IN the Preface to our twentieth volume", we took a retrospective glance of the general character and events of the fifth part of a century which had then rolled away since we commenced our humble labours. We were enabled to present to our readers, if not a scene glowing with unmingled radiance, yet, upon the whole, such a brightening prospect, in respect to the progress of light and liberty, of humanity and public happiness, of Cliristian principles and Christian zeal, as served to relieve the many darker shades in the sketch, and to give the assurance of the approach of a more perfect day. No devout reader, we are persuaded, can look back upon the establishment and rapid advance of those benign institutions to which we then adverted, or can contemplate ibeir.continued and accelerated progress as recorded even in the succinct digests of our present volume, withoot feelings of delight and admiration; without lively gratitude to the Author of every good gift, for his manifold mercies to a guilty and perishing world ; without fervent prayer that his ways may be speedily koown upon earth, his saving health unto all nations; and, in addition to all, without invigorated zeal, and renewed exertions, and warmer love, and inore expaoded liberality in forwarding this glorious consummation. If during the last year, we bave had the melancholy task of recording wars and rumours of wars; if we have had to lament instances of political selfishness, or crooked policy, or unjust encroachment, or the sacrifice of Christian sympathy and duty at the shrine of a doubtful and short-sighted expediency; if in any instances we have seen power overstrained or popolar liberty abused; if we have witnessed the opposition between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness becoming more fearfully conspicuous, and the latter on any occasion triumpbing for a moment over the former; if amidst our domestic events we have had to regret the continuance of distress in some'agricultural districts, or the afflictions of the sister kiogdom of Ireland, or the awful end of a distinguished statesman, or the removal of many faithful servants of God from their labours op earth to their reward in heaven; if many of our poor are still uneducated, and left destitute of Christian instruction : if our Sabbaths are still polluted; if many blots still remain in our legislation ; if vice, irreligion, and blasphemy still continue to distil their venom; and if some of those who should be most anxious to repress them are wasting their energies, and afflicting their country, in arresting the great march of improvement, in denouncing whatever is projected or achieved, except by themselves, to train the uninstructed, to reform the prisoner, to disenthral the slave, to reelaim the vicious, to civilize the barbarian, to christianize the heathen, and to enlighten and bless mankind; and if even in the Christian church itself where far the largest share of disinterested zeal and virtue ouglit to be expected, and where we are happy to believe a large share really exists, not a few of the above evils are to be found;-if the consideration of subjects like these has too often forced itself upon us in the course of our periodical labours during another year; still while we reflect on the many facts of an opposite tendency which we have had the privilege of recording, and on the powerful influences which, under the Divine favour, are at work for the lasting benefit of the world, we are disposed to “ thank God and take courage.” It is certainly a blessing of no inconsiderable magnitude to have had another year of peace; to have witnessed an increase of national prosperity; to have seen our poor eating cheap bread and clothed with cheap clotbing, and all ranks, with ibe exception before mentioned, Oar readers are apprized, that, for the convenience of making the numeral of the year and of our volumes correspond in future with each other, the General Index to the first twenty volumes (which is in a considerable state of forwardness, and inay be expected in a very few enjoying a large share of the comforts of life ;- but what to our minds is still more deliylıtful, because it is as it were the seed-bed of far wider and more numerous blessings 10 future generations, is the growth of that jeligious and moral zeal, of that spirit of disinterested plilaoibropy, of Ibai desire for universal peace and happiness, and of tlrat disposition to conciliacion awl concord, which are now evidently in powerful operation, boil in our own island and in many other parts of the world. Seldom, we are loappy to siille, has a year gone by within the period of our labour's Jess ma: ked by acrimonious religious contioversies among good men tha'n the present; and we would sincerely hope ihat this abatement of losiility (would that thcie had not been some exceptions !) does not arise from mere accicleul, but that it is a conscquence of the growiog prevalence of sciipiwal principles of love, piely, and candour. It is refresbing to belold Christians nuste:ing with united streggih “ to the battle of the Lord against the mighty;" and that not only in Great Britain, or, among those who speak a common language with us on the western side of the Allantic, (iowa ds whom a valued correspondent in our pages has entieavoured, in an inieresting series of papeis, to awaken just feelings of regard and co-operation, but thai, even in less free and less religious countries, Cbrisi:an principles are wiciely extending ; that even Souih America is spurning ignorance and