PREFACE. THE end of the year suggests a review not of our own labours merely, but of the general history of the year as well. The last twelve months have left a mark on the world too deep and bright to be ever effaced or forgotten. Few, if any, among us realise the greatness of the fact that the close of the American civil war finds four millions of men in freedom who, at its commencement were in bondage, and few realise the greatness of the revolution which the abolition of slavery involves in the social condition of America, or the greatness of the consequences to America and the world which are wrapped up in this revolution. We are too near the event in which we so much rejoice, to see its true magnitude. It will be the happiness of generations to come to look back, and, as they read the story of the four years' war, to see the hand of God more clearly and to trace the vast streams of blessing to mankind that flow from the troubled fountain of that war. The historians of the "decisive battles" of the world's history will find none more worthy of record than that which consummated the freedom of a nation of bondsmen in America, and introduced a new era in the social and moral life of one of the mightiest empires of the earth. Verily "God maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, and restraineth the remainder thereof." Every month's history of our own land has had its interest, but it has been the interest mainly of a quiet onward progress of events. One great change in our political condition demands special mention. Our foremost man, the Queen's Prime Minister, has been suddenly removed by death. And his removal is something more to the country than the mere loss of a useful and honoured servant. The peculiar position occupied by Lord Palmerston can be taken by no one else. And human foresight fails to discover what changes may trace their origin to the day which numbered our aged Premier with the statesman of the past. But we feel no manner of doubt that "our God, our fathers' God," has work for England to do in the world's great future. Coming to ourselves and the past of our brief editorial life, we feel that we have much reason to thank God and take courage. Our endeavour to serve the Churches with which it is our happiness.to be associated, has been received and appreciated in the kindliest spirit. The brethren who promised literary assistance have faithfully fulfilled their promise. Our pages contain original contributions from the pens of the Revs. T. Binney, E. Mannering, Dr. G. Smith, Dr. Ferguson, Dr. Spence, A. Thomson, M.A., E. Mellor, M.A., J. G. Rogers, B.A., S. A. Browning, J. S. Pearsall, J. Pillans, T. W. Aveling, Joseph Beazley, R. Brindley (now removed to higher service), F. S. Williams, John Curwen, John Corbin, R. Robinson, W. H. Fuller, John Hallett, R. S. Ashton, B.A., James Kennedy, M.A., J. H. Budden, J. Hiles Hitchens, H. T. Robjohns, B.A., J. Key (now of St. Petersburgh), S. Goodall, A. Mackennal, B.A., W. Dorling, Newman Hall, LL.B., W. Hardie, B.A., G. W. Conder, and others. Four ladies have contributed to our pages, but they prefer to be unknown. We have thus gathered around us such a host of truehearted auxiliaries, that we anticipate the coming year with great confidence that we shall be able to minister month by month the very best and most wholesome food that periodical literature can supply. We have done our best, as we promised, to adapt this Magazine to the requirements of all classes in our Churches and in our households; to keep before our mind continually the tendencies of the age towards rationalism on the one hand, and toward a superstitious sacerdotalism on the other; and to study the common every-day spiritual wants of Christian people. All this we still hope to do, and, with the advantages arising from a twelve months' experience, we trust we shall be able through God's blessing to make the Christian Witness still more worthy of the acceptance of the Churches to which it belongs. JOHN KENNEDY. STEPNEY. CONTENTS. Alexander, Dr. W. L., Notes on Baptismal Alford, Dean, Henry Martyn at Shiraz, 608 The Dirge of the passing Year, 625 Ambrose and the Ambrosian Hymns, 541 American Council of Congregational Churches, Angels of the Asiatic Churches, 271 An African Saint, and his Times, 454 An Independent Church in Holland, 497 Arnot, Dr. W., The Parable of the Draw- Ashton, Rev. R. S., Congregationalism in Atonement and Fatherliness, 449 Professor Henry Rogers on, 523 Aveling, Rev. T., "A Royal Priesthood," 298 Atterbury, Bishop, Why did not the risen Christ shew Himself to the Multitude? Baptismal Regeneration, 29, 84 Baroness Nairne and her Songs, 287 Barnes, Rev. Albert, The value of Fifty-two Beazley, Rev. Joseph, "Not unto us, O Lord," Bethel, 172 Bernard, Rev. T. Dehany, M.A., Christ in the Binney, Rev. T., Ananias and Sapphira, 45 Bishop, The Primitive, 159 Book Notices, Jan., 53-54. Feb., 107-110 Country Places, Psalmody in, 143 Cross, From Unitarianism to the, 519, 564 Curwen, Rev. John, Psalmody in Country Dark Land, Moral Photographs of a, 178 David's Sin and David's Psalm, 40 Death its Dark and its Bright Side, 412 Declaration of Faith by the American Dissenters, Dr. South on the Prayers of, 98 Esquimaux, 372 Draw-Net, The Parable of, 192, 267 Ecclesiastical Questions in the Last Parliament, 548 Editor off the Line, Good Words from an, 475 Ellis, Obituary of the Rev. Samuel, 387 48 Ephraem Syrus and Clement of Alexandria as Hymnists, 363 Erasmus, The New Testament of, &c., 207 Faith, One-sided views of, 213 Declaration of, American, 496 Faith's Victory;-a Visit to Kaiserswerth, 488 Fatherliness and Atonement, 449 Fawkes, Guy, a History and Biography, 573 Ferguson, Dr. R., "He humbled Himself," 461 Good Words from an Editor off the Line, 475 Goodall, Rev. S., The Crook in the Lot, 561 Gospel and Low-caste Hindoo Woman, 432 Greek, The Early Hymnists, 408 Greener, Obituary of Rev. Robert, 331 Hog's Prayer of the Kent Boy, 224 Scottish version of, 280 Holland, An Independent Church in, 497 Hymn of Johann Matth. Meyfart, 149 Hymnists of the Church, 209 Clement of Alexandria, and Eph- Infidel, The, Lost and Won, 451 Infidelity, How it treats the Bible, 40 Isaac, Dr. Stanley on the sacrifice of, 150 Inspiration, Did Paul ever doubt his, 197 Jesus Christ the Great Reconciler, 169 Kaiserswerth, a visit to; or, Faith's Victory, 488 Kennedy, Rev. James, Hebrew and Heathen Last Words of Samuel Rutherford, 202 Life and Death amongst the Esquimaux, 372 Live, Man does not, by bread alone, 57 Lord's Table, Thoughts for: Let a Man examine himself.-1 Cor. xi. |