London visited the place, and hearing of what we were doing, kindly promised to send us a donation of books. How eagerly both teachers and scholars waited the arrival of the parcel! But when it at length arrived, we found that it contained several pounds worth of religious books, but alas, with the exception of "Janeway's Token," and a few more, they were not at all adapted to juvenile readers. For they consisted chiefly of volumes on divinity, more suitable for ministers, students, and experienced christians, such as Boston's Four-fold State," and "Marshall on Sanctification." Now our sabbath school managers have choice from a large variety of suitable works. 66 And so we would again remind you of your great advantages; but in doing so we must also entreat you not to forget that every privilege brings with it a proportionate amount of responsibility. For the unalterable word of Divine Truth declares, that "where much is given much is required." Moreover, there are other, and peculiar reasons, why you, the young in our baptist families, congregations, and schools, should improve the advantages you possess. Our fathers, for many generations, suffered the loss of property, liberty, and life, to secure them for us. You are indebted to them, under Divine Providence, for the noble and persevering struggles they made, to secure for their posterity in all coming time, the inestimable blessings of civil and religious freedom. This, my beloved young friends, is a solemn and interesting fact, which ought never to escape your recollection. Often think of it, and let it excite you to act worthily, both of your privileges and the scriptural principles in which you have been instructed. Never be recreant to those principles, never hold them lightly, but grasp them with a firm hand. And, in order to this, examine them by the word of God. For it is of the utmost importance to your personal comfort and the usefulness of your future life, if God spare you, that you should have a clear and intelligent apprehension of scriptural principles. Thus rooted and grounded in the truth you will not only be able to contend with the enemy in the gate, but be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. To assist you this publication is issued. And further, our young friends will permit us to remind them, that this magazine is not only a medium for conveying, month by month, such readings as the EDITOR may select, but a few of its pages are left open for their own occupation, that they may be induced to cultivate the talents which God has given them. The EDITOR is aware that thoughtful young persons, of both sexes, sometimes feel disposed to try what they can do in the way of composing verses, or writing a little essay on some favourite theme, or telling some tale or incident, or describing some fact in natural history, and therefore to encourage them in such attempts he nvites them to send whatever they please, with this understanding only, that they must be content to leave their papers in his hands, for him to judge both of their merits and of their adaptation to his pages; not complaining if they do not appear at all, or if they do not appear immediately. Having made these statements and explanations, we look forward with hope to the future, trusting that, through Divine favour, we shall be permitted to enter upon our pleasing task for the coming year, cheered by your continued approbation and support, and anticipating the joys of that harvest when we shall "gather fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." THE EDITOR. 36, 108, 204 Baptism of Hindoo Converts |