PREFACE.

In presenting the First Number of the Fifth Volume of the AMERICAN BAPTIST MAGAZINE, the Editors tender their grateful acknowledgments to their numerous readers and friends, for their continued patronage and support. It gives them great pleasure to learn, that their labours have been thus far acceptable; and considering the numerous religious publications now in circulation, they have reason for devout gratitude, that the "American Baptist Magazine" still maintains a high and honourable rank among the religious productions of our country.

It has for a considerable time, however, been a subject of much serious complaint, that the Magazine was not issued more frequently. To remedy this, the proprietors have resolved to publish it in future, MONTHLY. By this means, the Editors hope to be able to present their readers more seasonably, with all the religious information of importance which it is in their power to collect. No pains shall be wanting to furnish it as early as possible. Whatever may be deemed important to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, will be carefully selected and embodied in this work.

We shall not consider ourselves bound, however, to publish every article, which might otherwise be thought suitable for the Magazine, if sent first for insertion in some other paper. But whatever communications are primarily made to us, (post paid) will receive due attention.

It is not our intention in the slightest degree, to interfere with the claims of any other religious publication; but we certainly feel it a duty which we owe the Society, to employ all prudent means to preserve and increase the prosperity and usefulness of our own. For this we are encouraged to hope on various considerations. It has been suggested to us, that some persons talk of discontinuing the Magazine, and of taking some other paper in its stead. But what reason is assigned for this change? the enhanced price is the alleged reason. But every reflecting person

will at once perceive, that the Magazine cannot be published lower than it now is. Indeed it could hardly be desired; being already lower than most other publications of equal size and quantity. The only alteration, therefore, which we propose to make, is more frequently to embellish the work with ornamental and useful engravings. The work thus ornamented and printed on a new type, and in an elegant style, will be presented to subscribers at the usual price of $1,50 per volume. We ask our readers to consider whether they can procure any similar publication on terms equally advantageous? We rest assured they cannot. It will hence be perceived, that the Magazine has the advantage in point of cost.

Another advantage which the Magazine claims for itself is, that it is a much more safe and permanent chronicle of important religious events, and hence is more worthy of being preserved. Obituaries of the highest and most interesting character, are also recorded in the Magazine for safe keeping. While newspapers, though read with interest for the moment, are soon scattered to every wind, and no more to be found. How few preserve them, and still fewer that bind them up for future use.

We add once more, the Magazine affords important aid to the MISSIONARY CAUSE. For several years past, the Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts has acknowledged the receipt of $500 from the profits of this work. This is probably a much larger sum than is received by our denomination, from all the other religious publications in the United States.

As the labour of the Editors will be greatly increased, by the more frequent publication of the work, we confidently hope they will not be discouraged, by finding their numbers unbought, and unread. They cannot indulge the thought, that an enlightened, generous public, will suffer a work which has so abundantly contributed to the cause of missions, and to the spread and establishment of evangelical truth, to languish for the want of patronage. The cause we advocate, we believe to be the cause of God. To Him we therefore consecrate our labours, praying for his gracious benediction, and subscribe ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

EDITORS.

MEMOIR OF REV. WILLIAM WARD,
One of the Serampore Missionaries.

MR. WILLIAM WARD was
born at Derby, where some of
his relations still reside, October
20, 1769. His mother was a pious
woman, who was accustomed to
ascribe the beginning of her serious
impressions to a discourse by a fe-
male Quaker in the Town-hall of
Derby. Her son, therefore, like
many other eminent servants of
the Redeemer, enjoyed the privi-
lege of maternal example and coun-
sel; and appears, early in life, to
have himself become the subject of
that momentous and happy change,
without which no man can see the
kingdom of God.

At the usual period he left home for business, and was apprenticed to a printer. While thus engaged in acquiring the knowledge of that art, which he was afterwards to consecrate to the noblest purposes

on the distant plains of Bengal, he made a public profession of religion; and having been baptized, was united to the church in George Street, Hull, now under the pastoral care of the Rev. Thomas Thonger. Thus introduced into Christian society, it soon became

evident that he was endowed with qualifications for the ministry of the Gospel. To this sacred employment he was advised to devote himself; and in order that he might be the better furnished to engage in it, a generous friend, still living, undertook to place him for a season, under the care of the late amiable and pious Dr. John Fawcett, who then kept a flourishing seminary for youth near Halifax. Of this important period of his life, the following notice occurs in the Memoirs of Dr. Fawcett, lately published.

