"A LIVELY PICTURE, DESCRIBING THE WEIGHT AND SUBSTANCE OF GOD'S MOST BLESSED WORD, AGAINST THE DOCTRINES AND VANITIES OF MEN'S TRADITIONS." A reduced Fac-simile from an Engraving in Fox's Book of Martyrs. A reduced Fac-simile from an Engraving in Fox's Book of Martyrs. BAPTIST MAGAZINE FOR 1830. THE PROFITS ARISING FROM THE SALE OF THIS WORK ARE VOL. XXII. (VOL. V. THIRD SERIES.) Speaking the truth in love.-EPH. iv. 15. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY GEORGE WIGHTMAN, 24, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1830. PREFACE. AT the close of our labours for 1830, by which we now furnish our readers with another entire volume of the Baptist Magazine, we have no wish to indulge in self-commendation, or to deprecate the severity of criticism. The cause of the widows, to whose benefit the profits are devoted, is not our cause only, but theirs. However unworthy of perusal our pages might be deemed by the most prejudiced or illjudging individual, the application of the profits to an object confessedly interesting and important, might well induce even him to support our publication. But we entertain no apprehension that the general style of our work, in comparison with others of a similar class, is such in the estimation of any candid mind, as to require that we should appeal only to the benevolent sympathies of our readers. We could easily refer to many papers of merit, for the communication of which we have been grateful, and by whose instructive statements we doubt not our readers have been gratified and benefited. While we have occasionally, and we trust to a sufficient extent, admitted the illustration of subjects of comparatively minor importance, but nevertheless worthy of some notice and discussion, yet have we been most solicitous of introducing the more essential doctrines of Christianity, and the more weighty matters connected with experimental religion. It has been our aim, and not we hope an unsuccessful one, both to inform the judgment and improve the heart; and this will continue to be our constant effort. We have endeavoured also to guard against those extremes in theology to which many good men are prone, especially the error of urging on man his obligations to duty, in such a manner as to compromise the essential doctrine of our dependence on supernatural aid. While acknowledging the latter in general terms, they have neutralized, if not nullified their own concessions, by an indiscreet application of the appeals of Scripture. How many have split upon this rock, and virtually said to human reason, "Thou art my guide," and to human strength, "Thou art my |