editor. The duties devolving upon the editor, under the present arrangement, will undoubtedly be sufficiently responsible and laborious. And we might well tremble for ourselves, and for the cause intrusted with us, if we could make no dependence upon the assistance of able correspondents.

We have long been strongly impressed with the conviction that a Quarterly of high literary merit, one that should be worthy of being considered the standard of Methodist literature and theology in this country, is a desideratum. And we shall put forth our best endeavors to make the new series every thing that is desirable, though we by no means have the vanity to anticipate entire success in attempting to meet the expectations and views of an inquisitive and enlightened age, or in carrying out our own wishes and purposes. But wherein we are observed by our eagle-eyed and liberal-minded friends and brethren who are interested in the work to fail in the execution, we shall not be more solicitous to enjoy the benefit of their candid and charitable consideration, than we shall be to have them supply our lack of service. For we hope (though we would not profess to be wanting in self-respect) we have a higher and more sacred regard for the safe keeping of the great public interests committed to our care than we have for our own fair fame as a critical reviewer.

We would most respectfully and explicitly pray our brethren in the various fields of labor to give us the benefit of their talents and re. search, and so not only to oblige us, but to serve the best interests of the church and of the world. Let men who have talents to write, consider, that for the improvement of these talents they are as much responsible to God as for the improvement of any other class of gifts. And as to the character of the matter wanted, it is scarcely necessary to say, it must be characterized by genuine moral principle, and sound orthodoxy. These will in all cases be considered indispensable. It must also be considered as of great importance that articles for publication in the Review should be well got up and properly finished. We shall wish to be excused from the labor of correcting the grammar and the rhetoric, of breaking up the sentences, and changing the phraseology of our correspondents. We shall always prefer leaving writers to appear in their own dress, and to stand upon their own merits; and, consequently, shall not choose, in any instance, to alter a phrase or change a word. But certainly we cannot consent to be at the trouble of new modeling the structure of whole paragraphs, for the purpose of making the writer consistent with himself or intelligible to his readers. We very much want the help of gifted and practiced writers, and when they favor us with

their labors, we hope they will give themselves time so to finish what they undertake, as to be willing to have it appear to the eye of the critic without material correction. As for those who have yet to learn how to spread their thoughts upon paper in an intelligible manner, we would wish to leave them a while with their tutors to complete their novitiate before we present them to our readers.

As to the classes of articles which we want, we would observe, that, as our work, after the present series is closed, is wholly to take the character of a Review, we want a sufficient amount of reviews proper. It will be desirable to have reviews of the most popular of the theological and scientific publications of the day; presenting their spirit, scope, and execution in a lucid and comprehensive manner; refuting what is erroneous, and approving what is right; the whole executed in such a manner as to give the reader a general idea of the work, and a correct knowledge of its great distinguishing features and characteristics. In addition to this class of compositions, we want dissertations, essays, Biblical exegeses, biography, sketches, (historical or descriptive,) literary notices, &c.

It may fairly be doubted whether the real importance of such a work has as yet been properly estimated, either by the membership or the ministry. The Methodists may truly be denominated a reading community. But multitudes of them neither have the means to purchase many books, nor the time to wade through ponderous tomes. To them it is of immense importance that they should be furnished with a periodical which presents, in a condensed form, the substance of the great mass of English and American literature, freed from the obnoxious and deleterious principles which often more than neutralize the good with which they are associated.

To the traveling preachers whose itinerating course of life and limited means render it impossible to furnish themselves with extensive libraries, and many of whom labor in fields situated at a distance from the publishing establishments and book marts of the country, such a work is admirably suited. This fact appears so obvious, that it is scarcely accountable that so little interest has heretofore been taken by our traveling ministry in the Magazine and Review; a work which, with all the disadvantages under which it has labored, certainly has been worthy of a larger amount of patronage than it has received. More time and attention will be devoted to the matter of the future series, and it is confidently hoped that the entire mass of our ministry, traveling and local, will find it to their advantage to become subscribers for the work, and to aid its circulation among our people and friends.

The theological and literary Reviews which are published in Europe

and America go far toward giving character to the literature of the age. Numbers of these are under the control of other denominations of Christians, who make them to serve the interests of their institutions, doctrines, and usages. All this they have a perfect right to do, and their doing it is an exhibition of wisdom in the adjustment of their means to the ends which they wish to accomplish. Our Presbyterian brethren in this country have armed all their important positions with this kind of heavy ordnance. Their quarterlies, filled with the highly wrought productions of their best writers, issue from all our principal cities, and take a wide sweep over the country, exerting an incalculable amount of influence over the taste, the litera. ture, and the theology of the country. In this mode of enlightening the public mind, and of giving direction to the current of investigation upon the most important subjects, they are vastly ahead of us.

But a short time since they exercised a controlling influence over almost the whole of our literary institutions. We saw ourselves subjected to incalculable disadvantages, for the want of seminaries and colleges of our own; and under the guidance of divine Providence were enabled, within the term of a few years, to make the supply almost or quite equal to the demand. We are now reaping the first fruits of our labors in this department; and no one can be so blind as not to see that already we have gained an enviable eminence from the success which has attended our infant institutions of learning. For all this we have abundant cause to bless the God and Father of all our mercies, that he has so graciously succeeded our humble exertions to control the education of our own children, and to take an active part in forming the character of the rising generation. In this we invade no man's rights, but, as we conceive, simply do our duty.

