to do good in the Church as far and wide as possible, in the use of means which God invites his people to employ.

The Editor will insert, at discretion, valuable articles from foreign and other Magazines, but will rely mainly upon original communications from the ministers and members of our Church.

The PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE will consist of forty-eight pages, will be printed with fair type, on good paper, and will be issued on the first of every month. Price one dollar a year, payable invariably in advance. Engraved likenesses of Drs. Witherspoon and Green will appear during the first year; also, wood cuts, representing various churches, whose history will be given from time to time in the Magazine, viz. one in Baltimore, Albany, Louisville, New York, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, Cincinnati, &c. For the present, or until Providence orders other arrangements, the subscriber, who incurs the pecuniary responsibility, will also act as Editor, to whom communications for the work may be addressed. C. VAN RENSSELAER.

In the Providence of God, the Magazine has met with far greater favour than there was any reason to expect. The difficulties were principally two-fold. In the first place, the plan of the Magazine aimed at a circulation among the more humble, but respectable households of our Church-which are its hope and strength-as well as among those whose members enjoyed greater literary advantages, and who could appreciate a work of higher merit. And in the second place, the Magazine really required the earnest, undivided attention, and the whole time of an Editor, instead of the supervision it actually received, which, from the claims of other imperative duties, was necessarily more or less subordinate, irregular, and insufficient. Nevertheless, a good degree of success has blessed the undertaking in its first year, as measured by the extent of circulation which the Magazine has reached. At the close of the first volume, the number of subscribers is over three thousand-a number exceeding the most sanguine calculations, and demanding our grateful acknowledgments. Encouraged by this kind reception of the work, the Editor will spare no pains in his power to make it more deserving of the public favour.

Obligations are specially due to the writers, who have contributed to the pages of the Magazine. The names of Alexander, Spring, Hodge, Yeomans, Plumer, Backus, Hall, Janeway, Kollock, Neill, Cuyler, Wadsworth, Forsyth, Hope, Helm, Proudfit, Junkin, and others, are sufficient to awaken gratitude and interest among all our patrons.

Among the motives which will stimulate the Editor to increased effort in elevating the character of the Magazine are these:

1. A Monthly Religious Periodical on a popular plan, is likely to be useful to any one who takes it.

2. It will be an ally of pulpit instruction; and exert an evangelical influence in our families.

3. It may be the means, with God's blessing, of saving souls.

4. The widely diffused and corrupting literature of the day needs counteraction in every possible form.

5. The general interests of the Presbyterian Church will be promoted by the advocacy and circulation of the Magazine.

6. The cause of Christ at large will receive new aid from enlisting more writers for its advancement, and obtaining more readers of the truths and duties pertaining to its progress.

Invoking the blessing of God upon the work-the responsibilities of which were never realized so deeply as at the present time-the undersigned prepares for the labours of another year with such aid as may be vouchsafed to him in Providence.

December, 1851.

CORTLANDT VAN RENSSELAER.

THE Press is an agency of power in promoting the edification and general prosperity of the Church. The two points relating to our periodical literature on which we propose to offer a few remarks, are its true characteristics and its adequate supply.

Intellectual ability is a chief element of all profitable reading. Intelligence must regulate the activity of the press-intelligence in the double sense of a discriminating adherence to doctrinal truth, and of ability in the general management of the miscellaneous topics within the proper range of inquiry. The Presbyterian Church possesses an intellectual character probably beyond the ordinary average of attainment; and its standards and sanctuary ministrations encourage sound thinking and create a demand for the best productions of the mind. No literature can meet the just expectations of our people that is not pervaded by intelligent apprehensions of theological truth, and able discussions in all the departments of knowledge.

Spirituality, or practical religious influence, ought also to be a definite aim. Christian publications must harmonize with the spirit of the Bible. Life is too short, its interests too momentous, to lose sight of truth in its relations to practice. Whilst the requisite variety of biography, history, anecdote, intelligence, and miscellaneous reading should be interwoven into the substantial material of literature, each component part should be designed for actual and profitable use. In the midst of abounding licentiousness, the religious bearings of truth must receive scriptural prominence. The work of personal sanctification is one of the glorious objects to be promoted by the issues of a Christian press.

Our periodical literature should be guided by the principles of VOL. I.-No. 1.

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good taste. The God of nature and of revelation displays in all His works the beauties and harmonies essential to their perfection.. Religion needs the aid of the most gifted resources of literature and learning. The Church, through its ministers, its writings, and its instrumentalities of every description, must conciliate the influences and use the advantages which true taste, cultivated moral perception and enlightened sensibility can supply in the inculcation of truth. The world must not be allowed the claim of superiority in anything that pertains to the true character of the most finished and influential literature.

The periodical press of the Presbyterian Church should be eminently conservative. The doctrines of grace, which in our standards ascribe so great glory to God as sovereign on his throne, are suited to train the mind to a thoughtful and steadfast sobriety, as well as to true self-reliance and energy. Fanaticism finds the landmarks of Calvinism too high for its fantastic tricks of thought, feeling, and action. The conservative character of our truth and polity create a demand for a literature whose influence on all moral, social, and political questions shall be sound, conservative, and discriminating.

The periodical literature of our Church should be aggressive. It should take an interest in everything that concerns the advancement of the cause of Christ in the world. It should arouse the activities of the Church by the presentation of motive, the discussion of plans and principles, the communication of intelligence, the enforcement of obligation. Our day is a day of work. Spirituality must be moulded into the form of action. The banners of Zion must float upon her walls, and readiness of defence be combined with alacrity to serve in the field, and to carry the victories of redemption to every land. Indeed one of the chief ends of the periodical press is to occupy the post of observation, watch the movements of Providence, light the sentinel fires of warning, and encourage whatever is demanded for intelligent enterprise, hardy perseverance, and enlarged conquest. Our conservatism will be of a proper quality only when in union with a living spirit of aggressive achievement.

One other element of our literature should be its Catholic spirit. Attachment to our own views of doctrine, government and policy should be regulated by the principles of Christian charity and the high sanctions of the word of God. A literature, imbued with low, sectarian aims, may do an amount of evil which more than counterbalances any influences for good. It is not intended to convey the idea that questions of ecclesiastical difference are not properly subjects of discussion. By no means. The exposure of error is a duty that cannot be compromised. Two things, however, are included in the demands of Christian charity-one is, that such discussions should not have a prominence disproportionate to their value and the higher claims of more serious and important truths; and the other is, that their temper should be one of moderation and only