PREFACE.

THE Importance of periodical works has been long acknowledged by all classes, whether political, literary, or religious; and their advantages have been, in no instance, more apparent than among the latter. It was not the Spirit of rivalship that induced us to open a "Repository for the BAPTIST'S use;" on the contrary, we rejoiced in the success of our cotemporaries, and perceiving that though they had reaped much, there yet remained, in our own fields, gleanings too valuable to be lost, we solicited our brethren to assist us in gathering them up for our common benefit.

In laying the first Volume of our Work before the Public, we recognise the importance of the Principles which we pledged ourselves to support; and in reviewing the result of our exertions to open a door of communication with the Brethren of our own Denomination, we perceive, with pleasure, that the labours of our Correspondents have principally tended to illustrate and recommend that large portion of the Faith once delivered to the Saints which we hold in common with all evangelical Believers in the Son of God...

We never wish any of our readers to forget, for a moment, our steady attachment to the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, and our determination, by his Grace, to keep them as they were delivered. We feel this determination to be fully compatible with our desire to hold a place in the affections of those who love Him, who do not possess our views of his Ordinances.

We have no Party Principles to promote; we hold the Religion of Jesus Christ too sacred to be combined with such a design: but we possess an earnest wish to recommend ALL the Truth of God to the notice of our fellow men, and to see all Christians walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of Jesus Christ. In promoting these objects we hope to please God, and we are thankful to him for the general approbation of our Brethren, the increasing number of whose valuable communica, tions have removed all fear respecting the perma nence of our Undertaking.

It is not for us to appreciate the value of our labours; but we offer the production of the year to our Brethren and the Public, as an exemplar of the Spirit which conducts them. Increasing assistance, with increasing experience, will doubtless lead to considerable Improvement; but we hope, by the help of God, never to desert the Principles we have avowed, and to which we are firmly attached; or ever to forget the Apostolic maxim, "He that doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother."