The Wesley Banner,

AND

CHRISTIAN FAMILY VISITOR.

JANUARY, 1853.

A FEW INTRODUCTORY WORDS.

OUR Introductory Remarks will be few and brief. What we intend to do, and how we hope to do it, we have already, to some extent, announced: but we would not willingly enter on our task, and commence our new relations with so many friends, without a few words of introduction and kindly greeting.

In our hope to enter many a Christian household as a Family Visitor, it is our aspiration to come there as a friend. To live in the affections of our readers, to be esteemed and looked for, in our monthly visits, as a welcome companion, and regarded as a faithful but not ungentle monitor, by many thousands whose faces we shall never see, is our high ambition. Not as a dogmatic oracle, coming with gloomy presence and austere words-looking on this life, with all its cares and joys, its hopes and anxieties, as but vanity and vexation of spirit-would we be known; not, either, as representing or ministering to that absorbing world-worship which forgets, or that flippant ease and careless hardihood which ignores, the life beyond; but, as living in a world as full of blessed privileges as duties, we would aim to write words whereby the well-to-do may be made not less mindful of those duties, and the toil-worn labourer reminded that his need not be all a lot of care-that he, too, may be a sharer in these privileges. With this view, we shall freely deal with the realities of life in all its varied phases, its wondrous developments, and strange perplexities, and strive through all to

assert eternal providence,

And justify the ways of God to men."

Such work is not unnecessary. "Literature,” it has been well said, “is man written; his thoughts, creations, discoveries, deeds, and the varied events of his outer and inner life, transcribed in legible and permanent forms." Man will write himself; and such as he is, he will be written. The infidel writes himself; and the press teems with works of open, scoffing ribaldry, or specious and plausible sophistry; or, more dangerous, with history or essay, in which

VOL. V.

B

the incidental covert hint, and half-expressed inuendo, suggest more than bold, unproved assertions, and help to spread a moral pestilence around. The licentious man writes himself; and forthwith flows a stream of literary pollution, attainting and corrupting the very soul of all who come within its blighting influence. The mere worldling writes himself; and a legion of books are issued on a million different subjects, in all of which God is not. Man not only will write himself, but he will be read and studied by man; and what man studies, he will always more or less become imbued with, and influenced by. Thus literature is not only a reflex of man as he is, but what his literature is, that man will continue to become. Thus there is re-action and re-production. The importance, then, of a Christian literature, is most vital and urgent,—not simply a literature of religion, or religious subjects, but one which shall range the wide field of human interests, regarding all as under the hallowing shadow of the Cross. Man must deal with all that concerns humanity: nor does Christianity limit the field of his concerns; but, by stamping its impress on all, it elevates, ennobles, and sanctifies their character. Our aim, then, is to contribute our quota in producing a literature which all may read, because it embraces topics of interest to all,-but in which every subject in life is imbued with new beauty, fresh interest, and deeper import, because recognized by Christianity, and connected with the destinies of eternity.

To aid the Christian in his progress in the inner life will also be our aim. In maintaining an essentially Wesleyan character, we shall cherish what we esteem the vitality of Wesleyanism with more regard than its forms. That vitality we believe to be its pre-eminent earnestness. "Methodism," said Dr. Chalmers, "is Christianity in earnest ;" and this is the Methodism we would conserve and extend. In so far as we can be instrumental in stimulating our readers to a more earnest spiritual life, our labour will be its own exceeding great reward.

To the young we hope to be especially welcome: our heart yearns towards them with peculiar tenderness and sympathy. Well do we remember the nature of our own early mental and spiritual struggles. With what intensity of anxiety we sought in the literature of that day the solution of many of the mysteries that presented themselves to our awakening souls, and with what an aching, disappointed spirit, we often laid down works which but half satisfied some doubts, whilst they awakened new ones, is now vivid and fresh in our memory. It will be our especial aim, therefore, whilst presenting themes which may interest and delight in every department of knowledge, to have respect to the peculiar spiritual wants of the young, and bring before them, from time to time, subjects calculated to edify, or build them up, in spiritual truth.

We enter on our new task in an earnest and hopeful spirit. We feel confident we appeal to many who will aid us in our work. We have a perfect assurance that we write for many who appreciate our purpose, and in whose breasts our words will awaken a responsive chord. With this consciousness to cheer us, we will not heed those influences which might check or depress us. We have weighed well the responsibility we undertake, and we have considered the privilege to which we aspire; and we enter boldly on our work, resolved we will not look back, nor

bate a jot of heart or hope,

But steer right onward."

Essays, Articles, and Sketches.

THOUGHTS RETROSPECTIVE AND INTROSPECTIVE.

STANDING On the confines of the Old Year, and the threshold of the New, pausing thus at one of the grand boundary-lines of time, we seem to have gained a halting-place in life's journey, which especially invites us to meditations retrospective and introspective. Withdrawing for a few moments from the field of conflict, it is wise to review our course and revise our principles, to ask ourselves, What have we done, and what are we doing? And not simply this, but, To what end is our labour?-what report hath it borne to Heaven?

Assuming that those whom we shall ask to join us in these meditations are Christians-that they profess to have been born again, we shall at once address ourselves to those questions which spontaneously present themselves at such seasons, having regard to the Divine life in the soul of man. That this is something which has a positive existence, we have not now to prove; and that to its possessor it is a conscious reality, we need not here endeavour to establish. We address ourselves to those who admit its reality, and profess to act under its influence. We, as evangelical Christians, assume to base our relationship to Christ's church entirely on this ground: we recognise not baptismal regeneration; we stake not salvation on sacraments; we believe not in the obligation of creeds; we repudiate shibboleths. Our only ground of union with the church of Christ, our only claim to bear his name, then, rests on the fact that we have "Christ in us" as a living principle; and if this claim be destroyed, and if this assumed fact be not true, we are of all pretenders the most hollow and worthless ; we are, each of us, as Carlyle would have it, a "solecism incarnate," or living lie. We profess further, that this principle in the heart must ever find an exponent in the life, actions, and character-the walk and conversation: that, in point of fact, not simply the only proof, but the chief object of its existence is, that we "glorify God with our bodies and our spirits which are His." We cannot possess the life of God in our souls, and hide it there: a fountain must send forth streams, a fire must irradiate heat, a good tree must bring forth fruit. The inner life must find its exposition in the outer life. If Christ has written his name on our hearts, we must be "living epistles known and read of all men." If we have received the truth, its purifying influence must be manifest in our will and our affections. These are the claims we bring before the world, and these the grounds on which we base our claims. We have thrown down our gage: are we prepared to answer it?

These are the thoughts that press solemnly on our attention, demanding serious consideration, suggesting momentous inquiries. The questions which arise to our mind, and which would be well put by each one to his own heart, are, Have we, during the past year, in all things been influenced by the spirit of Christ, and