87 THE CHRISTIAN REVIEW. NO. XXXVII....MARCH, 1845. ARTICLE I. INTRODUCTION. BY THE EDITOR. THE present article introduces to our readers the tenth volume of the Christian Review. Short as the continuance of the Review has been hitherto, it has passed through various and painful vicissitudes. It already has a history. Its fates, from time to time, also contribute to the formation of another history, in strictness of speech extraneous to itself, yet, at the same time, strictly connected with it,—the history of the Baptist denomination. It shows what we are in ourselves. It discloses our relations to others. The history of the Review has its lessons in respect to the intellectual character and spirit, the literary enthusiasm, and the energy and ambition which prevail among us. The character of a nation may be inferred from its literature. The patronage extended to literature is the test of the advancement of the nation. The same may be said, with the necessary limitations, of any society of men. In a literary point of view, they are such as their literature is; and the extent to which letters are patronized among them is a test of the extent of the literary spirit. The supply is regulated, according to the maxim of political economists, by the demand; and the demand is in proportion to the necessities which give rise to it. The love of literature will create a demand for its products. And if the products are sparingly called for, it is certain that the VOL. X.-NO. XXXVII. 1 We love of them either has waxen cold or never existed. are aware that the absence of demand for a particular kind of literature is not the certain proof of the absence of a literary spirit; for where one kind of literature is a drug, another may be in great request. Where there is little inquiry for a higher species, there may be much for a lower; and where the lower finds no sale, the higher may be in brisk demand. The world is full of books; and many persons, who take no interest in one kind, read others to excess. But mere reading is, in itself, no true test of a literary character and spirit. How much reading is simply the gratification of a morbid curiosity, or a fashionable and easy occupation of time, or an expedient to drive away thought. There is, however, a class of books, which are sought, not merely for the temporary gratification which they yield, but for their enduring usefulness; not as an end, looking not beyond themselves, but as a means, a guide, a help; not to drive away thought, but to stimulate it. Such we have endeavored to make the Christian Review from its commencement. has not been constructed for those who love chiefly the light, the fictitious, the unsubstantial, and the temporary; who choose that which thrills the soul for a moment, and then is forgotten. It has aimed at a higher character. It has sought to deal in the substantial. Its effort has been to be useful. The extent of its patronage shows (we speak generally), what is the extent of the taste for the department of literature to which it belongs. We speak cautiously; for we recollect that there are other works in circulation, of a similar character with this. Yet an exception on this account is, perhaps, needless; for most of the persons, embraced within the limits of our own communion, who read works of this class at all, would be likely to feel an interest in the quarterly issued by the particular denomination to which they are themselves attached. It The importance and utility of the Christian Review are universally acknowledged. By the nature of many of its articles, it is adapted to aid both ministers in their peculiar work, the general student, and the reading public at large. Most of its contributions are neither abstruse, nor highly scientific. A large proportion of them pertain to matters, concerning which all intelligent persons might be supposed to wish to have some knowledge. It has, indeed, the disad vantage of making its appeal to two or three different classes of persons; to the clerical reader, the literary and educated without particular reference to either of the professions, and the intelligent persons who are found on every side among us, who have never enjoyed the benefits of a public education. And that which is adapted exclusively to one of these classes is often little suited to interest another. Articles of a highly scientific character, or embracing learned details, presupposing the extensive literary cultivation of the reader, may sometimes be uninteresting to a large class. Though designed and suited to aid the ministry in their work, many ministers may not be in a situation to use them. The general scholar and the intelligent reader who makes no pretensions to scholarship may find little in them to repay a perusal, or may pass them over, as wholly useless. So, articles on topics pertaining to the ministry and its duties, may seem of little value to persons who are not particularly addressed in them. This peculiarity in the character of the Review doubtless presents a barrier to its extensive patronage. Were it exclusively biblical, or exclusively classical, exclusively learned, or exclusively general, its destination being easily defined, it might find its readers, and a numerous body of them, in the class to which it should be specially adapted. But under existing circumstances, a work of heterogeneous applicability may be more useful than any other could