CIRCULAR. The Committee who have in charge the interests of the Christian Review, having made arrangements for the continuance of the work another year, respectfully submit to its friends and patrons the following considerations: 1. That the work has been sustained through four volumes only by special effort and considerable sacrifice on the part of a few individuals. At no time have the receipts been equal to the expenses, and at the close of each volume it has been necessary to provide for a deficiency. The number of subscribers, however, has gradually increased, and the hope has been encouraged that ultimately the list would become such as to induce the publishers to assume the whole risk, and, relieving the Committee from further pecuniary responsibility, enable them to place the work upon a basis that would insure its perpetuity. With proper exertions on the part of its professed friends, it is believed that such an increase can easily be obtained, so that the work shall support itself, rendering to the contributors, the editor, and the publishers a fair compensation for their services. Influenced by this conviction, the Committee venture once more to appeal to those who are already subscribers, and to others who are capable of appreciating the importance of such a work, entreating them to make at once a special effort to extend its circulation, and thus remove it beyond that liability to discontinuance which has heretofore been so prejudicial to its interests. 2. That it is very important, for reasons which must be obvious, that all subscribers should be punctual in paying, either to the publishers or to authorized agents, and that all agents should be prompt in collecting and forwarding to the publishers the subscriptions for which they may in any sense be responsible. The expense of the work is great, and must be promptly met. As their expectation of profit is little better than nothing, the publishers cannot afford to hazard much, or to make large advances in order to secure the regular issue of the numbers. The work is put at the low rate of three dollars per annum, in order to bring it within the means of as large a number as possible. If that small sum should, in every instance, be paid in advance, the benefit would be felt at many points, and no where more delightfully than in the bosoms of the subscribers themselves. If the present number of subscribers, with the addition of two or three hundred more, were to be thus prompt in payment, not only would the Committee be relieved from a heavy burden, but the character of the work might be essentially improved, for the editor could be furnished with means to render a suitable compensation for articles contributed. 3. That such a work as the Christian Review is needed, and ought to be sustained. It was commenced in obedience to an urgent call from different parts of the land, and, in compliance with that call continued, it has thus far, though with much difficulty, been maintained. It occupies a high position among the religious quarterlies of the country, and, in the estimation of intelligent men of all Christian denominations, is contributing a good share to the religious periodical literature of the age. To the Baptist denomination, in particular, it is an auxiliary in the defence and illustration of the truth-the whole truth with which, it is believed, we cannot afford to dispense. Let ministers and laymen subscribe for it, PAY FOR IT, and READ IT, and then say if it should not be regarded and supported as an important instrument in executing the great design of our common Lord. BARON STOW, DANIEL SHARP, BOSTON, MARCH, 1840. LUCIUS BOLLES, Committee. PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. In sending forth the foregoing notice of the Christian Review, the Publishers take occasion to say, that on completing the fourth volume, it was decided by all concerned, that the work-owing to the lack of competent support-must stop. When this decision, however, became known to the public, the cry from all quarters, "Go on," "The work shall be sustained," &c., became so general, that a meeting for consultation was held by the managers of the work, which resulted in a determination to make another effort. The Publishers offered to publish and attend to the business of the Review without charge, provided the Committee would engage to indemnify them against actual loss; but this they did not feel justified in doing. The Publishers, therefore, unwilling that the work should be abandoned without another trial, have been induced to assume a much greater responsibility and risk than heretofore, relying for remuneration on the merits of the work, and the "fair promises" of its friends to make renewed and still more vigorous efforts to increase the number of paying subscribers. And they would state, that the present number of subscribers is nearly sufficient to support the work, if all would pay, and pay promptly; but owing to the inconsiderateness of some, and the almost unpardonable neglect of others, a considerable portion of the subscriptions are never collected. It should be borne in mind that the terms of subscription are three dollars per year, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE, to agents two dollars and fifty cents, which deduction they ought in all cases to take advantage of, in order to indemnify themselves for trouble and the liability of loss; but this, in many cases, has not been done; and consequently, when losses occur, agents appeal to the Publishers for a deduction, saying that they receive no compensation for their trouble, &c.; when, if they had charged their single subscribers the regular subscription price (which is very low), they would not only have avoided loss, but, in most cases, have received a fair compensation for their trouble. Subscribers should pay to the person of whom they receive the work, and be particular to give notice of a change of residence. Agents should make it a point to collect of their subscribers in the early part of the year, and remit amount to the Publishers per mail, at their risk, if no private opportunity offers, and also inform them, without delay, in case money comes to them from other sources; as a neglect of this frequently causes unpleasant correspondence and expense of postage. If the friends of the Review will but give attention to the above suggestions, they will very much assist in sustaining the work, and soon place it above the reach of want, or possibility of failure. GOULD, KENDALL & LINCOLN, Publishers. BOSTON, MARCH, 1840. THE CHRISTIAN REVIEW. No. XVII. MARCH, 1840. ARTICLE I. INFLUENCE OF EMINENT PIETY ON THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS. THERE is an impression somewhat general, even at the present day, that a vigorous and highly cultivated intellect is not consistent with distinguished holiness; and that those, who would live in the clearest sunshine of communion with God, must withdraw from the bleak atmosphere of human science. We are warned very frequently against the doctrine of the sufficiency of reason, and earnestly reminded of the importance of simplicity in the consideration of the truths of the gospel. That there are melancholy examples of an unhumbled and boastful spirit among the students of Revelation, we do not deny. It must be acknowledged, that pride and presumption often usurp the place of humility and reverence. But is there not another tendency equally deplorable? Is there not an opposite extreme, which is no less injurious? Are we not apt to dissociate the intellect from the heart, to array knowledge and piety against each other, to exalt the feelings at the expense of the judgment, and to create the impression extensively, that eminent attainments in knowledge and grace are incompatible? Piety, it must be remembered, is not an isolated and barren principle; it is not a sickly plant growing under VOL. V. NO. XVII. 1 |