| Having completed another volume of our work, we embrace the opportunity of addressing a few remarks to our highly valued correspondents and subscribers. We are now drawing near the close of another year; a circumstance which should remind us all how swift the flight of time is, how stern the necessity of improving it as it flies, seeing it will never return; and above all the inexpressible importance of preparing for a blissful lot in that eternity into which we shall be launched, when we take our exit out of time. "Blessed are the dead which die IN the Lord." While contemplating the exact fulfilment of all the cheering predictions with which the word of God abounds, as to the universal diffusion of "the knowledge of the glory of God;" the final and complete triumph of the Gospel over idolatry, superstition, "the man of sin," and all "the works of darkness;" the dominion of the Saviour over all the inhabitants of our Globe; and the entire abandonment of war, the all-pervading influence of peace, and that extensive ascendancy of christian principles which shall cause "HOLINESS UNTO THE. LORD" to be inscribed "on the bells of the horses," as, the certain consequences: the christian philanthropist cannot but read "the signs of the times" in the universal turmoil, the shaking of thrones, the tumults of nations, the attempts at conferring the benefits of education on the masses, the immense reduction in the price of books through the process of stereotyping and the application of steam power to the art of printing, the upheavings of an ardent and unquenchable desire for liberty against all monopolies and oppressions, in the political world ;-and the wide circulation of the Bible-Religious Tracts---Periodicals-and other Publications,-the rapid progress of Missionary and Sunday School operations,-the wakeful activity manifested by the papal hierarchy, the Oxford Divines, the Ecclesiastical Establishments, and the various bodies of Dissenters, in these realms,-the revival of evangelical principles in France and other countries on the Continent of Europe,-the collision of the Church of Scotland with the civil power,-the frequent and untiring opposition to Church-rates in England,-the scriptural, manly, argumentative, eloquent, and truth-telling Lectures-essays-Ieaders in Periodicals-statements made in parish vestries and before magistrates, of the unchristian nature and tendency of state-prescribed religion; and above all, in the united prayers of God's people of many denominations for the coming of his kingdom. VI In the midst of all this vast machinery and these powerful influences, we consider it to be the duty of the responsible Conductors of Religious Periodicals, to bring before the minds of their readers; sound theology, and also to exhibit the imbodiment thereof into real life and action; for in our view, much will depend upon the character of the Literature of the day, and especially upon the amount and kind of religious instruction with which it is imbued, how soon, and to what extent, the communication of education to the millions; may be the means of promoting the evangelization of the world. These are subjects on which our limits will not allow us to enlarge; yet we have the satisfaction of contributing our quota of religious knowledge for the guidance of the march of intellect among those who read our pages; and thus, in our humble measure, to help to give a right direction to public opinion. This duty we have endeavoured to discharge while engaged in preparing this and preceding Volumes, in various Sermons and pieces on Divinity; the varied Biography of departed saints; and the accounts given of the active exertions of God's people to spread the knowledge of the truth. How far we have succeeded, we leave our readers to decide; while we assure them that no efforts which we can put forth will be spared, to make the forth-coming volume more fully adapted to answer these ends. Craving the indulgence of our readers for all past defects; cordially thanking them, and our valued correspondents, for all their past favours; requesting an interest in the prayers of the pious, for a blessing on ourselves and on our labours; and earnestly intreating the hearty co-operation of all who are interested in the efficiency and circulation of this Periodical, we take our leave for the present; and devoutly pray that we may all meet in, heaven at last. Amen. Langtree, November 17th, 1841. |