2 THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES.-VOL. XX. CA: EDINBURGH: WILLIAM OLIPHANT AND CO. LONDON: HOULSTON AND SONS. GLASGOW: DAVID ROBERTSON. MDCCCLXXVI. PREFACE. HE year which is now drawing to a close is one of the most notable in THE the history of our Church. The Union in England and the formation of the New Theological Hall are events of great importance. The future historian of our Church will dwell on these as possessing special significance, and fraught with momentous issues. It has been our endeavour to give due prominence to these events, and furnish as much information concerning them as possible. And herein lies one of the chief necessities for a denominational Magazine. It may be asked, Why seek to maintain a purely denominational organ in these days, when periodicals of all kinds are so abundant? The answer is, None of these serve the purpose we have in view. Many convey opinions from which we differ, and even the best and most admirable walk in a way of their own. Let it be said, then, that in no unworthy sense our strength lies in our denominationalism,—in furnishing a medium for giving information concerning matters of denominational importance, and discussing matters of denominational interest. But it would certainly be our weakness if we were to confine ourselves to this, and indeed it would be impossible to do so. The great truths of evangelical religion are of universal application. They form the subject of our pulpit teaching, and may not be neglected with impunity by the press. But how strangely diverse is the interpretation of these truths in many journals,even the self-same magazine giving forth most conflicting utterances! It is well, then, to have the means of setting forth divine truth as it is most surely believed amongst us. It has become so common to speak of our age as a restless age, in which all things are being shaken, that one almost shrinks from repeating what |