SER. XXVI. REV. DR. LELAND.
SER. XXVII. REV. MR. BALDWIN
Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827.
POSTAGE—One Cent and a half, not over100 miles; Two Cents and a half, any distance over 100.
TO THE REVEREND CLERGY:—
The undersigned proposes to commenceanother Periodical, of original plan and character, provided thatadequate pledges of supplies shall be furnished. The Work to bearthe following title, or something similar, viz.:
The following imperfect sketch oftopics to be embraced, may serve to illustrate the plan:—1.Instances of very early piety.—2. Striking results ofParental faithfulness, or unfaithfulness; of filial respect, ordisrespect.—3. Cases of individuals raised from deepobscurity, or wickedness, to eminent usefulness.—4.Remarkable cases of conviction.—5. Cases of great hardness ofheart, from resisting convictions.—6. Distinctly marked casesof submission and conversion to God.—7. Cases of awfulrelapse into sin.—8. Cases of strong temptation andtrial.—9. Cases of strong faith and confidence inGod.—10. Peculiarly manifest interpositions of Providence, inmercy or judgment.—11. Instances of the wrath of man beingmade to praise God.—12. Cases illustrative of the influenceof piety on the intellectual powers.—13. Instances ofextraordinary beneficence or covetousness.—14. Death-bedscenes, of the Christian, the backslider, the infidel, theuniversalist, the profane man, or the worldling.
It is conceived that the very existenceof such a Periodical might be the means of leading Clergymen, intheir pastoral intercourse, to be more observant of character, morediscriminating in their views of human nature, and more disposed torecord and rescue from oblivion striking conversations and facts.No species of knowledge can be more interesting or more useful,than that thus drawn from real life;—especially from portionsof life most intimately connected with spiritual and eternalrealities. If it is all-important that masters in surgery andmedicine record, for mutual improvement, and for the benefit ofmankind, striking cases which occur in their practice; it cannot,surely, be less important, that those who watch for the life ofsouls, should preserve similar records. It would seem as though,from the daily intercourse of several thousand Clergymen, suchmaterials, of the character contemplated, might be furnished, as,if well condensed and judiciously arranged in an elegantPeriodical, would not fail to be read with intense and generalinterest. And who can tell, but that God, who is rich in wisdom,may thus employ the simplest means for collecting, condensing, andreflecting rays of sacred truth, in the form of practical results,which may carry conviction and saving instruction to uncountedmillions—not merely in our own land, but in more populouscountries, where the importance of experimental religion is notappreciated?
But, for rendering such a workpre-eminently useful, or even commencing it, there must be union ofeffort. As it is intended to consist wholly of original matter, andthat of a specific character, such as no genius can originate, itis obvious that it cannot be commenced, without being furnishedwith numerous pledges of supplies. And it will be important to havea considerable number of communications on hand, at the