IN a Miscellaneous work, composed of essays, memoirs, reviews, religious intelligence, &c. written by various hands, it is difficult to preserve that uniformity of execution which is desirable. We wish the essays to be judicious, the memoirs faithful, the reviews impartial, and the intelligence authentic. That every article which has been inserted answers to these wishes, we do not pretend: we hope it is not too much to say, however, that the work has improved, and is improving. The sale has this year increased several hundreds. At the last annual meeting of the Proprietors some considerable alteration was made in the Editing department of the work, which it is hoped will tend to its further improvement, and obtain for it an increasing share of the confidence and support of the religious public. Instead, however, of telling how well we have succeeded, it may answer a better purpose to suggest to our Correspondeats the kind of compositions suited to the work. The substance of every number should be evangelical, spiritual, and of general interest. It would be wrong to refuse admission to every piece on church-government, discipline, or subjects of minor importance; but if questions of this nature be multiplied, they will soon become unprofitable, and introduce us into the regions of conjecture, where the light of divine revelation ceases to be our guide. It would be wrong also to refuse every subject of dispute; but neither must the work become a vehicle of controversy. When very provoking things are written by others, it is as when an inflammatory speaker rises up in an assembly, merely to give vent to his spleen; the effect is, that almost every one that hears him is tempted to rise in answer; but many answers instead of illustrating the subject, darken and perplex it. To render the Essays that which we wish them to be, they must be written by persons who so far understand, the subject as to be able to throw light upon; if, and to convey their ideas with perspicuity, simplicity, and energy,. For this purpose it is necessary to be able to pursue a train of thought, which; like a shooting star, shall emit a stream of light as it proceeds, and illustrate those passages of scripture which it introduces; o observe; things as they pass before us, and thus to collect a stock of divine knowledge from life, instead of having to copy it from the writings of other men; to select that which is interesting in every subject, instead of writing all that can be written about it; finally to write only on those subjects which, in the course of thought, have been more than ordinarily interesting to ourselves: that which affects our own minds will be most likely to affect the minds of others. To make the Obituary, or the Memoirs of deceased christians acceptable, they must not be the effusions of partiality from surviving relatives, but the words of truth and soberness. Ministers or others who draw them up, being responsible for the correctness of what they write, must communicate their address to the Editors. Of Reviews, or accounts of books, we say but little, as it is not our object to engage further in this department than to notice a few publications, either in a way of approbation or censure, as we conceive them likely to do good or harm to our readers. As to Religious Intelligence, besides collecting the most impor tant particulars of our own and other Missions to the heathen, and of attempts to propagate the gospel in England, Ireland, and other parts of the United Kingdom, we have been indebted to our Correspondents for various extracts of letters from America and other parts of the world, and hope for the continuance of such favors. The return of peace opens a way for our being better acquainted than we have yet been with the state of evangelical religion in the various nations on the Continent of Europe; and we earnestly solicit our friends, in all quarters, for extracts of letters which they may have received on this subject. When some of our brethren withdrew from the Evangelical Magazine, they were given to expect that the separation would be the signal for the commencement of hostilities on the subject of Baptism. This year their expectations have been fulfilled. Nothing however like a fair examination of the subject, or in the least degree respectable, has yet appeared. Two or three reviews have been written, in a style and spirit sufficiently characteristic of the writers; a few small pieces have beeen reprinted, which have been long ago answered; and the story of the men of Munster has been revived, headed by a title manifestly calculated to defame. Some notice has been taken of these pieces in our Numbers; but we have no inclination to keep up this bush-fighting kind of warfare. Two of our brethren have defended our principles in a frank, and candid manner. Let their arguments be fairly met, and we shall have no apprehensions for the consequence. But if instead of this, we are to be answered by first repeating what is manifestly untrue, that no baptist community existed till the sixteenth century, and then accounting for it by roundly asserting that our system has not for its support so much as "one text, precedent or example in all the word of God," we should be obliged to our opponents to allow the subject to go to rest. In this request we are pretty well-satisfied that the greatest and most respectable part of the pedobaptists will cordially unite with us. The time is short. We have each work enough upon our hands. We most sincerely congratulate.our, brethren on the encouraging news recently arrived from the South Sea Islands, which we have recorded with pleasure and bless God on account of it. May they and we have many such accounts to communicate to our readers. We are all accountable to God, as well as to the public, for the way in which we conduct publications which are read by thousands of our country men. If we propagate falsehood, or indulge in spleen and party-zeal, we may expect our labours to be blasted; but if we be employed in honestly promoting the cause of God and truth, though our efforts should be accompanied with much imperfection, we may hope they will be blessed. THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1814. "Whatever is designed to fit every thing will fit nothing well." DR. JOHNSON. "Names are intended to distinguish Things."-Our Work is called THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE, because it is intended to be a Repository for the Baptists' use. REFLECTIONS AND ADMONITIONS GROUNDED ON THE LAPSE OF TIME. HE that built all things is God. The drops of dew own him for a 'ather, the sea also is his, and he made it. The material particle and the sun that rules the day are alike the work of his hands. The meanest weed, the loftiest cedar, the smallest insect, the noblest brute-every man and every angel were made by him. He spoke and it was done. By the same power which created the worlds and every living thing, they are all supported, and when the earth has sustained the last heir of heaven, the eternal God will kindle the fires in which it will be consumed. When the last child of grace has used the light in perusing the scriptures, the sun will set to rise to more: Till then, the earth and the heavens will be preserved. It should not, however, be forgotten that among all who inhabit our world, there are none abiding. The grass that withers, the fading flowers, are emblems of human life, which is a shadow, a dream. The wave rolls on the shore and foams into death, another succeeds and expires-thus one generation passeth away and another cometh. In the year which has just closed who has not suffered loss? Many can say with tears, and with submission too, unto the Arbiter of life and of death; Lover and friend hast thou put Vol. VI. A far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. Another year we have escaped with our lives, but who can insure their possession for one hour more? We resemble the soldier who enters the field of battle with the morning light and returns in the evening to the camp in safety, after having beheld his companions die all around him. To-morrow the shadow of death covers him also, and companions in arms are mingled in one heap of slain, or laid together in the same bed of dust. Is it not natural and wise, to enquire what is the most urgent and important employment of time, before the night cometh in which no man can work? To defer this enquiry one moment, is not common insanity. The dews of death will, very soon, collect on our faces—we are dying now; for what is life but a journey to the grave? Oh! how soon will my heart beat for the last time. In a little while my lungs will receive the final particle of vital air, my warm blood will freeze at the touch of death, this hand moulder in the grave, and these eyes open in eternity. Is the accumulation of riches the chief end of life? Thus speaks the oracle of heaven; "Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them." Of David it is written; "He died full of days and riches and honor." His riches could not bribe death to spare him a little longer, nor have redeemed his soul from the perdition of ungodly men if grace had not effected it; therefore, What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Oh, how important is the admonition of him who spake as man never spake-Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, there.pth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steak: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Beside this he spake a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater: and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, cat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then those shall these things be which thou hast provided? |