PREFACE.

THE Completion of our third volume, calls for an expression of thankfulness, that the Lord, whose glory we earnestly desire to promote, still gives us favour in the sight of our numerous supporters, and permits our unpretending periodical to go on. We desire, also, to acknowledge the kindness of our fellowhelpers in the work. We hope, in the ensuing months, to see their number increased, by the adoption of a plan which will a little restrict the length of individual contributions, thereby affording more space, and insuring greater variety than, while separate pieces run to their present length, we can venture to promise.

The growing interest attached to passing events in the sister Island, is strongly felt among English christians we perceive it, and have engaged some friends of piety, judgment and well-tempered zeal, to afford us occasional notices of what is passing in that part of the empire. We, of course, mean in reference to spiritual things. Ireland calls for no small portion of our sympathy at the present juncture; and so dark are the clouds which gather on her horizon, that those who take merely a superficial view, are likely to behold little else than the sure presage of a day of gloom, such as it is most painful to contemplate. We are, however, assured,

that beneath these unpromising externals, there exists strong ground for abundant consolation to the children of God: that a mighty work is in progress, through means the most unostentatious, and to an end that will bring many sons to glory. To trace this work through its many hindrances, and to mark down some of the tokens for good, wherewith the Lord frequently blesses and owns it, will, we must hope, be acceptable to most of our readers: occupying a few pages with matter for much prayer and thanksgiving. That the times are perilous, none can deny; that stupendous efforts are being made to break the bonds, and to cast off the yoke of scriptural restraint, is but too evident. That a worldly contentious spirit is making sad inroads, alike on the purity and the unity of Christ's militant church, is obvious to every attentive spectator; and each may appeal to the secret evidence of his own heart, for a painful attestation to the fact, that this abounding of iniquity tends to cool the love of many, who have been accustomed to look for the standard of Christian practice in the church, rather than in her glorious Head. We invite our correspondents, to assist us with short, practical remarks on such points as these; where it is evident that the minds of Christians need much stirring up, by way of remembrance. We are fully persuaded that a sincere desire to walk unblameably, exists in many quarters where the conflicting opinions of professors occasion a distressing perplexity. Many are asking for the old paths; and some have acknowledged that, through the goodness of God, they have occasionally found direction in these pages. In proof, we will instance the numerous private communications that we have

received, testifying to the valuable instruction that has been derived from a paper in our March number, "On the use of dancing." We believe that such essays, where popular subjects are judiciously placed in a strong scriptural light, are eagerly welcomed by multitudes who may feel reluctant to submit their private doubts to others; or who, from the diversity of counsel given, or from the discrepancy between that counsel and the daily practice of those who afford it, are really at a loss what course to pursue.

The narrow space afforded for notices of books, prevents our taking an extensive survey of new publications. We select what we can conscientiously recommend; and briefly state the grounds for so doing. But a new variety of literature is rapidly spreading, which, under the name of religious writing, tends to sap the foundation of gospel truth -a species of philosophy, (falsely so called) decked in the charms of elegant diction, and so captivating the imagination by enticing words of man's wisdom, as to render the naked simplicity of scripture unpalateable-its grand proportions unsightly, to the vitiated taste of its disciples. We earnestly desire, by every means in our power, to expose this snare ; and we shall consider ourselves much indebted to correspondents who may point out to us books of the character to which we allude. A leading publication of this class came under our notice, in the number for December last; and our denunciation of it, as being unsound in doctrine, brought several letters of remonstrance, as though we had passed a hasty and severe judgment on it. That judgment we could, by no means, retract; every recurrence to the work strengthened it; and now, we believe, there is a

formal defence of Socinian tenets put forth, in the preface to a recent edition of the book. Whether the author avowedly belongs to those who profess that deadly heresy, or whether he is aware that his writings are deeply embued with its fearful principles, we know not; but that the essence of Socinianism pervades the volume in question, we could not avoid perceiving, we would not refrain from declaring it to others; and we hold it a matter of tremendous responsibility, for any Christian to admit such works within the sanctuary of the domestic circle, or to give them a word of recommendation to others, at least until he shall have closely and prayerfully brought each volume and each page, to the standard of inspired truth; with an especial reference to the fundamental, the vital doctrines of Christ's proper divinity, and the atonement offered by Him, on the cross; with the personality of the Holy Ghost, as Lord and life-giver, sole originator of every good work, word, and thought, that can proceed from sinful man.

Again, we commend our readers and ourselves to the gracious keeping of the good Shepherd, who has so far brought us onward, rejoicing in the assurance that his unchangeable love is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

JUNE, 1835.

THE

CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1835.

CHAPTERS ON FLOWERS.

'A HAPPY new year.'-From how many thousands of voices is that greeting heard! I love to receive it, even when friendships are so young, that it is the first occasion offered of exchanging the kindly salutation; but there is a feeling that does not display itself, an under-current, deep and strong, rolling over the graves of by-gone years, and sounding in secret a knell that is not heard amid the cheerful tones of the upper world. True, by the mercy of God, a happy new year may be mine; truly happy, if his grace render it a year of spiritual improvement, of perceptible progress towards the consummation of all real bliss: but flesh is very slow to receive such interpretation of a term long applied to the pleasant things of time and sense; and instead of being rejoiced at having learned the truest meaning of an abused term, of being brought to understand the right

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