PREFACE. SOMETHING for everybody: this has been our motto during How far it has been adhered to the Editor the past year. must leave others to judge. He begs, however, to offer his heartiest thanks for the very warm and very flattering expressions of approval received from all parts of the Connexion. To know that the arrival of the Magazine is always anticipated,' that it is read with growing interest,' and that some generous friends think it will bear comparison with any denominational periodical,' have been a constant stimulus in the midst of his monthly toil. Nor can he forget the oneness and cordiality of the Association vote which placed the management of our only periodical in his hands for the next five years. But to justify in the future such approval and confidence the Editor feels how much he needs the help of his brethren in the ministry to give increasing variety to the earlier part of the Magazine, and the help of the secretaries of our churches to give additional interest to the columns of intelligence. Whatever may be reasonably expected from the Editor he will endeavour faithfully to supply. May he ask as much from every minister and secretary ? The Editor has great pleasure in announcing that he has secured the help of a very talented writer for a serial contribution throughout the year. He hopes by his aid to lay before the readers of this Magazine, in a readable and attractive form, one of the most momentous and stirring periods of English history, and therein especially to illustrate the opinions and fortunes of Baptists two centuries ago. The coming year will be the bi- centenary of Black Bartholomew in England. That fact will not be forgotten. We hope to bring home to our memories and hearts the names and deeds of some of the noble army of martyrs belonging to that era. May the God of all grace help us to profit by the review of their heroic fidelity to truth, to hold with more tenacious grasp, and to bequeath with undiminished glory, the hard-earned liberty for which they paid by their fortitude and their sufferings. Nor shall we cease to advocate and to defend the things most surely believed among us.' When attempts are being made to popularize a meagre and exclusive salvation, and even to assail the very citadel of our common Christianity, it would ill become us to slacken our efforts. We should be recreant to our principles as a denomination if we faltered in the emphasis with which we proclaimed that redeeming love is as wide as the earth and all-embracing as the heavens. We should be recreant to our duty as Christian men, if we withheld whatever weapons our sanctified intelligence can furnish to the defence of divine revelation. We confidently appeal to our former contributors, lay and ministerial, for their valuable help in this imperative service. A new sphere of labour will be shortly occupied in India. In addition, therefore, to the welcome letters of our devoted brethren in Orissa, the Observer' will in future be enriched by communications from those who may be stationed in the untrodden mountains of Khondistan. November, 1861. |