"A residence of about a year and a half at Ewood Hall endeared Mr. Ward behalf of the heathen have raised him in as much to the family, as his exertions in the esteem of the public. They witnessed the first appearance of that missionary spirit, which induced him afterwards to relinquish every other engagement for this sacred cause. His most delightful employment was to preach in hamlets whereever he could collect a congregation; and by the dispersion of short tracts, &c. to lead careless as well as inquiring souls to a serious attention to the best things."

Before Mr. Ward left Ewood Hall, he had expressed his inclination to engage as a Missionary to

India; and at a Committee Meet- || (with Mr. Brunsdon) was set apar

Th

to the work of a Missionary, wa
held at Olney, May 7th.
work of the day was accompanied
according to the primitive pattern
with fasting and prayer, and th
whole occasion was very interest
ing and affecting. In answer t
some questions proposed by Mr.
Fuller to the Missionaries respect
ing the motives of their undertak
ing, and the religious sentiment
they meant to propagate, Mr. War
replied,

ing held at Northampton, Sept. 20, 1798, the Secretary was requested to invite him to attend, and preach at Kettering in the following month. With this invitation he complied, and the result was so satisfactory, that it was unanimously resolved that he should be accepted as a Missionary in connexion with the Society, and that preparations should be made for his going out to India in the spring of 1799. At one of these interviews, Mr. Ward related an inciIdent which seems to have made considerable impression on his mind. When in company with Mr. Carey, a little before he embarked in 1793, that devoted Missionary remarked, "If the Lord bless us, we shall want a person of your business to enable us to print the Scriptures: I hope you will come after us. Thus the words of the wise are as goads; and there can be little doubt that this transient observation contributed, under the direction of Him who worketh in us to will and to do, not a little to its own fulfil-peace and joy in God have more ani

ment about six years after, and as a consequence to the multiplied benefits which India has since derived from the long residence of Mr. Ward in that country!

Early in the year 1799, Mr. Ward spent several months at Birmingham, supplying the church at Cannon Street, and thus became intimately acquainted with the excellent Samuel Pearce. Between two kindred souls, strongly bent on the same grand object, it is not wonderful that a close and affectionate union was speedily formed. On earth, indeed, it was not of long duration, as Mr. Pearce died before the end of the year; but it is cheering to think, that it has since been renewed, in that world where divine love has its proper habitation, and where it can never, never be interrupted more!

The service, in which Mr. Ward

"I have received no new revelation o the subject: I did not expect any. O Redeemer hath said, 'Go ye into all th world, and preach the Gospel to ever creature and lo, I am with you always t the end of the world.' This command consider as still binding, since the promis of Christ's presence reaches to the utmos corner of the earth, and to the utmost boundaries of time. While I was a Ewood Hall I received an invitation t carry the Gospel and a printing-press t India, where brother Carey and other I prayed to God, and advised with m friends. In complying with this invitatio I gave up all other prospects, and devote myself to that of attempting to bless nation of heathens. Since that time m

have erected the standard of the Cros

more abounded. Duty and pleasure hav
in my employment gone hand in hand
Sometimes I have been enabled to say,

"No joy can be compared to this,
"To serve and please the Lord."

"In his strength, therefore, I would g forth, borne up by your prayers, hoping that two or three stones at least may be in India, nothing doubting but that the laid of the foundation of Christ's kingdom fair fabric will rise from age to age, til time shall be no more."

A passage had been previously secured in the American ship Criterion, Capt. Wickes, in which Mr. Ward, with Messrs. Marshman, Grant, and Brunsdon embarked, and left the river, May 24, 1799. It added not a little to their comfort that the Captain of the Criterion was a truly pious man, who considered it an honour to convey the servants of Christ to the scene of their labour, and gladly availed himself of their assistance to maintain the worship of God on board during the voyage.