Sterne's Sermons
Sterne's sermons are, in general, very short, which circumstance gave
rise to the following joke at Bull's Library, at Bath:--A footman had
been sent by his lady to purchase one of Smallridge's sermons, when, by
mistake, he asked for a small religious sermon. The bookseller being
puzzled how to reply to his request, a gentleman present suggested,
"Give him one of Sterne's."
It has been observed, that if Sterne had never written one line more
than his picture of the mournful cottage, towards the conclusion of his
fifth sermon, we might cheerfully indulge the devout hope that the
recording angel, whom he once invoked, will have blotted out many of
his imperfections.
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