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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE,

AND

Theological Review,

FOR

THE YEAR 1822.

VOL. VIII.

By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by love unfeigned, by
the word of truth, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the
left; through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report; as
deceivers and yet true. 2 Cor. vi. 6-8.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS;

And Sold at THE OFFICE OF THE NEW EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, No. 7, Lovell's
Court, Paternoster Row; where all Communications, Letters, Advertisements,
&c. are to be addressed.

Sold also by SHERWOOD, NEELY and JONES; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME and BROWNE; and
by BALDWIN, CRADOCK and Joy, Paternoster Row; by SIMPKIN and MARSHALL, Stationers' Court;
by BURTON and SMITH, Leadenhall Street; J. BUMPUS, 6, Holborn; R. CRANWELL, Fenchurch
Street; J. FISHER, Fish Street Hill; T. LESTER, Finsbury Place; G. OFFOR, Tower Hill; T
MANN, Commercial Road; E. Cox and SON, near St. Thomas's Church, Borough; TUCKS,
Frome; J. GRESSWELL, Exeter; CLARKE, Aberdeen; DONALDSON, Dundee; DYER, Kirkaldy; R.
CURRIE, Berwick; J. CLARKE, Newcastle; Mrs. RICHARDSON, Manchester; T. D. CLARK,
Bristol; G. GLANVILL, Plymouth; WAUGH and INNES, and J. ROBERTSON, Edinburgh;
WARDLAW and CUNNINGRAMS, and R. GRIFFIN and, Co. Glasgow; and by R. Tras, Dublin.

Printed by J. Haddon, Tabernacle_Walk, Finsbury,

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PREFACE.

HAVING, through the long-suffering and kindness of HIM, who “holdeth our soul in life," arrived at the end of the eighth year of our labours, as public Journalists, it will be expected from us that we should not deliver to the world the volume now completed, without the customary address to those friends whose support we have experienced through the year. And yet we have little to say that will not prove an echo of our acknowledgments on former occasions. We may, however, add, that, so far from having to lament any diminution of kindness on their part, we feel very sensibly the increasing obligations to gratitude, under which their liberal support has laid us.

A pretty long and intimate acquaintance with this department of literature, has deeply impressed us with the necessity of consulting VARIETY, as much as possible, in this species of publication; and that it is an ingredient of such vital importance to success, that nothing can compensate the want of it. But where is the writer to be found, whose individual talents are adequate to the production of it from month to month? To such high attainments, it would be presumptuous in the Editor to lay claim; and even had the Author of nature gifted him with powers and capacities equal to such an undertaking, the circumstances in which the providence of God hath seen meet to place him, have not been the most eligible to their efficient discharge. It is remarked by an accurate observer of human nature, that many works of genius and learning have been performed in states of life that appear very little favourable to thought or to inquiry; so many, that he who considers them is inclined to think that he sees enterprize and perseverance predominating over all external agency, and bidding help and hindrance vanish before them. The genius of some men, we know, is not to be depressed by the weight of affliction or poverty, nor limited by the narrow conversation to which persons in such circumstances are inevitably condemned; they can rise superior to their adverse situation, and shake from the mind those adventitious incumbrances, 66 as dew drops from the lion's mane." Such instances, however, are certainly rare, and not to be expected in the present case. The humble individual, to whose lot the conducting of this Journal has devolved, might apologise for its numerous imperfections, in the language of an author of deserved celebrity, that while some considerable portion of his past

life has been wasted under the pressure of affliction and disease, and not a little has been trifled away; no small part of his time is still requisite to provide for the day that is passing over him. His labours for the information and improvement of others, "have not been carried on in the soft obscurities of retirement, or under the shelter of academic bowers, but amidst inconvenience and distraction, in sickness and in sorrow."

The Editor presumes he shall be readily believed when he declares, that he considers his publication as falling very far short of his own ideas of perfection; and that were his means at all adequate to his wishes, it should be inferior to none of its cotemporaries in any of the substantial and varied excellencies of a literary Journal devoted to the furtherance of the Redeemer's kingdom-the cause of truth and righteousreзs. But, imperfect as it is, the religious public have not thought it beneath their notice, nor altogether undeserving of their support and patronage. Amidst the collision of contending parties, its voice is heard; and it is gratifying to the Editor to know, that by its means, an obscure individual is now and then led to understand the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom-to distinguish between his laws or institutions and the precepts of men, so as to take part with the despised truth, and become companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. But, as much of its usefulness in this respect is owing to the assistance which he has received from the pens of others, he now respectfully tenders them his thanks.

The circulation of his Journal, though respectable, is nevertheless by no means adequate to what is requisite to remunerate him for the time and labour which he is compelled to bestow upon it, much less to what the advancement of the interests of Divine Truth imperiously demands. He receives, however, much sa faction from the assurances of several very worthy ministers in different parts of the country, that their most strenuous efforts shall be exerted to promote its increase, and hopes that their example will be followed by many others. Should their exertions be crowned with the desired success, the friends of this Magazine may confidently expect to find it more worthy of their regard than it has hitherto been.

London, Nov. 30, 1822.

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