PREFACE. RESPECTING the volume of the Primitive Methodist Magazine for the year 1846, attention may be profitably turned to a few points. Utility has never been lost sight of in preparing and collecting the articles; and in thus speaking, the word utility is used in a general sense. Readers may be benefited morally, socially, intellectually, and physically; and in none of these respects have they been wholly overlooked, though their physical interest has been rather indirectly considered than otherwise. Indeed, such an interest is deemed of secondary importance in its bearings on the duties of the Editor; and he thinks that when people are morally, socially, and intellectually right, they are in the other respect seldom very culpable. The moral bearing of the pages, that is, their bearing on the spiritual and religious state of the readers, is of the first importance; for if those readers be “carnal," or possess not experimental piety, no matter what else they may have, they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;" abusers of the purpose of God in preserving their lives, a curse to the souls of their fellow-creatures, and heapers " up of wrath against the day of wrath." Such being the case, the putting of men right morally must be pre-eminently important; and the success of plans adopted for the attainment of this end depends chiefly on their character, and a skilful repetition of them. The Editor has been deeply impressed with these views; and though he presumes not to think that he has succeeded in carrying them all out, he is confident of having made the attempt; and none of his readers will deny that he has given "line upon line and precept upon precept" in pursuance of his object. He wishes the Magazine to serve the cause of Christ in reviving piety where it languishes, in leading sinners to the Saviour, and in enlisting the best energies of the church in the business of saving souls. O Lord, grant him the desire of his heart! Several articles tending to encourage social happiness, have appeared in the pages; and of the usefulness of some of these, the Editor has received divers testimonies. The family circle has been penetrated; paternal, fraternal, filial and conjugal sympathies, duties and responsibilities, have been taken hold of; and in various points of view have they been treated, so as to render family virtue lovely and beloved. The affinities of teachers of sabbath-schools with their pupils, those of the latter with the former, and those of both with parents, the church and the world, have been introduced, explained and discussed; and ample evidence has been furnished that God has vouchsafed his blessing on the work. The intellectual advancement of the readers has been sought in those departments occupied by Divinity, Scripture Illustration, Works of Creation and Providence, and sundry miscellaneous articles. The hypercritical may find little in the book to feast upon; for these it was not designed,—and sad, indeed, would be its condition were it to minister to the gratification of them, who are but few, and overlook the benefit of the many. Besides, nine-tenths of its readers, perhaps ninety-nine out of every hundred, have found some of its articles sufficiently in advance of their intellect; and not a few are indebted to those articles for part of the intellectual store which they now enjoy. Such as the book is, it is submitted to the candour of its readers, with the Editor's wish that it may promote the Divine glory in the well-being of man. |