"By one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free."-1 Cor. xii. 13. THE CHILDREN'S MONTHLY MISSIONARY NEWSPAPER. DESIGNED TO COMMUNICATE INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING THE MISSIONARY EFFORTS OF ALL EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS. IN LANGUAGE ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF CHILDREN. EDITED BY CHRISTIAN HENRY BATEMAN. VOLUME 7.-1850. EDINBURGH: GALL AND INGLIS, GLASGOW G. GALLIE. LONDON: HOULSTON AND STONEMAN. DUBLIN: J. ROBERTSON. BELFAST W. M'COMB. PREFATORY NOTE. SEVEN years, young reader, have now passed since this little newspaper began its course, and the first number of it issued from the press as a sort of trial how a newspaper for children would succeed. At that time no publications of the kind, and at the price, were circulating amongst our children, but now the ground is occupied by many more, and we see almost every missionary society with its children's missionary periodical, and every religious denomination with its children's magazine. This, however, still holds on in its unsectarian course, It belongs to no society in particular, but to all in general. Our pages have news from all corners of the Saviour's vineyard, and accounts of the labours of his people of all sects and parties. Here, Moravians, Churchmen, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Independents, will find some portion of their labours spoken of, and some fields they cultivate referred to. THE CHILDREN'S NEWSPAPER knows no sect but the sect called CHRISTIANS, and pleads no special interest but the interest of the CAUSE OF CHrist. In this course we purpose still to hold on our way; and as month after month we send forth our little work, we hope it will be found in time to come, as in time gone by, to minister to the pleasure and profit of all who read it, and advance, though in an humble degree, the Saviour's kingdom in the earth. Our years, young reader, are swiftly passing over us. It seems but yesterday since we sent out the first number of your Paper, and yet it is already a period longer than some of you have lived. Oh! let us all be working while it is called to-day, that when the end of our work shall come, we may hear our Lord declare, "They have done what they could;" "Well done, good and faithful servant enter thou upon the joy of thy Lord." That this may be the blessed end of all who read this Paper, is the earnest prayer of their sincere friend and affectionate well-wisher, HOPTON, December, 1850. THE EDITOR. |