Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

"Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all
other liberties."-MILTON.

THIS PUBLICATION IS DESIGNED TO BE THE FORERUNNER OF THE

[merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

TYLER & REED,

FRINTERS,

BOLT COURT, FLEET STREET.

PREFACE.

It seems but yesterday since we issued the First Number of the CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE, and yet we find ourselves summoned to pen a Preface for the Third Volume. While this reminds us that much time is gone, it also brings before us the cheering fact, that it has not been wholly unoccupied by labours calculated to advance the kingdom of Messiah, and to promote the salvation of men. We reflect, with grateful satisfaction, not unmixed with awe, that during these three eventful years, in the history of England and of Europe, we have issued THREE AND A HALF MILLIONS of copies of this treasury of moral and religious instruction. This is such an amount of Evangelical Nonconformist seed as no single human hand was ever hitherto permitted, within the same period, to sow on the broad field of British mind. The formation of an instrument which has been received with so much favour must have been of God, and it is not improbable eternity will show that it has been one of those special agencies which the Most High has been pleased to summon into being for the furtherance of the events of the history of this momentous period, in its relation to the world of spirits. It is satisfactory to reflect that the bulk of those communications have been such as may be viewed by their authors with composure, in connection with the final account which every man must give of himself to God. We feel at liberty to speak thus freely, inasmuch as its multifarious and multitudinous contents are the production, not of one, but of many hands; for we have, from the first, been well and increasingly supported by superior men of nearly all Nonconformist denominations, who, either with or without names, have appeared in those pages,-pages which have breathed nothing but goodwill to the Protestants of Great Britain, of every sect and party; while they have been, and will continue to be, the vehicle of hostility, intense and relentless, to Ecclesiastical Establishments, Puseyism, and Popery!

We live in most eventful times the ancient landmarks of Europe are obliterated; a community of Free Nations is born in a day! Old things are passing away, and all things are becoming new. The slumber of the world seems broken, and the earth is waking as if to sleep no more! We hail with joy the

1

« FöregåendeFortsätt »