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PREFACE.

THROUGH the kindness of Providence, we are enabled to send another complete volume into the world. Great ought to be our thankfulness, if permitted to do any thing toward the promotion of religious knowledge and religious zeal; and toward awakening the Christian community to greater and more active beneficence.

Many friends we have, who, if we may credit their spontaneous declarations, regard our labors with a favorable eye, and would willingly make at least a trifling exertion to procure us subscribers. It may not be amiss to remind these persons, that without extensive patronage such a work as ours cannot exist at all, on the present plan; and that its benefits must bear some proportion to the extent of its circulation,

But whatever may be the destiny of our work in future years, we hope the satisfaction of having attempted something for the glory of God and the salvation of men will not forsake us. The day will arrive, when one exertion, put forth with a sincere desire to benefit the souls of men, will be of more value to the person who made it, and will be more highly appreciated by the intelligent universe, than all the riches that avarice ever desired, and all the power for which ambition ever toiled. To our readers we would solemnly commend the inquiry, and would intreat each one to propose it to his own conscience, Whether he is earnestly, sedulously, and prayerfully engaged in those labors of love, the effects of which will last forever? Soon will all our years, like the one now closing, be numbered, and no desirablememorial of them will remain, unless we imitate Him, who "went about doing good," and who will not forget any sacrifice made to his

6ause.

BOSTON, DEC. 31, 1818.

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