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THE

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN

MAGAZINE.

NEW SERIES.-VOL. IV.

BIB

EDINBURGH: WILLIAM OLIPHANT AND CO.

LONDON: HOULSTON AND WRIGHT. GLASGOW: DAVID ROBERTSON.

MDCCCLX.

MURRAY AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.

PREFACE.

THE Fourth Volume of the New Series of the Magazine is now completed; and in putting it into the hands of their readers in its completed form, the Publishers respectfully express the hope that, apart from the interest attaching to it as a denominational record, it will be found, as formerly, to have fulfilled its promise as a useful and instructive miscellany of theological and devotional reading. The opening Sermons have been almost entirely of a practical character and tendency, though not wanting in doctrinal instruction and devotional impulse; while such variety has been attempted to be secured in the other departments of the Magazine as seemed calculated to meet the tastes and necessities of the various classes of readers.

It is not too much to say that no exertion has been spared to make the Magazine worthy of the support of the Church with which it is more immediately connected. Synodical and Presbyterial proceedings have been duly chronicled; while even Congregational matters of importance have received a place in its pages. Political events, which during the past year have been of more than ordinary interest, have also been noted and commented upon in the Retrospect; and questions of public or ecclesiastical interest have been presented in their leading circumstances and principles. It were idle to dwell here on the importance to a Church of such an organ as a monthly magazine. There is no other means of making its members acquainted with its various movements, and thus keeping up that interest throughout its whole extent among its various friends and adherents, on which its prosperity depends. It is doubtful, however, if ministers and members are sufficiently impressed with this; and while some increased measure of support has been given to the Magazine of late, that support is far from being what it might be, and what it must be, in order to give full efficiency to the Magazine. The matter lies greatly, almost entirely, in the hands of ministers; and if they would take a more active interest

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