THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE, AND EVANGELICAL REPOSITORY, FOR THE YEAR 1874. VOL. XLII., THIRD SERIES. VOLUME LXXVII. FROM THE COMMENCEMENT. LONDON: JOHN HUDSTON, METHODIST NEW CONNEXION BOOK ROOM, 4, LONDON HOUSE YARD, ST. PAUL'S. PREFACE. WHEN the year 1874 commenced we little thought that at its close we should be found writing, as its Editor, a preface to this volume of the METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE. We have always cherished a strong belief in Providence.. When in our youthful days we were drawn to decide to serve God, we understood the act as securing to us Divine guidance and help in all our earthly pilgrimage. In our early faith we still abide, fortified in our convictions by the experience of nearly fifty years. We make no pretensions to exceptional distinterestedness or sanctity-we are of like passions with others— but we can conscientiously say that our aim has ever been to live in that state of mind which would keep us, on the one hand, from desiring to go where God did not send us, and, on the other, from shrinking from work to which we believed He had called us. In this spirit we gave ourselves to the work of the Ministry forty-two years ago--in this spirit we have accepted the various spheres of service allotted us from time to time by Connexional authority-and in this spirit we entered on the duties of Editor assigned to us by the late Conference. The voice of the Church we took as the voice of God. Thus construing the election of our brethren, we are encouraged and strengthened under our new and weighty responsibilities. However inadequate, in itself, for His purpose the instrument which God chooses may be, we know He can give to its efforts a blessing which shall make them effectual. And we serve a faithful God; the blessing we need He will not withhold. Every worker for God is sustained by |
