BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS

OF THE

BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION.

VOLUME XVI.

BOSTON:

JOHN PUTNAM, 41 WASHINGTON STREET.

MDCCCXXXVI.

TO THE READERS OF THE MAGAZINE.

AGREEABLY to previous announcement, the Magazine becomes, with the present number, a strictly missionary publication. Its form is also enlarged to octavo, so that its amount of matter, though on fewer pages, is essentially the same as heretofore. To express its character the more fully, its name is varied to that of "The Baptist Missionary Magazine." Its price is reduced to $1,00 per annum.

The design of these alterations is, obviously, to make the Magazine more extensively subservient to the furtherance of Foreign Missions. The Board have, for some time, felt the importance of circulating at least one periodical, devoted exclusively to this object, throughout the Baptist Denomination of this country. They have also been aware that the relation they sustain to the Foreign Missionary Cause, and the peculiar facilities they enjoy for furnishing authentic missionary intelligence, specially called on them to meet the exigency. They gladly avail themselves of the earliest opportunity to fulfil the claim.

For the information of such as have not seen the prospectus lately issued, we would further state, that, beside the usual Reports of the Procedings of the Convention and of the Board, and a monthly list of receipts into the treasury, the Magazine will contain accounts of the Missions under the care of the Board, including journals and letters of the missionaries; occasional statements, essays, and appeals on missionary subjects, embracing historical and biographical notices, and notices of books which relate to missions; and summary views of the operations of the principal Missionary Societies in Europe and America.

We are unwilling to close this introductory notice without making devout acknowledgment of the grace and mercy of God, in which He has abounded, during the past year, towards the Board of Foreign Missions, and the Sacred Cause which He permits them to serve. That the year has been one of unexampled prosperity in the operations of the Board and of the Missions under their charge, must have been manifest to every one who has marked its progress, and compared its results with those of preceding years. True, it has not been wholly exempt from trials. Sickness has repeatedly visited our Stations. Death once and again has reminded us, at home and abroad, how few are directly laboring for the heathen, and how short their time to work. Ruffian violence or the jealousy of an idolatrous priesthood has threatened the extinction or banishment of more than one of our missionary bands. Still, the hand of God has been upon our Missions for good. He has vouchsafed his protection in times of imminent

peril, and saved his servants from all essential harm. He has given health to the sick, and strength to the faint, and consolation to them that mourned. Above all, He has honored his Word among the heathen, and, in numerous cases, made it effectual, we have cause to believe, in the salvation of those who, but for the self-denying labors of our missionary brethren, would have perished in all the hopelessness of paganism.-We would, also, acknowledge our peculiar obligations to God for the favor which he has shown to the Board in their operations at home; that He has quickened among our churches, so generally, the spirit of Missions, and called forth from various portions of the community so large benefactions of prayer and offering; that He has specially directed the attention of many to the claims which the heathen have, not only on their alms and intercessions, but on their personal services, and has effectually inclined them to heed the cry for relief, so lamentably disregarded heretofore, though raised by perishing millions; that He has thus enabled the Board to send forth to the Indian Tribes at the West, to France, Germany, and Western Africa, to India, Burmah, Assam, Siam and China, more than thirty laborers since the Meeting of the Convention in April last; and that now, at the opening of a new year, He allows them to look forward, with cheerful hope, to a continued extension of missionary zeal in the churches, and the further enlargement and prosperity of the Missions entrusted to their charge. Surely, God hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. To his name be all the glory.

Missionary Rooms, Dec. 15, 1835.