CHRISTIAN WORDS:

THE ORGAN OF THE

WESLEYAN REFORM UNION.

1872.

“Christ is Head over all things to His Church, and His Word the only and the
sufficient rule both of its faith and practice."

LONDON:

WESLEYAN REFORM BOOK-ROOM, 8, EXETER HALL,

AND MAY BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1872.

Per. 11144.E.

7-87

PREFACE.

THE end of 1872 is close at hand, and we again beg to tender our best thanks to the correspondents and readers who have so kindly rendered their assistance during the year.

Recent events, although less startling than many which have gone before, are, nevertheless, not without interest. It is most encouraging to learn how widely the Gospel of Christ is spreading in the world, and that its cheering beams are reaching lands where the down-trodden and crushed inhabitants have for ages been shrouded in darkness and superstition. In Italy, Bibles and Testaments are extensively distributing, and places of Protestant worship are being erected through the length and breadth of the land. Spain, notwithstanding the influence of the Jesuits, has given liberty of conscience to its fine race of robust and intelligent inhabitants, and the advance of the blessings of the Gospel is, considering that the nation's liberty is only of three years' growth, truly remarkable. The King of Bavaria has sent an order of decoration to Dr. Dollinger for his manly opposition to the recent infallible dogma. Throughout the Romish Church wide-spread dissensions abound, and slowly and surely is the true light of a brighter day dawning upon the Roman world. In France pure religion is reviving, and many are beginning to emerge from the darkness in which that most highly civilised nation has long been content to live. In Germany equal privileges are now accorded to all denominations, and papal opposition to the German government may indirectly lead to the happiest results. At Vienna an Anti-Catholic paper is publishing, and auricular confession and other objectionable Roman practices have been condemned. In China, India, and the South Sea Islands the Gospel is surely making its way; and in Madagascar the Word of God is running and becoming glorified. In the interior of Africa the true light is shining, and soon it may be hoped that slavery, cannibalism, and other polluting crimes, which debase and degrade man, will yield before its influence.

All these indications of advancing light show us that a brighter day is dawning in the world's history, and furnish encouragement to united prayer for the general outpouring of God's Spirit; for, whatever sceptics may think and say, the kingdom of Christ will as certainly come as day succeeds night, and light darkness: "For Christ must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet." And whether the reign will be personal or spiritual matters not, so long as it is real. Let us, then, unite in ardent, earnest prayer for spiritual success; and, by sending more extensively your little magazine into every family in the land, it may diffuse, by its gentle CHRISTIAN WORDS, heavenly light, and assist in stemming the torrent of vice, and rendering the desert of the world the garden of the Lord. SAMUEL HEREMAN.

Baslow, Nov. 15, 1872.

INDEX TO THE TWELFTH VOLUME.