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Ar the commencement of a new volume, it is proper that we avail ourselves of the common practice of Editors, and lay before our readers several considerations, which are naturally suggested by the occasion. Every editor of a periodical work must feel, if he has the real good of mankind at heart, that a very important and interesting relation subsists between himself and his patrons. While the duties, which this relation imposes upon him, will not be forgotten; and while he will cultivate an enlarged good will toward all men, and indulge in particular good wishes toward his readers; he will hope and expect to receive from them correspondent kindness, encouragement, and support With these impressions, we design to state some principal reasons of the great utility of religious magazines, and to close with such reflections as shall promise to be seasonable and useful.

In considering the advantages, which the Christian community may derive from religious periodical works, we shall necessa rily be brief.

1. Works of the kind here specified are extremely beneficial, as they produce and extend a taste for religious reading. By VOL. X.

VOL. X.

the variety which they contain, and the intelligence which they communicate, they present the reader with much that is both new and interesting. Thus they allure many to commence inquiries on the most important of alt subjects. They are peculiarly. fitted to excite attention in the young. When curiosity is roused, and the mind is awakened to the pursuit of any great object, it will of course take pleasure in such a pursuit, and will gain knowledge faster, and turn it to a better account, than could in other circumstances be expected. Whatever directs curiosity to a noble object, and tends to restrain the wayward steps of the young, and to lead them in. to the path of life, must be highly important in itself, and entitled to the countenance of all Christians.

2. The present state and prospects of the Church are particularly worthy of the attention of every person, who feels interested in her prosperity. The revivals of religion with which God has blessed many parts of the Christian world; the increased fervor, animation and zeal of the real disciples of Christ; the rapidly increasing activity of the benevolent and pious;-all these things impart a peculiar interest

to every occurrence, which respects the state and progress of religion. Who does not feel desirous to hear of the success of missionaries, and of great and most encouraging accessions to our churches at home? Who does not rejoice with holy exul tation at the great efforts which are making to extend the influence of the Gospel in every direction? If any, who profess the religion of Christ, are insensible to its triumphs, and regardless of its interests, they have too much reason to fear that their profession is vain.

3. The establishment and success of societies for the reforma tion of morals in this country, form a new and irresistible argument in favor of supporting publications, in which the proceedings of these societies can be regularly detailed, their beneficial tendency stated, and the duty of supporting them urged. Christians of the present day are trying the efficacy of combinations to do good and to prevent evil; and they are astonished at the greatness of their success. But the good work is only just begun; though it is begun on a large scale, and under favorable auspices. The regular and general diffusion of intelligence is as necessary to any great publicspirited and united exertions, as the free circulation of the blood to the health of the human frame. While this truth is acknowledged in relation to all other subjects, it is surprising that any person should doubt or hesitate in re

gard to its application to religious and charitable enterprises. While newspapers are daily sent forth in vast numbers, and penetrate into the obscurest corners of society, it is strange, that efficient

and abundant support should be withheld by professing Christians from a class of publications, which have a direct reference to religion, and the tendency of which is undeniably salutary in a very high degree. Is it too much to expect, that among the improvements of the present day will be numbered a just regard to the diffusion of religious and moral intelligence, and, consequently, a liberal support of those publications, in which such intelligence is communicated?

Nearly connected with the last mentioned topic is the sup port of Christian missions. As missions are supported only by voluntary contributions, and these contributions are made by numerous individuals far remote from each other, it is almost impossible, that any great efforts should be made in this cause without a publication of the kind in question.

4. Religious magazines, if conducted only with a tolerable share of skill and talent, exert a powerful influence in promoting the circulation of other new and useful works. Thus they mulof usefulness, and indirectly, as tiply and perpetuate the means well as directly, subserve the best interests of society. In

many different ways they are imof truth and virtue. portant auxiliaries in the cause It is so ordered by the all-wise God, that every benevolent exertion affords assistance to other similar exertions, and receives assist

ance from them.

5. The Christian finds in a religious magazine many things to quicken his languid steps, to revive his fainting zeal, to enlarge

his religious views, and to stimulate him to greater activity in the service of his divine Master. He is furnished with new weapons for the spiritual conAict, and with the occasion of brightening and using those which he already possesses. As he is often led to admire the triumphs of the cross, his own in terest in the Gospel appears more precious, and his hope more inestimable.

