Go! leave thy gift unoffer'd, Editor's Farewell Address. CIRCUMSTANCES which relate to my own personal concerns, and not to the patronage this work has received, which has been sufficient, have lately called on me to discontinue my editorial labours; and the present number of the Unitarian Miscellany will be the last. It is not without considerable reluctance that I bring it to a close; for it has furnished, during the two last years, the interesting occupation of my best hours, and has been, I have reason to believe, of some service to the cause of religious truth. The three first volumes of this work were edited, it is well known, by the Reverend JARED SPARKS. The reputation which they acquired, I cannot hope to have equalled. It is enough for me that my volumes will be the constant companions of his-a symbol of our friendship. It will always be a most pleasing recollection to me, that I have contributed, though in ever so small a degree, to the diffusion of rational Christianity; and that I have borne a part in conducting the first periodical work that ever announced on its titlee-page, that it was devoted to the inculcation of the leading truth of our religion, the proper Unity of God. What I have written, I have written, I trust, not in the spirit of party, for I am no partisan, but in the spirit of sincerity and conviction, and with the sole aim of recom mending those views of Christianity, which I am persuaded have the best practical influence. Some may think, that on a few particular points, I have been too bold in my sentiments and language. To such I would say, that if what I have advanced on those subjects is true, it can eventually do no harm; and if it is false, it is before the public for refutation, and I hope it will be refuted. In reviewing what I have done, I cannot reproach myself with having in any case forgotten the demands of Christian candour and charity. At least, it has always been my desire to abstain from illiberal remark, and from every appearance of bigotry and denunciation. I have indeed spoken in a tone of severity of those who have sat in the seat of the scorner, reviling what they did not understand, and judging those whom it was not theirs to judge. Such persons deserve, and ought to receive rebuke; and I have no respect for that whining, palefaced kind of charity, which can hear itself called heretic and unbeliever, without feeling and manifesting indignation. For the rest-I have endeavoured to do all in my power, to make the work which I have been conducting instructive and interesting. I submit myself to the judgment of my readers. It is probable that many of the subscribers to the Miscellany, will need some work of a similar nature, to fill up the moments which they have been accustomed to employ in its perusal. I would therefore earnestly recommend to their patronage, the Christian Examiner, and the Christian Register; both published in Boston, both supporting the doctrines of Unitarianism and rational Christianity, and agreeing in principle, though differing in form. The first is issued six times in the year, in numbers of eighty octavo pages each. The last is published in the newspaper form, once a week. They who have time for investigation, will prefer the one, they who cannot command such leisure, will be pleased with the more popular form of the other; and they who can afford the expense, will do well to subscribe for both. And now let me bid an affectionate farewell to my readers-with the prayer, that our holy religion may preside over their lives and hearts in all its power and purity, may be present to them in the hour of departure with its abundant consolations, and administer to them at last an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of God our Father, as the worthy disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. F. W. P. GREENWOOD. |