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PUBLIC LIBRARY

67030

ASTOR, LENOX AN TILDEN FOUNDATIO.S

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER;

DAT 8.

A RELIGIOUS & LITERARY JOURNAL.

M.S.T.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1829.

[PRICE 3d.

1897.

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WHENEVER any new literary enterprise is undertaken, it is expected that its conductors should explain their motives, and set forth the grounds on which they build their hopes of success. In the present instance this explanation seems doubly necessary, periodicals already existing apparently of the same nature with that which we are about to publish. Our design, however, is to produce a novelty; not perhaps in form and appearance (which, though not quite immaterial, are of less moment,) but in the spirit of its execution.-Such were the terms in which a new Journal, now ranking high in the literary world, was introduced to public notice; and since the remark is equally applicable in our own case, we have not scrupled to adopt it on the present occasion. We feel no hesitation in saying, that there is no weekly publication whose merit reaches mediocrity, which devotes its pages to the best interests of mankind. The occasional Report of a good Sermon cannot redeem their character, while their columns are filled with matter which is dull, uninteresting, and useless; constituting bulk and quantity, merely, without regard to intrinsic value. It will be our endeavour to exhibit that religion which is "worthy of all acceptation," which "has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come," in the most interesting and attractive form, that its divine and paramount claims may be regarded, and its substantial blessings be appreciated, by all classes of our readers, but especially by the young. While, in order to accomplish this we may avoid some puritanical forms of expression, the good old doctrines of our pious forefathers will be duly regarded: for if we are anxious to escape the charge of bigotry on the one hand, we are even more desirous to avoid false liberality on the other.

In prosecuting this design, we intend to give faithful reports of the best Sermons delivered by the most celebrated preachers of the day; selecting such only as are distinguished by their ardent and glowing piety, their fervid eloquence, their orthodox sentiments, or their profound and varied learning. Sermons on specific and pre-eminently important subjects, and especially those preached before assemblies of ministers, will always be preferred for insertion in our work. By adopting this course we hope to effect two objects?-First, To wipe away the reproach which has been cast upon our ministry by one of the most influential and widely-circulated literary journals of the day," that they do not display either the talent, or the learning, or the eloquence, that the themes upon which they are accustomed to dilate are so eminently calculated to call forth, and the opportunities for study and improvement

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