1843
Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard208
FORMERLY A CLOTHING MERCHANT HERE IN THE CITY
MY FATHER
THESE DISCOURSES ARE DEDICATED
Although this little book (which is called “discourses,” not sermons, because its author does not have authority to preach, “upbuilding209 discourses,” not discourses for upbuilding,210 because the speaker by no means claims to be a teacher211) is not unaware of the two that preceded it, it nevertheless is not confident that they have prepared the way so that with certainty it dares to count on being included with them or with certainty dares to promise this to the one who sends it out—and who at the same time stands far off by himself. It differs from the earlier ones only in that it goes out somewhat later. What is not found in the second and third hours may be found in the fourth, or what was found there may again be found in the fourth: that which it seeks, that single individual [hiin Enkelte] whom I with joy and gratitude call my reader, that favorably disposed person who receives the book and gives it a good home, that favorably disposed person who in receiving it does for it by himself and by his acceptance what the temple box by itself did for the widow’s mite:212 sanctifies the gift, gives it meaning, and transforms it into much.
S. K.