slavery from her soil ; that Aliica is opening her bosom io civilization and the Gospel of Peace; that Asia is risiog in new life, under the beams of the Sun of lighteousness; and above all, ibai Euiope is almost every wliere enlissing Christians of every same under the conrmon banner of ibeir Lord and Saviour for the distribution of his divine word, and the extensiou of his peaceful triumplus, wherever man and misery are to be found. What may be live results of these opening scenes of universal peace and holiness, or when we may witness Geir development, we dare not trust ourselves 10 predict; nor will we at present check the glow of feeling which must arise, in every Christian mind, at the anticipation of these blessings, by av enumeration of the many formidable obstacles which still lie in one way of their allainment, and which require ihe constant pravels and exertions of the Christian world to remove. We will railer conclude our rewarhs wirb al once congratulating and exhorting the younger pa.t of our leaders, who are, we trust, desiined not only to behold but largely to share ju ibese triumplis of mercy and religion. Many lo whooi our earlier volumes were introduced in childhood and youih, perhaps by pious and affectionale paren’s who have since “ ceased from their labouis," and “whose works follow them," are now among the active members of another generation, and are witnessing a vew succession growing up around them to supply the places which they also must soow jelinguish. On this interesting class of persons much depeuds. What their father's laboured, through good report and evil report, lo begin, it is their happierlot to follow up wiib brigliler and more aniarating prospecís. These sous and daughter's “ of saiuied sires" constitute a lange and important boily of per:005 whose conduct will be measured, not by the world meiely, but by the Searcher of hearis, according to the instruccions they have received, and the privileges they bave enjoyed; and double will be their guilt and shaure, if they recede from the ScripTural principles in which they were educaled, or oeglect the duties 10 which they were so anxiously trained. Let them then resolve first “TO give themselves 10 the Lord;" and then let them come forward prepared io liead in the steps of ihose who taught ihem how to walk and to please God, and resolved to carry towards perfectiou what the breviry of buman life, and the feeblevess of individual effort enabled those who bave gone before only to plan and to commence. : : . 177 Relig. Com. – Apocryphal Testa. Relig. Com. -- Apocryphal Tesla. ment (concluded) .......... 129 On Rom. ix. 3................ 134 Vatican and Alexandrine MSS. 10 Union of critical and devotional Studies i................... 135 Religious Influence of Creation 13 Ou the Church Service ........ 138 On Moral Preacuing. Family Sermon on Jer. vii. 4 ..., 1.11 Miscel.Jonrney througlı N. Ame Worldly Conformity .......... 144 rica....................... 26 Miscel.-Domestic Instructors.... 145 Law Clerkship to Graduales.... 23 Journey through N. America liec. of -- Burnside's Religion of (continued) ................ 148 Mankind ......... ........ 23 Drawing Lots .............. 153 Chalmers's Economy, No. VII. 39 Drawing Lots .. ............ 136 157 Italy-General Washinglon .... 49 Red. of Red.--Bradley's Sermons .. 172 Arctic Expedition ............ ib. Lit. Iniel.-New Workx.......... 175 Relig. Iniel. - Church Missionary Population-Cambridge-Steam Pawnbrokers - Copyright .. 176 Calcolia Mission College ...... Colonization Society.......... Ludia ........ Pub. Aff. - France ............ 62 Smatra ................... Spain--Turkey-United States 63 Relig. Tutel. - Church Missionary Great Lrivain; Agricultural Dis. Society .................... 178 ...... 64 North American Indians (con. tinued) ................... Isi Society for Suppression of Vice 135 Relig. Con. — Apociypial Testa Nival and Mil. Bible Society 180 meut (continued)............ 65 Drivisit and Foreign Bible Society 187 Oo Luke xxii. 44.............. 69 Pub. Aff. - France ............ 188 Spain -Portgual ............ 190 41, 42, ......... Turkey .................. ib. Siock; Retrenchments ...... ib. 80 Ireland .................... 192 Miscel.-Leory Martyn defended.. 80 Errulum .... .... ib. NUMBER IV. Relig. Com.- Life of Kev. J. W. 193 Faniily Sermon on Lake xxiii. 46. 205 Hiots for Sunday Schools .... ib. Ou Rom. i. 19, 20. ............ 209 Chalpiers's Economy, No. VIII. 105 Calvary...................... 210 Lit, Iniet. – Cambridge-Humane Society .................. 117 Misce!.-'Moral Estimate of Para- Vaccine E tablisiment ...... 113 dise Lost .... .......... 211 Herculaneum Januscripts .... ib. Providential Arrangements in Bombay Regulation .......... ib. Chemistry ............... 218 Relig. Juiel.-Cirurch Missionary So. On the Reports of Societies.... 221 Rev.of-Hoare's Sermons ........ 223 Society for poor pious Clergymen 123 The Pirate (continued) ........ 237 Puú. Af-France.............. 123 Lit. Intel.