And shall we leave another, and scarcely less important department of labor to be occupied wholly by others? Shall we not sustain, and well sustain, one Quarterly Review in this vast republic? And shall this enterprise turn out a failure for want of interest, energy, or intellectual resources? It is not possible. Did we think otherwise we should be obliged to abate vastly the estimate which we have placed upon the taste and the spirit of our ministry and people.

It is the genius of Methodism to enter every open door, and to supply every agency called for by the exigencies of the times. Now, it strikes us, that here is a wide door open; an instrumentality called for, which, under the circumstances, is absolutely indispensable. We are aware that our "sling and stone" in former times brought down many a proud Goliah. But this is no proof that now, after God has put into our hands swords and shields, and engines of war, that we

have no need of them; and that our institutions can be defended and brought up to the desirable point of efficiency and successful operation without them. Indeed, all the resources within our reach should be called into requisition, and the instruments by which others are exerting such a mighty influence over the intelligence of the age are not to be judged unimportant to our success and security.

Once we did well without our Advocate and Journal; but who would think of dispensing with it now? Should it cease to make its weekly visits to our people, what could now compensate them for the loss? How would the ways of Zion mourn, and how soon would our growing institutions begin to wither! How would our enemies triumph over us, and say, "Aha! so would we have it!" But however necessary our weekly paper is, it cannot meet all the wants of our church. A newspaper is necessarily fugitive in its character. Though the effect be ever so lasting, the form and the general character of the matter are such, that from week to week one number passes into oblivion and gives place to its successor. Now it will be obvious upon a moment's reflection, if no experiments had ever been made, either by ourselves or others, that we would still need a periodical of more permanent character, devoted to more extended investigation, more strictly literary, and profoundly critical.

As to the doctrinal views which are to characterize the Review, no material change will, of course, be anticipated. In general, we stand upon the broad ground of our common Christianity: but so far as we are distinctive, we most unequivocally say, we are in doctrine a Wesleyan, and in both doctrine and discipline an Episcopal Methodist ; and, consequently, may be expected to sustain, to the best of our abilities, the doctrine, discipline, and institutions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. But while we thus freely expose our distinctive peculiarities, we hope we shall not be considered exclusive. We shall indeed be, as we have ever been, most happy to meet our brethren of all other orthodox denominations on general principles, and shall most freely and cordially shake hands with them upon all common ground. So far as our common Christianity is concerned, we shall not be backward to acknowledge them as fellow-laborers in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ-and hope we may not be counted unworthy to enjoy a share of their confidence. We hope not to be so faulty as wantonly to wound the feelings of any with whom we may find it necessary to differ in opinion; but should we be so unfortunate as in an unguarded moment to inflict unnecessary pain upon a friend or an enemy, timely and honorable correction, we trust, will set us right. While we shall not deprecate liberal and enlightened criticism, we scarcely need say that we make no pretensions to

infallibility, nor indeed to an amount of shrewdness and foresight which renders us invulnerable. We shall probably sometimes miss our course. And what we desire under such circumstances is, that our "eyes may see our teachers, and our ears may hear a voice as it were behind us, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it." To this voice, from whatever quarter it may come, if it shall be characterized by the attributes of truth and wisdom, we shall most promptly yield due submission. Our object is, with our feeble powers, to serve the best interests of the church and of the world. And in pursuing this object, wherever we see the path of duty clearly delineated, there, by the help of God, we shall direct our course.

In conclusion we would say, that though we have given considerable prominence to the literary character which it is contemplated to give our work, we must not be understood to intimate that it is not to be a theological and religious periodical. Science and literature never thrive so well nor appear so lovely as when they acknowledge the paramount claims of religion, and implicitly submit to her supreme mandates. We should wish to have our work present a fair specimen of sanctified learning-learning harmoniously blended with religion. Were it designed to make the "Methodist Quarterly Review" a merely literary publication, and not designed that it should be em. ployed directly in the exposition and enforcement of the great doctrines and duties of Christianity, we might well doubt whether we had not mistaken our calling in assuming the duties of our new ap. pointment. But as it is, we enter upon our work under a strong conviction that our labors are to hold a direct connection with the

great purposes of our Saviour's mission among men. And well may we, in view of the sanctity of the object, and the vastness of the work, exclaim, "Who is sufficient for these things?" May the great Head of the Church shed upon us the rays of heavenly light, to teach us what we know not, and inspire our heart with an unconquerable zeal for the truth of God and the salvation of souls, to impel us forward in the discharge of our arduous and responsible duties. And when the "laborers" shall be called to receive their "hire," may it be ours to receive the reward of a "good and faithful steward of the manifold grace of God." This honor we ever hope to seek above all the honors, pleasures, and treasures of this poor world.

New-York, June 26, 1840.

GEO. PECK.