_Original Sketches of real Characters, Conversations, and striking
Facts. Furnished chiefly by Clergymen._

The following imperfect sketch of topics to be embraced, may serve to
illustrate the plan:--1. Instances of very early piety.--2. Striking
results of Parental faithfulness, or unfaithfulness; of filial respect,
or disrespect.--3. Cases of individuals raised from deep obscurity, or
wickedness, to eminent usefulness.--4. Remarkable cases of
conviction.--5. Cases of great hardness of heart, from resisting
convictions.--6. Distinctly marked cases of submission and conversion to
God.--7. Cases of awful relapse into sin.--8. Cases of strong temptation
and trial.--9. Cases of strong faith and confidence in God.--10.
Peculiarly manifest interpositions of Providence, in mercy or
judgment.--11. Instances of the wrath of man being made to praise
God.--12. Cases illustrative of the influence of piety on the
intellectual powers.--13. Instances of extraordinary beneficence or
covetousness.--14. Death-bed scenes, of the Christian, the backslider,
the infidel, the universalist, the profane man, or the worldling.

It is conceived that the very existence of such a Periodical might be
the means of leading Clergymen, in their pastoral intercourse, to be
more observant of character, more discriminating in their views of human
nature, and more disposed to record and rescue from oblivion striking
conversations and facts. No species of knowledge can be more interesting
or more useful, than that thus drawn from real life;--especially from
portions of life most intimately connected with spiritual and eternal
realities. If it is all-important that masters in surgery and medicine
record, for mutual improvement, and for the benefit of mankind, striking
cases which occur in their practice; it cannot, surely, be less