PREFACE. THE lapse of time calls upon us for our annual tribute of a Preface, which may, with equal propriety, speak of our past labours and future prospects. In reference to the past, we have little more than to repeat our acknowledgments to many kind contributors, and to those who have employed their influence to extend the sale of our work. We trust that our friends have not laboured in vain; and we look with the fullest confidence for their continued favours. Were we at liberty to urge upon our friends, in this our annual address, the importance of promoting revivals of religion, we could draw a very powerful argument from the character of the present times. We have more than slight grounds for fearing that the present political excitement is seriously injuring, for the present, at least, the spirit of piety among all classes of Christians. We have unwillingly arrived at this painful conviction, and would now most affectionately and earnestly entreat the followers of Christ not to forget his claims, and the claims of perishing millions, both at home and abroad. We are no advocates for the renunciation of the rights of citizenship because we are Christians, but we do fear that the religion of the Christian is sometimes lost in the struggles and anxieties of the citizen. Earnestly rejoicing in the extension of divine truth, and blending our feeble prayers with those of thousands of our readers for the universal prevalence of the religion of Jesus, we respectfully take our leave of our readers, till we meet again at the commencement of another volume. London, Nov. 29th, 1837. Brotherly Love .................. 80 Bunhill Fields Burying-ground Christian Church, the First, in Britain...... Christian Mothers, Influence of Christians and Fashionable Parties Church, Hope for the ........................................... 408 49 305 Editor, Appeal from the 147 Efforts, Individual 53 Exertion, Christian, Duty of. |