PREFACE.

AFTER the wont of former Editors and good old established precedent, it becomes now our pleasing duty in our Editorial capacity, to address you, Christian Readers, with the closing year of 1851, and this the Sixth completed volume of the "Church Sunday School Magazine.” And though we always reckon this duty to be a high privilege, it has become so to us lately more than ever. Since, if at any time, our gratitude was demanded alike for encouragement and support, for the sympathy of our general readers and the assistance of our many correspondents, this past year has afforded a signal proof, both of the enduring of the former and the existence of the latter.

On the very successful completion of this fresh volume of our humble and unpretending little work, we can therefore look with pleasure and with pride; with pleasure-on account of the largely increased numbers of our readers; with pride-on account of the valuable and interesting contributions which have graced its monthly pages. Originally published several years ago, as an antidote to many of those low and poisonous serials which infest our large towns and crowded populations, Leeds not less than others, (and which if read, as alas! they often eagerly are, and dwelt on moreover by the

unwary experience and inquisitive mind of youth, tend so much to the fearful vitiation both of the intellect and imagination,) this little periodical has gone on ever since progressing we trust both in usefulness and interest.

Especially designed for the, youthful Teachers and Monitors of our Sunday Schools, no less than for their younger listeners, we have endeavoured always and we hope not quite unsuccessfully, to devote its pages to those subjects alone which bore directly on their temporal improvement and their eternal welfare. We have however not excluded the harmless productions of fiction, or the happy efforts of imagination from its list of subjects, but have gladly recognised them and welcomed them heartily, as very useful aids, in our efforts to afford amusement in a solitary hour, or instruction gathered in those spare moments of time which make up so much of our daily life.

In the tone and purport of its teaching, our labour and anxiety have ever been very great, to base all that was therein put forth, of positive truth or simple assertion of reasoning or illustration-on the principles and practice of that Branch of the Holy Catholic Church to which it is our happiness and glory to belong. We trust then, that on the whole, our labours have not been utterly in vain, but that the feelings of satisfaction with respect to our past effort are mutual, both on the part of those who read and those who write.

We must now (though reluctantly) wish a hearty good-bye for the present year, to all our lenient readers and all our friendly correspondents, scattered as they are in many parts and living many of them far away. We

beg most sincerely to thank you dear readers all, for your cheering encouragement during the past twelve months, and you too-kindly correspondents, for your repeated contributions replete with talent and with interest.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, we trust that your Christmas will be a merry one indeed, in all the blessed and lovely associations of home and friends; and your New Year a happy one, in the possession of peaceful consciences and the emotions of chastened hearts. Once more we may express our earnest hopes and assure you of our untiring exertions, that the Magazine for 1852 may afford you still more of interest and information, supported as we trust it will continue to be by your generous patronage and encouraged by your gratifying approbation.