PREFACE. THE events of 1837 have placed the Evangelical Magazine in a new and interesting position before the Christian public. When in the beginning of the year a change of publishers became necessary, the Trustees determined that, in any future arrangement with a Bookseller, they would aim at a material improvement of the work, both in its appearance and contents; and they can now confidently refer to nine separate numbers of their Publication in evidence that they have not failed to carry their purpose into effect. They do not speak invidiously when they venture to affirm, that there is not a religious periodical of the day that now presents a more inviting aspect than the Evangelical Magazine; nor do they arrogate to themselves more than Christian modesty would fully justify when they say, that they have laboured with zeal to improve all the internal arrangements of the work, and to extend and perpetuate its usefulness. In every successive Number articles have appeared from the pens of some of our most approved writers; and it is confidently hoped that an increased demand for the work on the part of the Christian public, will enable the Trustees to set apart a still larger fund for the relief of the Widows of poor but devoted Ministers of Christ. In the meantime, the numerous readers of the Evangelical Magazine will rejoice to learn that arrangements have been made by the Trustees for enlarging their annual grants to Widows from the profits of the Magazine, at their next half-yearly distribution, which will take place in January, 1838. According to the proposed plan, strict regard will be paid to the several ages of the Widows participating in the benefits of the Fund; so that the more advanced in years will receive the largest amount of relief. They must still urge upon ministers the necessity and duty of pressing the interests of the Magazine upon the attention of their flocks. Irrespective of the powerful claim of sympathy for the distressed, which may be urged upon all the supporters of the Magazine, its own intrinsic merits, as a vehicle of religious instruction and intelligence, may be fairly taken into account, and will justly entitle it to a high standing in the periodical literature of our country. For the space of more than forty-four years the conductors of this Magazine have laboured "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;" and though, in times like these, they find it no easy task to avoid irritating topics, they can confidently appeal to all candid judges, whether Churchmen or Dissenters, for a verdict in favour of the general catholicity of the articles which appear from time to time in the pages of their work. They are not indifferent to denominational peculiarities, nor are they uninterested in many of the great questions which agitate and divide the Christian world; but they are nevertheless fully of opinion that one or two periodicals conducted upon comparatively neutral ground, in reference to ecclesiastical matters, is a real benefit to the Christian Church. Without, therefore, yielding any thing that they hold to be truth, or encouraging latitudinarian views in the minds of any of their brethren, it is the intention of the Trustees of the Evangelical Magazine to pursue the same course in future as they have done in the past, and to conduct their labours in the spirit of the apostolic benediction, "Grace be unto all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." |