THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES.-VOL. XIV. EDINBURGH: WILLIAM OLIPHANT AND CO. LONDON: HOULSTON AND WRIGHT. GLASGOW: DAVID ROBERTSON. MDCCCLXX. PREFACE. A DENOMINATIONAL Magazine has been maintained in the several branches of which the United Presbyterian Church is composed for the long period of seventy-four years. The Christian Magazine was started in the year 1796, and long enjoyed a wide circulation in the Burgher and Antiburgher Churches. It was succeeded in one branch of the Secession by the Christian Repository, the Christian Monitor, and the Theological Magazine; while the Relief Magazine was the organ of the Relief Church. From the time of the union of the Burgher and Antiburgher Synods, the United Secession Magazine took the place of its predecessors; and when the Relief and Secession Union was effected in 1847, the United Presbyterian Magazine was commenced. It is the twenty-fourth volume of this Magazine which we now issue in its completed form, and in doing so we may be permitted two observations. The first is, that the United Presbyterian Magazine will be admitted to have served very important and valuable ends, not only in ministering to the general Christian edification of its readers, but in affording a suitable field for the amicable discussion of denominational questions, and for the defence of our principles against the attacks of assailants. And the second is, that its discontinuance would be a serious loss, while its existence and prosperity are as necessary and desirable as ever. We trust that the contents of the present volume have not, in point of merit, fallen below the average of former years. And we are glad to think that the circulation of the Magazine continues to be by no means inconsiderable, notwithstanding the number of more showy and attractive periodicals now in the field, and moving in a sphere from which a Denominational Magazine is necessarily excluded. |