be. Such the Review was at its commencement. Such it has continued to be. The It has been a It has performed, however, an important service. mission it has fulfilled has been a useful one. benefit to the denomination of whose views it is the accredited representative. As a help to the ministry, its exegetical and other theological articles have had direct reference to their peculiar work. At the same time, in an age of unexampled profusion of literary issues, we trust it has not been without its use to the collector of books, as a critic of new publications, a guide of opinion, and a safeguard against works, either worthless in themselves, or of injurious tendency. In its original investigations and suggestions, and in its new arrangement of the forms and relations of knowledge already in the community, it has performed a good service, as we trust, to the cause of literature. As a fount of literary intelligence, especially in reference to matters of theological and classical interest, it has found favor among the learned in every quarter. Its office as a sentinel, to stand on its elevated position, and watch every new phase of literary or theological opinion that has arisen, and to meet the erroneous by timely examination and refutation has been one of great responsibility, yet, at the same time, of great utility and importance. The Christian Review, it is well known, grew out of the necessities of the Baptist denomination. It came to meet a distinct demand. It was called for by the united voice of many highly respected individuals, before it appeared. In recurring to its history and efforts for the past nine years, we find that it has effected much in calling forth the talents of writers, and in bringing out additions continually to our literature. The following table exhibits the character of the contents of the Review for that period. Works reviewed, distributed as follows: Reviews of Works in General Literature, Reviews of Scientific and Classical Works, Notices of recent Publications, Essays on various Topics, Translations from German, French, Latin and Articles of a Denominational Character, Histories, independent of works reviewed, - 182 95 59 28 336 85 17 14 15 12 As many of the articles have appeared anonymously, we do not feel at liberty to enter into very minute details as to their authorship. Suffice it to say that they have come from gentlemen of each of the three learned professions, and from teachers, and some other persons. Five-sixths of the whole have been the productions of clergymen. More than onefourth have been written by professors in our literary and theological institutions. The contributors have resided in several of the United States, in England, France and India. From the above statistics it may be gathered that the work would be, as it has been, not exclusively devoted to the interests of any one class, but adapted to the instruction and entertainment of all classes. It is not a work for minis ters alone, nor for students alone, nor for intelligent persons in other walks of life alone; but for each, for all. It has not appealed exclusively to the learned, nor exclusively to the unlearned; but to both; "dividing to every one his portion of meat in due season." And though it has been the organ of the Baptist denomination, it has aimed to be such in no narrow or exclusive sense. Its warfare has not been for a name, but for truth. Even its purely denominational articles, instead of being a contest with opponents for the sake of victory, instead of being answers to books setting forth antagonist opinions, have been, at least chiefly, examinations of principles, and the exhibition of arguments for the truth. Instead of repeating often the same series of statements, most of the articles of this description have been designed to meet some new phase of opinion. They have presented, not the same views in a new form or from another pen, but additional views. It has aimed to maintain a dignified position, not descending to the arts of sophistry; not dishonoring its pages by a harsh and contentious spirit; not uncharitable towards any thing good; not regardless of any of the diversified interests of a great and intelligent people, who dwell among a great and intelligent people. It has aimed to be discriminating in its judgments, sound in its reasoning, generous in its spirit, tolerant in its opinions, pure in its morality, elevated in its literature, rich in instruction, and useful to all. It has endeavored to vindicate its claim to the title of Christian Review. The necessity in which the Christian Review originated remains undiminished. Growing years have, indeed, added to it. Its extinction would only show us how much it is demanded, in a variety of respects. Its loss would be the more felt, because we have once enjoyed its presence. It is for our interest and our honor to rally around it, and sustain it. Our augmented numbers, as a people, and the diffusion of intelligence and a literary spirit among us, through the influence of our colleges, our common schools and our higher academies, as well as the necessity that our ministry should meet the demands of an improved and improving age, imperiously demand of us a strong effort in this behalf. It is plainly unworthy of us, that, with our 700,000 communicants, and our population of millions, our ministry, our scholars, our intelligent youth and our children 1* VOL. X.-NO. XXXVII. |