CHRISTIAN HERALD, AND Seaman's Magazine; FOR THE YEAR 1822-23, BEING THE NINTH VOLUME. PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE "PORT OF NEW-YORK SOCIETY FOR PROMOTIng the gospel among seaMEN." EDITED BY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. And this Gospel of the Kingdom'shall be preached in all the world.-Jesus Christ. And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph; and they shall For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee.-Isaiah. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED AT THE CHRISTIAN HERALD OFFICE, Gray & Bunee, Printers. 1825. PREFACE. AT no period, since the days of the Apostles, have plans for disseminating Divine Truth been conceived in greater wisdom, nor carried forward with more zeal, than at the present. Among the diversified means employed for the attainment of this end, religious periodical works hold a prominent rank; and this proposition is true, whether we regard their number or their influence. If, in political economy, the individual be counted a benefactor to his country, who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew previous to cultivation, how much more should those persons be deemed benefactors to mankind, who, by a wise direction of the periodical press, shall elicit from the grasp of parsimony two talents for the Lord's treasury, where only one, or perhaps none, had before been contributed? That such have been the effects of this species of religious literature is evident from facts; and in sending forth our annual volume, this reflection is not the least among the pleasures of our occupation. We cannot close the fourth year of our Editorial labours, without acknowledging the goodness of GOD OUR SAVIOUR, in supporting us under many trials and discouragements; nor without remembering, with many thanks, the kindness of our CORRESPONDENTS and PATRONS. |