PREFACE.

IN a PREFACE to the NINETEENTH Volume of a Periodical Work, conducted on a uniform Plan, the candid Reader will not look for Novelty. The. Editors of this Miscellany have only to renew their grateful Acknowledgments to HIM, whose Cause and Glory it has always been their Aim to promote, -to their respected Correspondents, whose pious labours enrich their Monthly Numbers, and to their very numerous Readers, whose continued Approbation is evinced by a most extensive Sale of the Work, notwithstanding the great increase of similar Publications.

The Circumstances of our TIMES concur to render the Evangelical Magazine more interesting than ever. The present Volume records, at large, a strong attempt made, in the course of the year, to restrain that Religious Freedom which, by a fair and candid construction of the ever-memorable Act of Toleration, the Ministers of the Gospel have long enjoyed, and which they have so diligently improved for the happy purpose of widely disseminating the Truth as it is in Jesus.' It records also (thanks be to God!) the speedy Defeat of that Attempt, by the Divine Blessing on the prompt and energetic Efforts of the Friends of Religion, and particularly those of a New Society, created by the emergency of the case; and which, we trust, will long continue (together with other bodies of Christians, having the same object in view) the vigilant and active Defenders of the Rights of - Conscience.

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The Cause of God and of Truth has also been recently assailed from another quarter: — a quarter from whence it ought to receive the firmest support. The Peculiarities of the Gospel, -the great Doctrines of Grace, as maintained by our Reformers, of blessed memory, and

interwoven with all the Formularies of the Established Church, have been openly disavowed by Men of eminent station; their 'REFUTATION' Coolly undertaken, as an easy task; and an Attempt made to consign them to contempt and oblivion, as the Reveries of an Individual an Individual, however, whose Name was almost idolized by the first Protestant Bishops of the Anglican Church, and which will gloriously survive the opposition of Modern Ecclesiastics, as it did that of LAUD and his immediate followers. Our Readers may be assured, that, although we decline Controversial Subjects in general, we shall not fail to contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints.'

While, in these eventful days, we behold, on the one hand, the Operation of Error and of Envy, labouring to suppress the Efforts of Truth and Holy Zeal, we see, on the other, the Imbecility of all their Projects. Great is the Truth, and it will prevail:' it has already prevailed; and the laudable Endeavours of Missionary Societies, Bible Societies, Tract Societies, and many other useful Institutions, are evidently crowned with Divine Approbation and Success. To the first Formation of these Benevolent Associations we gladly lent our helping hand; and we shall feel it no less our Pleasure than our Duty to afford them every Encouragement in our Power. — Hasten the time, glorious Redeemer, when, by the Instrumentality of thy Servants, the Knowledge of Thyself shall cover the earth as the waters cover the channels of the sea!

* Calvin.