THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS AND Congregational Magazine. 1866. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." THE PROFITS OF THIS WORK ARE DEVOTED TO THE BENEFIT OF NEW SERIES-VOLUME II. BODL LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN SNOW & CO., 2, IVY LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1866. PREFACE. OUR Preface, as our readers know well, although it takes the foremost place in our volume, is really not the beginning but the end of our year's labours. And it is now our pleasant duty to thank our many kind friends for the support which we have received during the past twelve months. The work which was put into our hands two years ago by the Trustees of the "CHRISTIAN WITNESS is now completed. But we have been requested to continue at our post, and we cheerfully comply. So that the future occupies our thoughts at this moment rather than the past. Our task is one of deep responsibility; and we venture to undertake it only in the strength of our Divine Master, and in reliance on the earnest co-operation of Christian brethren in many parts of the land. Our Editorial promises are often little more than "great swelling words of vanity." We make none beyond this, that we will endeavour to turn the fruits of our two years' experience to account in still further improving the "CHRISTIAN WITNESS," and adapting it to the wants of our Churches and of the times. own ideal of such a Magazine as this is, as we expressed it last month, that it should be at once denominational and catholic; earnestly evangelical, but not narrow; specially addressed to the people, but likewise of interest to ministers; watchfully cognizant of public religious questions, but practical in its aims; not coming down in its style to the supposed wants of the lower grade of readers, but at the same time avoiding learned disquisitions in which but a very small section could find either interest or profit. In our endeavours to attain our ideal we are thankful to say that we have obtained promises of assistance by some of the ablest men in the Congregational ministry, and we hope that 1867 will more than justify the good opinion which many reviewers and private friends have expressed of 1865 and 1866. The papers which have appeared during this year on the state and history of Congregationalism in various counties and cities of England, will be followed by similar papers in the coming year. Several of these are already in our possession on Congregationalism in Birmingham, by J. |