PRIMITIVE CHURCH MAGAZINE, ADVOCATING THE CONSTITUTION, FAITH, AND PRACTICE OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCHES. "ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM." EPHESIANS IV. 5 VOL. IV.-NEW SERIES. LONDON: ARTHUR HALL & CO., 25, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCXLVII. PREFACE. "THE time is at hand." The clouds may still be gathering, as if for second night; but it is only to yield to brighter day. In the Established Church, Popery, disguised, gains strength; in Ireland, undisguised, it points the assassin's aim. But each act of its daring, and step' of advance, prepares for its decline. The howl of the wolf alarms even those who look only at the clothing of the lamb. Should it triumph, its triumph will be short. The General of the Jesuits in vain declares that only heavenly aims have occupied their care; men know them, and they fear. Even the Pope, intent to check the Austrian rule, yields liberties to his people too great for Popery to control, and seeks support from means that will prepare its doom. Even the discoveries of the age seem to foreshadow scenes as yet unknown. With the lightning for his utterance, and the whirlwind for his speed, man seems to be waiting for the period when all nations shall be one; "when there shall be one Lord, and his name one;" when the kingdoms of this world shall "become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." The darkness that may precede that period, will only display the more "the brightness of his coming." He must first put his hand upon all that is high, and bring all that is lofty low, that He alone may be exalted in that day. Too evident is declension now! Learning, eloquence, and talent,-riches, titles, and honors,-are admired; there is a want of holiness and truth; and the cross of Christ is deprived of its chief glory, that of having obtained the glory of the skies. Among all, conversions are but few. Not yet, it seems, has God displayed, as he intends, that it is He, and He alone has power to bless. When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb; yet could he not heal him, nor cure him of his wound. If God should heal us yet, our wounds would be covered with proud flesh. His voice still calls to the Bible, and to prayer. Nearer, and nearer yet, he bids us come-"Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find." To the friends of this work, the events of the year have been encouraging. Through God's kind providence, it can now be forwarded by post, by means of the newspaper stamp, with ease, to almost any part of the world; and mutual fellowship may thus be enjoyed with brethren to whom, otherwise, we should scarcely have been known. |