CHARITABLE PURPOSES. Stated Contributors to the Works Trustees for the proper distribution of the Money Rev. R.Bayne MAElgin Scotland. Thomas Beck, London....... J.Boden, Sheffield.... David Bogue,AM.Gosport... George Burder, Coventry. J.Cockin, Halifax ADuncanfon, A Airdrie Scotla Rev. Rowland Hill,A.M.London W.Kingsbury,AM.Southamp W.Roby, Manchester. Rev. E.Williams, D.D. Rotherham. Ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. 2 Cor. IV. 5. Sohime IX LONDON.) 1. Rinsel for I. (hapman, N.151. Heel Sreet. WE are now entering upon the ninth volume of our work, under circumftances peculiarly encouraging. At its commencement, there was no publication of the kind in exiftence, except among the Wesleyan Methodists, The Gospel Magazine had expired, and the fucceffive attempts of individuals to establish another had failed, for reafons that were obvious. It appeared to us, however, that the attempt to eftablith a periodical pamphlet, among the vast body of Calvinifts, ought by no means to be relinquithed. For it required little penetration to discover, that no other fpecies of publication could be of equal utility, in diffufing religious knowledge, or in exciting minifters and people to exert themselves in the fervice of Chrift: because here the most important truths of the Gospel might be reprefented and enforced in a great variety of forms, the beft means of doing good fuggefted, as times and circumftances might require, and thofe fuggeftions ftrengthened by all the influence of eminent examples. We were perfuaded also, that a work of this kind would be likely to obtain extenfive circulation, if conducted in a spirit of Chriftian love and meeknefs, and made fubfervient to the general interefts of Religion alone; inftead of debafing it with the fermentation of worldly politics, and party difputations. Thefe views we communicated to our abler brethren, and earnestly folicited them to undertake it but as they all declined, we at length came forward, and determined to confecrate our labours to the churches of Chrift, and the profits of them to the pious widows of his faithful fervants. But fo diffident were we of our own ability, that we can truly affirm, had the field been occupied by any denomi nation of our Calviniftic brethren, or had they even intimated a with to engage in it, we would gladly have left the work in their hands, and not obtruded VOL. IX. ourselves. B |