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REIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE:

CONTAINING

A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

ID OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH,

AND

A GENERAL VIEW OF THE TRANSACTIONS

OF

OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS.

VOLUME VI.

Published Monthly under the Direction of the Executive Committee.

NEW YORK:

ROBERT CARTER 58 CANAL STREET.

1838.

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To the Readers of the Foreign Missionary Chronicle.

DECEMBER, 1838.

IN submitting to our readers the concluding number of this volume, we desire to mention that the character of this Magazine, and the manner in which we propose still to conduct it, may be learned from the past. By giving a brief survey of Protestant Missions, a general idea can be formed of what is doing by the Church of Christ for the conversion of the world; and the selections of Missionary Intelligence will present such views of the practical operation of the Missionary enterprise in various heathen countries, as will confirm the conviction of every Christian mind that this cause is the cause of Christ, and, will deepen his impression of the evils of heathenism, and call forth more fervent prayer and more devoted consecration in behalf of a cause which has for its object the removal of all these evils, and the communication of the greatest temporal and spiritual blessings. Such ought to be the effects of Missionary intelligence. It is, comparatively, of little importance where such intelligence comes from. As these accounts teach the same lessons-they alike show the degraded character of the heathen, their need of the Gospel, the conflict which the truth has to meet with before the Gospel is received, and yet its final triumph in the sanctification of every heathen who believes it. The general view referred to above, therefore, and the more particular accounts selected from the communications of our own Brethren and of other Missionaries, will answer these purposes, and accomplish, perhaps, nearly all that is either practicable or desirable in this department of our labors.

To the Proceedings of the Board, Biographical Memoirs, Notices of other Benevolent Operations, &c., a portion of our pages will continue to be devoted.

Arrangements have been made by which an illustration of some object or place, finely executed in wood, will be inserted regularly in every third or fourth number. The circulation of this Periodical, it is gratifying to mention, is gradually becom ing larger. Our experience during the year now near its close has given decided encouragement to go forward. No extensive exertions were made until within a short time to increase its circulation, and the enlarged size and price of the work at the beginning of the year led us to anticipate many discontinuances. Yet the number was only about 350, while upwards of 1100 new copies have been put in circulation, which are sent partly to persons entitled to receive them without charge, but chiefly to new subscribers. The strong and cordial recommendations o the Chronicle by the General Assembly, and by several Synods and Presbyteries, and the conviction of many of our Ministers, Elders, and influential members, that such a work is indispensably necessary to our Church becoming a Missionary Church-cannot but have an important influence in extending its circulation. Recently the Executive Committee have prepared a Circular to the Elders of our Churches, to solicit their special attention to the importance of increasing the circulation of this work. It has already been the means of obtaining many new subscribers, and we hope it will be widely distributed among the numerous and influential members of that order of the rulers in our Church.

And now, having arrived so near the end of another year, we may be permitted to remind our readers that such a period should always lead us to the exercise of devout thanksgiving to God for his goodness and mercy towards us; of humiliation and penitence on account of our failures in duty, and our numerous offences; of a careful review of our character, conduct, and hopes; of new consecration to the service of

God in the love, strength, and grace which he will give to every one that asketh. And we would further suggest that we may profitably connect with the performance of each of these duties, a distinct reference to what we owe to God and to the heathen, as Missionary Christians. Let us consider ourselves in this light. It is our true character. The world is one field. We are to be lights in the world. We are to be witnesses for Christ. In his absence we are not only to prepare ourselves for his presence, but to make known, as widely as possible, the glory of his Gospel-the preciousness of his salvation. When we are thankful, therefore, let us remember to praise God not only for making us to differ from the heathen, but for what he is doing among them to establish his kingdom, and for permitting us to be co-workers with him in such a work. When we abase ourselves and repent of our sins, let the remembrance of our indifference to the claims of the heathen, our failure in our duty to God as well as to them, our disposition too readily to indulge ourselves, to confer with flesh and blood, to neglect the Saviour's honor, and the interests, unspeakably solemn, of so large a multitude of immortal beings, as are now sitting in darkness and the shadow of death,-fill our minds with a deeper and more self-abasing sense of our demerit, and of our need of forgiveness. And let us consecrate ourselves anew to this great work. Highly favored as we are, deeply degraded as the heathen are, widely different as are their circumstances, character, and prospects from our own-yet we are alike approaching nearer to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, nearer to the tribunal of God's judgment, and nearer to the unchangeable retributions of the eternal world. As those who are soon to cease from our labors, let us be faithful. As those who are seeking the salvation of millions, who are passing away like the grass that perisheth, let us be faithful. As those who would glorify the name of our risen and exalted Redeemer, let us be faithful. Soon we shall see him as he is, let us be faithful until death-and then we shall receive a crown of life.

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