Very rare first two issues of the first Christian periodical published in America dedicated to the revival of religion, with early mentions of William Carey and an account of the conversion of a slave. 

These were the first two issues published and they included an extensive article on the Tuesday Prayer Meeting for Revival system employed in Scotland during the Great Awakening and commended by Jonathan Edwards in America, plus the roll-out of a plan to call the churches of America to a similar structure. An important call to national corporate prayer for revival, often seen as one of the leading factors at the eruption of the Second Great Awakening.

Additionally, this copy belonged to noted revivalist, Reverend Samuel Buell.

Samuel Buell (1716-1798), b. Coventry, CT; d. East Hampton, Long Island. Dr. Buell graduated Yale College in 1741, and preached in various places including at Northampton, where he met Thomas Prince and Jonathan Edwards. Prince wrote of this time, when Buell preached daily in his meeting-house, that "there were very extraordinary effects of Mr. Buell's labors; the people were exceedingly moved, crying out in great numbers in the meeting house, and great part of the congregation commonly staying in the house of God for hours after the public service."  In 1743 he was ordained as an evangelist and in 1746 he received a unanimous call to the pulpit of the church in East Hampton, Long Island. He was instrumental in the revivals that occurred in East Hampton in the years 1764, 1785, and 1791. "He is extensively known, not only by his general influence but by his writings, particularly by a Narrative of the great revival of religion which occurred among his people in 1764. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Dartmouth College in 1791." Sprague, Annals vol. 3.

So an important linkage from the First Great Awakening to an aged revivalist, 80 years old when this was released, probably reading the section on Edwards and revival with tears in his eyes and holy longing . . . and then seeing that a new generation was going to repeat the plan for corporate prayer, seeking a revival of true religion. 

The United States Christian Magazine. Numbers I & II. New-York. Printed by T. and J. Swords, Nod. 99 Pearl-street. 1796. 156pp.

Contents include: Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy or vain deceit [on then modern philosophies and theologies rotting away at the Gospel]; Essay on the Consistency of the Holy Scriptures with the Actual State and History of the World; Directions for Self-Examination; Life of the Reverend John Blair; Remarks on the Extent and Province of Human Reason in Matters of Religion; Very important and extensive account of The General Union for Prayer being conducted in America [that led to the Second Great Awakening] entitled “Communications Respecting the Plan of Visible Union and General Concert in Prayer now Existing in these United States, and Observed on the First Tuesday of Each Quarter of the Year, Commencing on the First Tuesday of January, 1795, at Two O’Clock PM and So Continuing in Orderly Course Adopted from the Scottish Plan as Communicated by Jonathan Edwards [wonderful connectivity from the Scottish Revivals of the mid-18^th century to the Second Great Awakening in America]; Life of John Witherspoon; Authentic Memoirs of the Conversion of a Negro [interesting account of the slave of a Quaker who had become a Christ-follower . . . the author strongly suggests the slave is happy being a slave and that the Quaker was not a true Christian]; The Mission to India [William Carey, very early mention]; etc.

Very scarce. No issues on the market at any price. General title [if issued] absent, but textually complete with title for Number II present. Tide mark present at left side of text block; rear board detached. Textually good.

Charming early lithographed label, “Aaron Woolworth’s. Ex Dono Rev. S. Buell” and then inscribed also early 19^th century, “Mrs. Sally Halsey, with the Respects of Louisa C. Woolworth.” Aaron Woolworth was a pastor in Long Island and married Samuel Buell's daughter; Buell preached his ordination sermon and left him his divinity books upon his death in 1798.