review, October 1875, and a whole deluge of pamphlets issued by competing temperance societies and associations.

In "Pauperism," besides the "Blue Books," and a host of pamphlets supplied me also by my friend Mr. Alsager Hay Hill, I may mention the "Reports" of the Charity Organisation

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