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we are compelled to exclaim, "The thing which (at the opening of the year) we greatly feared, is come upon us." Still all is well! Not one thing would we have different. He has removed earthly objects-cut human ties, in order to give us more of himself; and the support, the comfort, he has afforded, under the bereaving strokes of his hand, have instrumentally made him more than ever precious unto us; so that we can now more fully and feelingly exclaim, with the Psalmist, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee? My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever."

And, amongst other trials of a mortifying and painful description, which some of us have been called to endure; the questioning of principle-the misconstruction of motive-and the ill-timed reproof; what, beloved, has been their combined tendency? Has it not led us with more fervour to the Throne? Have not those who sat in doubt about us unintentionally furnished us with many an errand to the King? And has not his blessed Majesty, in return, given us many a complaisant smile, and whispered, "Fear not, I am with thee, to deliver thee;" "No man shall set on thee to hurt thee?" And if some of ye, beloved, have made sacrifices for the truth's sake; if, in your jealousy for the cause ye have espoused, ye have passed the boundaries of what, in the estimation of your fellow-men, may be termed reasonable propriety, still fear not-be not discouraged; you have the answer of a good conscience; and One on your side not only competent, but willing, to avenge your

cause.

Contemplating the state of the professing church and the nation at large, we cannot but acknowledge its gloomy aspect. Still it is your mercy, and ours, to know, and rejoice in the fact,

that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth: yea, in the language of a distinguished poet, we may say, by grace divine,

"His hand the good man fastens on the skies,

And bids Earth roll, nor feels her idle whirl."

The church of the living God, in either its minute or its extensive departments; in its individual members as well as its congregated body, is a world within a world, that shall be preserved, strengthened, and supplied, whilst one of its members, however insignificant in the estimation of men, shall remain so to be preserved, strengthened, and supplied!

Whether, therefore, it will or will not be our privilege to address you at the close of another year; whether, by the fuller attainment of that power which Popery and Infidelity are now rapidly obtaining, the liberty of the press shall be invaded; or whether the hand that now writes shall be paralyzed by the common visitant, we know not: still it is our privilege to rejoice in the blessed assurance, that the "foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his."

Beloved, one word more! We thank you, as subscribers, for your support; we thank you, as correspondents, for your communications; and we thank the Lord for the encouraging testimonies that our poor labours, whilst travelling through a variety of extreme trials, have not been in vain in the Lord. We rejoice that, at the present time, we are better acquainted than at the close of the previous year. The circumstances under which we at first entered upon our sacred engagement were those of entire ignorance of the course which, for the five previous months, had been pursued by other hands, as we do not recollect that we had perused even a second page of the work. Had we then been aware of the manner in which the

D. A. DOUDNEY, CITY PRESS, 1, LONG LANE.

PREFACE.

TO THE ONE CHURCH OF THE EVER-LIVING JEHOVAHFATHER, SON, AND ETERNAL SPIRIT; CHOSEN IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE TIME-CALLED IN TIME-AND DESTINED, AFTER TIME, TO GLORY, AND HONOUR, AND IMMORTALITY. DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN THE COVENANT BONDS OF EVERLASTING LOVE,

The period having again arrived when it behoves us to address you by way of Preface, we greet you in the name of

our most adorable Lord.

By his good and gracious hand, Brethren and Sisters beloved, we have been conducted through the changes and vicissitudes of another year. All glory to his name, here we are still the monuments of sparing mercy, and the subjects of redeeming grace!

In taking a retrospect of the year, we contemplate it with a keenness of emotion better felt than expressed. Some of us have been called to encounter sore trials; and, with Job,

we are compelled to exclaim, "The thing which (at the opening of the year) we greatly feared, is come upon us." Still all is well! Not one thing would we have different. He has removed earthly objects-cut human ties, in order to give us more of himself; and the support, the comfort, he has afforded, under the bereaving strokes of his hand, have instrumentally made him more than ever precious unto us; so that we can now more fully and feelingly exclaim, with the Psalmist, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee? My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever."

And, amongst other trials of a mortifying and painful description, which some of us have been called to endure; the questioning of principle-the misconstruction of motive-and the ill-timed reproof; what, beloved, has been their combined tendency? Has it not led us with more fervour to the Throne? Have not those who sat in doubt about us unintentionally furnished us with many an errand to the King? And has not his blessed Majesty, in return, given us many a complaisant smile, and whispered, "Fear not, I am with thee, to deliver thee;" "No man shall set on thee to hurt thee?" And if some of ye, beloved, have made sacrifices for the truth's sake; if, in your jealousy for the cause ye have espoused, ye have passed the boundaries of what, in the estimation of your fellow-men, may be termed reasonable propriety, still fear not-be not discouraged; you have the answer of a good conscience; and One on your side not only competent, but willing, to avenge your

cause.

Contemplating the state of the professing church and the nation at large, we cannot but acknowledge its gloomy aspect. Still it is your mercy, and ours, to know, and rejoice in the fact,

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