THE LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY RECORD, FOR THE YEAR 1858: THE AUTHORISED ORGAN OF THE Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association, ESTABLISHED MDCCCXLIX. "Bear ye one another's burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." VOL. VIII. SIXTH VOLUME OF THE NEW SERIES. LONDON: PARTRIDGE AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW. 1858. PREFACE. WE present the Eighth Volume of the LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY RECORD with deep feelings of gratitude and satisfaction, arising from the exceedingly gratifying position this periodical now occupies, and the marked fulfilment of the anticipation embodied in the preface to our Seventh Volume, of "the steady. continuance of the sale" obtained in the first year after the reduction in price, "if not its progressive increase.” Last year we spoke of having "trebled our circulation:" we now joyfully announce the "steady continuance of the sale thus obtained;" and, during the later months of the year, the undoubted appearance of signs of that "progressive incrcase which we were confident would shortly commence. While we feel sincere pleasure in thus assuring our friends that the sale of the Magazine is in a healthy condition, it will be the source of still further gratification to them, as it is to us, to know that the commercial position of the Magazine at the close of the present volume, is much more satisfactory than it has been for many years. It is both a pleasure and a duty to state that this result is in a great degree owing to the wise and judicious management of Mr. PARKER, to whom the Committee entrusted the entire oversight of the publishing department on terms proposed by himself. It is arranged that this business shall continue in his hands during the publication of the next volume, affording an earnest of the desired success, if success be practicable. To ensure that object, it is only necessary to extend the circulation; and if the present readers will earnestly turn their attention to this one point, it will certainly be attained with facility and speed. It is not necessary to speak of the contents of the volume now presented. That the numbers, as they appeared, were received with acceptance, and read with profit, we have agreeable testimony from many quarters; and this we hold to be evidence that the work is effecting a good purpose,—the very end of its publication. Such a consideration infuses new strength, and gives encouragement to persevere in a cause, labour in behalf of which is rendered doubly grateful by its connection with the benevolent and truly Christian objects of the LOCAL PREACHERS' MUTUAL-AID ASSOCIATION. is an honour to be connected in any humble degree in the advocacy of an institution so noble in principle and so Christ-like in operation. It Do our contributors need to be assured of our gratitude for their generous aid? We think they know that we feel deeply our obligations; but do they know that the ready and effective help they can render is looked forward to with some anxiety to make the ensuing volume more worthy than any of its predecessors of the extended patronage confidently anticipated for it? We are sure that their ready wit, as well as their readiness to every good word and work, will have suggested to them, before reaching this part of the preface, that their Editor is precisely in the predicament indicated. But he casts himself unreservedly upon their kindness, thankful for the past-trustful for the future. In dependence on Divine aid, and desiring above all things else the Divine blessing upon our work,-that it may bear fruit unto eternal life, we now address ourselves to the duties connected with the production of our Ninth Volume, asking the hearty co-operation and prayers of the people of God everywhere who have been in any way benefited by the ministrations of the humble Local Preacher. 2, UNION-STREET, UNION-SQUARE, ISLINGTON, Nov. 25, 1858. THE LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY RECORD. JANUARY, 1858. Original and Selected Articles. THE URGENCY OF GOOD BEGINNINGS IN A GOOD · CAUSE.* دو THE wise man says, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:" a truism too self-evident to admit of cavil. We suppose the adjective good must be understood with reference to the word "thing; inasmuch as goodness, the most essential constituent of happiness in every form, is the ultimate object of all life. Moses, when contemplating prophetically the closing scenes of Israel's history, so pregnant with important results to the world, and so characteristically symbolical of every man's future, exclaims under the inspiration of his theme, "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" And Balaam was so enamoured with and absorbed in the view of the glory reserved for God's chosen people, which the spirit of prophecy made known to him, that he uttered a prayer, at once sincere and complimentary, however defective in other respects: "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." But it is important to note, that the word "end" is a relative term and supposes the termination of a career previously instituted,—the effect of a commensurate cause. Hence, when considering the end of life on true utilitarian principles, we naturally turn to the beginning, to ascertain the principles at work in the development of the character which is so essentially connected with and exercises so powerful an influence on the end. It may not be amiss briefly to consider the root which is to produce the fruit that will endure to eternal life;-to examine the principles and * The seasonableness of the above article, (the spontaneous offering of an old and valued friend of the Mutual-Aid Association,) as well as the excellence and justness of the line of remark adopted by the writer, induces us to give it preference this month over others in course of preparation. B |