THE GOSPEL HERALD; OR POOR CHRISTIAN'S MAGAZINE. "One Lord, one Faith, one baptism," Eph. iv. 5. 66 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience," 1 Tim. iii. 9. VOL. XVII. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY HOULSTON AND STONEMAN, 65, PATERNOSTER ROW; LOYNS, BECCLES; ABBOTT, DISS; J. SOUTHWELL, CHATTERIS; CLARKE, HORSHAM; UNDERHILL, LIVERPOOL; SIMPSON, NEWMARKET; CREAK, ELY; AND MAY BE HAD OF ANY OTHER BOOKSELLER THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM. PREFACE. WE E have been spared by the tender mercy of our God and Father, to complete another volume of the Gospel Herald. His goodness and compassion are above expression, and beyond return. May we be enabled on our own part, and on the part of our contributors, and readers, under the influence of reigning grace and overflowing gratitude, to exclaim, "Bless the Lord, oh! our souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy name." The past year has been solemnly distinguished by the occurrence of many striking and important events, The sable cloud of the divine displeasure has hung over us, as a nation, in the form of cholera. "Wars and rumours of wars" have canopied the political horizon. The fog of untruthfulness and error has en ́wrapped the professing world in deepening density. Even where truth in gospel simplicity and scriptural consistency has been theoretically maintained, the "love of many," as to practical godliness, has "waxed cold." A host of professors call JESUS "Master and Lord," yet "do not the things which he has commanded ;" and even where, in some humble measure, the people of God Lave been enabled to adorn the doctrine of their God and Saviour, as to external deportment-they have had to mourn in "sackcloth and ashes before the Most High, who seeth in secret," over innumerable offences, both of commission and omission, as to inward and conflicting experience. Nevertheless, on one immutable truth let every tribulated son and daughter of Zion fix their hope and base their confidence. "THE LORD reigneth." This glorious doctrine of divine sovereignty is solid rock, all else is shifting sand. During the past year, we have (so far as the Lord has enabled us, and our friends who have contributed to our columns,) striven to hold fast our integrity, and to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." The true character of the atonement, a subject which vitally affects our distinguishing principles, has been a prominent topic of enquiry and discussion, and we trust that the subject has been suggestive and salutary to many of our readers. Many defects have, unquestionably marked and marred our editorial efforts, but we would fain look to absolving blood and sheltering righteousness, for pardon and purification before a heart-searching and rein-trying God. |