First edition. 8vo. 203x120mm. pp. xiv, [10], 339 [1]. Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, red morocco label lettered in gilt reading “Miscellanies”, third compartment stamped with gilt number ‘7’. Rubbing and shelfwear to the boards and edges. Repairs to head and foot of spine with a small quarter inch split to foot of spine at joint with upper cover. Some foxing but this is a very nice copy of a scarce book published in only this edition and only in this one volume notwithstanding the title page stating that this is Volume I and the author’s preface indicating that there will be a further two volumes. Bound with The Reverend Mr Smith, The Great Duty of Contentment and Resignation to the Will of God, recommended. Shewing the Ways and Means how to attain such a Temper of Mind as will make us happy in the worst Circumstances we may possibly fall into. Being The Substance of Eight Sermons Preached first in Hoxton Chapel, and afterwards in the Parish Church of St Margaret’s Lothbury. To which are added, Select Forms of Prayers proper for private Families, and particular Persons, extracted from the Liturgy of the Church of England, and other Books of Devotion. In this edition are inserted some Observations on the Use and Abuse of the Passions with several Remarks on particular Parts of the Discourse, not inserted in the former Impressions. Ninth edition, corrected by the Author, with considerable Additions. 8vo. 203x120mm. pp. viii, 9-104. Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, red morocco label lettered in gilt reading “Miscellanies”, third compartment stamped with gilt number ‘7’. Rubbing and shelfwear to the boards and edges. Repairs to head and foot of spine with a small quarter inch split to foot of spine at joint with upper cover. There is slight cracking to the rear hinge and the final page is a little loose. Some foxing internally particularly to the title page. Although this was clearly a popular work running to eleven editions between 1753 and 1777, they are all scarce both in commerce and institutionally, the ninth edition especially so, being found only at the Beinecke. Thomas Smith seems to be a mysterious figure. He was clearly a popular preacher having given these sermons in two different churches. He is described on the title page as “Preacher of the Sunday morning, and Thursday Afternoon Lectures in the Parish Church of St Giles’s Cripplegate”. The main part of the book is Smith’s essay on Contentment which has its origins in a series of sermons. The essence of his argument is that it is hard to acquire contentment but that it can only be achieved by submitting ourselves to the vicissitudes of life, “to whatever may befal us, in the course of God’s providence for the future”. The last twenty pages contain a collection of prayers and hymns on the theme of Christian contentment.