6. A judicious work of the kind here kept in view will of course strengthen and confirm impressions made on the mind, by the stated labors of the clergy. The minister of the Gospel will gain a more ready attention and will preach to better effect, if his people are in the habit of reading and reflecting upon religious subjects; and in no other way can such a habit be so easily formed, as by feeling an interest in a religious periodical publication. Most persons have not the means of possessing or consulting large libraries; but few are so careless as not to be capable of taking an interest in the most important concerns, if furnished with the requisite information.

7. It is highly desirable, that there should exist periodical publications, of known established character, whose decisions shall be worthy of attentive consideration in questions of morals and religion. And it is obvious, that the more extensively such publications can be circulated, the more beneficial will be their tendency and effects. Whether, in short, the promotion of religious knowledge and sound learning, or the defence of the truth, or the extension of the Gospel,

be regarded as an object of great value, a multitude of arguments can be adduced in favor of religious magazines.

Though the preceding observations may be familiar to some of our readers, yet a large portion even of the religious community seem not to have justly appreciated the importance of the subject. While we ardently wish that our work were more worthy of the cause in which it is employed-the great cause of religious and moral truth, and of human happiness-and while we shall sedulously labor that it may become so, we commend it to the blessing of God, and the patronage of good men.

We now turn to subjects, in which our readers will probably feel a more direct interest, and seize this opportunity to offer a few exhortations to the minds of all.

Let each one reflect, that it is through the unmerited goodness of God, and for wise and holy purposes, that he is brought to see the commencement of another year. An unusual number of persons, of all ages and descriptions, have gone down to the grave the year past. Sudden deaths of persons in vigorous health have been astonishingly frequent, in many parts of our country. Ministers of the Gospel, magistrates, and other men of great influence and worth, have been removed from the world in rapid succession. Those, who are still spared, should ponder well the distinguishing providence of God. They should consider and inquire, whether they are spared as blessings to mankind, as highly favored in being permitted to

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

ESSAY OF BAUMGARTEN-CRUSIUS,

ON THE DOCTRINE
TRINITY.

OF

(Continued from vol. ix, p. 541. )

The divinity of Christ is not THE only denied, in our day, but this doctrine is regarded by many as of no importance in the Christian system. I shall not stop, at present, to give any reason, why Christians suppose this doctrine to be so important, and so sacred. Our third division is appropriated to the consideration of this subject. I hope to make it apparent, that it ought to be matter of astonishment to all enlightened and impartial inquirers, that any one should represent it as doubtful, whether the Scriptures actually support the doctrine in question.

MANY more passages from the Old Testament might be adduced, which, being read without prejudice or partiality, would appear pretty clearly to teach the doctrine of a plurality in the Godhead; although some assert that this doctrine cannot be found at all in the Jewish Scriptures. But since we have other testimonies, which are more clear and full, what have been already adduced may suffice, for this part of our proof.

Let us proceed, then, to a view of the more express testimonies to the doctrine in question; viz. to those, which ascribe true divinity to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and yet speak of them as different persons.

No one, who believes in the personality and divinity of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, denies the divinity of the Father. It is impossible to deny the divinity of the Father, who is represented as the person by whom the Son is begotten, and from whom the Spirit proceeds, or, (if I may use the expression,) as the ground of the existence of the Son and Spirit; the source of divinity. But the divinity of the Son and Spirit is opposed by many. It is necessary, therefore, to confirm this by more particular and copious evidence.

According to the testimony of the prophets of the Old Tes tament, the promised Redeemer of the world must be God. The Lord God shall feed his flock; Is. xl, 10, 11. From the stock of David a righteous king must come, whose name should be Jehovah, our righteousness; Jer. xxiii, 5, 6. The anointed of God is his Son, begotten by him; the Son whom the nations must honor with divine worship; Ps. ii, 7, 12. He is Lord of his progenitor David, who was an independent king, and inferior to no man; Ps. cx, 1. According to the Hcbrew, Is. ix, 6, he is the mighty God. His goings forth are from the beginning, even from everlasting; Mic. v, 2. He is the Jehovah, whom Israel sought, and who would suddenly come to his temple; Mal. iii, 1.

With regard to the testimony of Jesus respecting himself; he not only calls himself the Son of

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