-New Works–St. Da. Ireland - Poland-Rassia-Unit- enjoying a large share of the comforts of life ;- but what to our minds is still more delightful, because it is as it were ibe seed-bed of far wider and more numerous blessings 10 future generations, is the growth of that jeligious and moral zeal, of that spirit of disinterested pbilaothropy, of ibai desire for universal peace and happiness, and of tlrat disposition to conciliacion and concord, which are now evidently in powerful operation, both in our own island and in many oiber paris of the world. Seldom, we are loappy to stale, has a year gone by within the period of our labour's less marked by acrimonious religious cont. oversies among good men than The present; and we would sincerely liope ihat ibis abatement of losiility (would that thcie had not been some exceptions !) does not arise from mere accident, but that it is a conscquence of the growiog prevalence of sciipiwal principles of love, piely, and candour. It is refresbing to behold Christians ousteing wild united streogih “ to the battle of the Loird against the mighty;" and ibat not only in Great Britain, or, among those who speak a common language with us on the western side of the Ailaulic, (iowa ds whom a valued correspondent in our pages has endeavouredi, in au inieresting series of papers, to awaken just feelings of regard and co-operation,) but thal, even in less free and less religious coworries, Christian principles are wiciely extending ; ihat eveu Souih America is spurning igyorance and slavery from ber soil ; that Africa is opening her bosom in civilization and the Gospel of Peace; that Asia is rising in new life, under the beams of the Sun of lighteousness; and above all, i bai Euiope is almost every where enlisting Christians of every name under the conimon banner of Their Lord and Saviour for the disTriburion of his divine word, and the estension of his peaceful triumplis, wherever man and misery are to be found. What may be the results of these opeuing scenes of universal peace and holiness, or when we may witness their development, we dare not trust ourselves to predict; nor will we at present clieck the glow of feeling which must arise, in every Christian mind, at the anticipation of these blessings, by au enumeration of the many formidable obstacles which still lie in ile way of their altainment, and which require the conslant prayers and exertions of the Christiau world to remove. We will railer conclude our remarhs wirb al once congratulating and exliorting ibe younger part of our leaders, who are, we Trust, desiined not only to belold bul Jargely to share iu tbese triumphs of mercy and religion. Many to whooi our earlier volumes were introduced in childhood and youth, perhaps by pious and affectionale parents who bave since“ ceased from their labours,” and “whose works follow them," are now among the active members of another generalion, and are witnessing a new succession growing up arouod obem to supply the places which they also must sooi) Telinguishi. On this interesting class of persons much depends. What their fathers laboured, through good report and evil report, to begin, it is their happier lot to follow up with brighter and more aniarating prospecís. These sous and daughter's “of saivied sires" coustilute a large and important body of persons whose conduct will be measured, not by the world merely, but by the Searcher of hearis, according to the instrucions they have received, and the privileges they bave enjoyed; and double will be their guilt and shaure, if Ivey recede from the Scriptural principles in which they were educated, or oeglect the duties 10 which they were so anxiously Trained. Let Them then resolve first: “ 10 give themselves 10 the Lord;" and then let iliem come forward prepared 10 liead in the steps of ihose who laughi ihem how to walk avd io please God, and resolved to carry towards perfectiou what the brevity of buwan life, and ile feebleuess of individual effort enabled those who have gone before only to plan and to commence. ... 153 Page Relig. Com. -- Apocryphal Tesla. ment (concluded) .......... 129 On Rom. ix. 3 ................ Union of critical and devotional Studies .................... 135 Ou the Church Service ........ 138 Family Sermon on Jer. vii. 4 ..., 1.11 Worldly Couformity .......... 144 Miscel.-Domestic Instructors.... 145 Rưd.oj _The Pirate ............ 157 Rev. of Red. --Bradley's Sermons .. 172 Lit. Iniel.-New Works.......... 175 Pawnbrokers - Copyright .. 176 United States ................ Iudia .... ib. Sumatra ................... 177 Relig. Iniel. - Church Missionary tinued) ................... 181 Society for Suppression of Vice 135 Nival and Mil. Bible Society 150 Divisi and Foreign Bible Society 187 Pub. Aff, - France ........ 188 Spaill - Portgual ............ 190 Twkey ............. Stock; Retrenchiments ...... ib. Ireland i... ................ 192 Erulum .... Page Relig. Com. — Apocryphal Testa- Family Sermon on 2 Cor. v. 1. On Moral Preaching .......... Dliscel.-Jonrney through N. Ame- Law Clerkship to Graduales....' Liec. o -- Burnside's Religion of Chalmers's. Economy, No. VII. Italy-General Washingion .... Relig. Jniel. - Church Missionary Calcotla Mission College ...... Colonization Society.......... Spain--Turkey-United States 63 NUMCER II. Reliz. Com. — Apoca ypiial Testa- Oo Luke xxii. 44.............. 69 41, 42..................... Simplicity in studying Scripture Miscel.-Ilenry Martyn defended.. Pleasing Instance of Catholic Li- Rep. of-Ramsay's Inquiry ...... Chalmers's Economy, No. VIII. 105 Lit. Inipl. - Cambridge-Humane Society .................. 117 Relig. Iniel.-Church Missionary So. Society for poor pious Clergymen 123 Pui. Af-France .............. 125 Relig. Com.— Lise of Rev. J. W. Faniily Sermon on Luke xxiii. 46. 205 Ou Rom. i. 19, 20. ............ 209 Misce!.-Moral Estimate of Para- dise Lost ....... On the Reports of Societies.... 221 Rev. 94-Hoare's Sernions ........ 223 The Pirate (continued) ........ Lit. Intel.-New Works—St. Da. vid's Society ................ ......... ib. |