We commence this paper, and shall continue it, we
trust, if in God's providence it is to continue, in the name of God and
for the love of the truth. We desire to reach, through the medium of
this periodical, as many as we can of those who love the truth for
the truth's sake; those who love and prize the truth, above
the creed, above the denomination, above their reputation, above all
their worldly prospects; those who are willing to part with all
they have for the priceless pearl. I would rather have the
privilege of sending this little monthly visitor to a few hundred such
readers, than to send it to thousands of the more numerous class of
careless, indifferent, worldly Christians. "What is the chaff to
the wheat? saith the Lord." (Jer. 23:28.) We are living in a
shallow, deceitful age. Expediency is the universal principle in the
church as well as state. Sterling integrity, unswerving uprightness,
incorruptibility and fearless honesty is alas, the exception and not the
rule. The cynical aphorism "every man has his price" is
almost universally applicable. Politicians, from the lowest
"heeler" to the "boss," are to be bought for money,
or the "spoils" of office. The same is true to a very great
extent of legislators, judges, jury men, and others in positions of
trust and power. Even the Christian ministry is contaminated by the same
covetous spirit; and preachers are oft-times engaged in an unseemly
scramble for the "loaves and fishes," rather than seeking for
that bread that perisheth not. The masses are like their leaders:
thoughtless, worldly and selfish. I do not expect to reach them.
God will speak to them presently, "out of the whirlwind," as
he spake to Job, and then they shall hear. "Our God shall come, and
shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him; He shall call to
the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people (Psa.
50:3,4.) Meantime, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my
disciples."(Isa. 8:16.). A few are willing to pay any
price for the truth; to as many of these as this may reach I send
greeting, and trust that our communion through this medium may continue
to our mutual benefit and God's glory.
