PREFACE. THE writer has no other apology to offer for presenting the Life and Letters of his venerable and beloved relative to the public, than his belief that so disinterested and useful a career deserved a more extended and permanent record than the pages of a monthly periodical afford, and his hope that the record might become useful in inducing others to pursue the same high-principled and self-denying course in the service of God. From the suspicion of partiality, or the charge of incompetency, the writer will say nothing to vindicate himself, but leave the reader to judge. He did not rashly enter on the task, or hastily perform it. It was not till repeatedly urged by some old friends of Mr. Anderson, who wished to see a Memoir of one they had loved so long, that he thought of attempting it, nor did he take up the pen till he despaired of seeing another more competent for the work undertake it. Having now "done what he could," he has no wish to shrink from the responsibility attaching to it, or to deprecate fair, though severe criticism on the manner in which he has performed it. The writer has to acknowledge with thanks the kindness of Mr. Anderson's Executors in placing his correspondence and other papers at his disposal, and of those friends who have allowed him the use of Mr. Anderson's letters for this work. How much the correspondence has augmented his interest in the volume, every reader will own; how much it has lightened his task, the writer gladly confesses. He has only to pray that all who read, but especially the rising ministry in our Churches, may derive many instructive lessons from their perusal of the "LIFE AND LETTERS OF CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON," BRATTON, WILTS, December 1853. |