PREFACE. Our readers have now before them the first volume of another fifty years' series. It has been a pleasing labour to gather together the well-considered thoughts of about thirty kind contributors, who have never permitted the Editor to feel any anxiety as to his pages being filled with interesting and useful articles. The thanks of the readers of the Magazine are due, and no doubt are frequently rendered to them, for the pleasure and instruction which have been thus received. It is, perhaps, due to our contributors, that this opportunity should be taken for stating that the influence of their labours is not limited to the immediate readers of the Magazine. Sunday school and other periodicals reach us from our own and foreign lands, in which we find numerous extracts from our pages, and that to an extent which often both surprises and gratifies us. A pleasing instance of the extent of this influence has recently occurred. In our number for April wo narrated a touching incident in connexion with the distress in Lancashire during the last winter, under the title of "The Honest Sunday Scholar.” That narrative was read in Australia, and moved the hearts of the teachers and scholars of the Surrey Hills Wesleyan school, Sydney, who have remitted the sum of Five Pounds for the use of the lad, who, in circumstances of almost irresistible temptation, was enabled, under the influence of the truths learnt in the Sunday school, to say, “ Yes, we are very bad off, but I go to Sunday school, and I love Jesus, and I couldn't be dishonest." Our career would present a great contrast to the actual events of human life, if there were no causes for regret mingled with these reasons for thankfulness. The most painful circumstance which has occurred to us, has been the receipt of the following letter from our highly esteemed contributor "Ion,” accompanying an article appearing in the December number, entitled “ Give an account of thy Stewardship." “ SEPTEMBER 28th, 1863. “Dear Sir.-Through the kindness of a friend, who lent bier haud and pen to aid my inability, I am permitted to send a last contribution to the Magazine, which I have long loved, as affording room to speak for Jesus. I cannot without pain close even so small a door of usefulness, but linger with my hand still upon its hinge, that I may look and speak a loving, ‘farewell' to my brothers and sisters, who yet remain in the field of Sunday school labour. There is no need of my feeble testimony to the faithfulness of a prayer-hearing God; but so sweet is it to tell of, that I must beg your indulgence yet one last time. Dear Mr. Editor, my dying couch (or what seems, to all human judgment, likely to be so) has, within the space of one fortnight, been cheered by the avowal of four individuals, who had been the subjects of anxious waiting and supplication for several years, that they have been led to see and believe in Jesus crucified. Shall I own that in one casc I had not faith enough to expect that this side of eternity would make known to me the answer of peace ?: Thus are my days of silent waiting made vocal with thanksgiving-He is faithful that promised! If you think this incident might encourage some one who has already waited years for a soul's new birth, you are welcome to communicate it, not naming me. And now, dear Sir, will you accept my Christian regards and thanks for the uniform kindness with which you have received my little papers, and believe me, “ Yours in Jesus." " Finished Sept. 30." We have one other cause for regret, and which it is in the power of our readers to remove. The benefit to be derived from the Magazine is much limited by the mode adopted for its circulation amongst teachers. It is necessary, in order to preserve an interest in it, that each teacher should have an opportunity of reading it during the current month; and, in order to this, we earnestly urge that one copy should be taken in for every four teachers: so that one week during the month may be allowed to each. It will be perceived that several pictorial illustrations have been inserted: and we expect that during the ensuing year, the number of such embellishments will be increased. We ask the prayers of our readers, that the Holy Spirit may so guide the minds of the Editor and contributors, that the Magazine may be rendered still more useful in promoting, in various ways, the great work of Christian education throughout the world. December, 1363. INDEX. ... ... ... ... ... India ... ... ... 437 ... ... .. BIBLICAL LITERATURE. Page 705 739 566 341, 407,, 719 British and Foreign School Society .. 435 355 Chronometrical Chart of the History 298 162 638 Education in Iceland 153 42 . 236, 280 278 How to Learn 35 465 Mr. D'Israeli on Education 121 273 266 Progress of Native Education in 317 674 445, 633 40 Ragged School Union ...577, 616 368 737 60 30 Sir John Pakington on Education 117 100 351 Alto-relievo Plan of Europe 758 American Commercial Honour 760 86 Basis of Political Prosperity 556 572 219 Bridal Presents of the Prince and 384, 390 702 234 666 36 84 576 663 Distress in the Cotton Manufacturing 704 Districts 63, 124, 188, 317, 384, 448 42 482 123 Emancipation of American Slaves 189 191 Fixed Principles... 204 Forgiveness... 35 644 Great Exhibition at Bloomsbury 137 183 Greenwich Mean Time 512 Hebrew Poetry 661 540 57 710 57, 250 Intercessory Prayer 528 90 128 364 Marriage of the Prince of Wales 252 ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 571 ... ... ... 308 Page Page Make your Home Pleasant 329 “ I am going there" 395 Matamoros, the Spanish Exile... 636 Jesus Crucified 275 Metropolitan Railway 187 Lines Written in the Album of an Model of Lincoln Cathedral 754 225 New Lord Rector of Glasgow Uni- Little May's Lesson Book... 654 versity 318 Many shall Come 613 Parliament of Great Britain 192 Midnight Music 16 Passover Supper in the Holy City ... 541 Midnight Cry 146 Patience 544 Melody Sung by the Children of Point where Infidelity breaks down 33 Queenborough... 313 Praying and Working 471 Mothers of Salem 459 President Lincoln on Negro Eman Our Work 481 cipation 61 Our Sunday School 720 Presents to the Queen of Portugal... 58 Plea for Ragged "Little Ones" 480 Privileges of the Christian 145 Spring Flowers 205 Revision of the Liturgy The Cross 39 Richard Hooker's Marriage 58 351 Rise and Progress of Talent 326, 495 143 Saints 725 The Little Bird 645 Scriptural Rules of Morality 683 The World's Joy and Glory 724 Seek in the Right Placo 104 Twilighi on Sabbath Eve... 327 Sources of the Nile 567 Unknown what we shall be 81 Stonehenge and Abury 129 Village Sabbath School 136 Subscription to the Articles and Work 173 Liturgy 571 Workmen who Receive no Present Subscription for Erecting New Pay ... 235 Churches 572 “ Ye know not what ye ask" 601 Teaching the Gospel 452 Telegraph to India 754 REVIEWS. Testimony to the Scriptures 234 The Archbishop of Dublin " Able to Save"... 699 500 The Daisy 15 A Chat with the Boys on New Year's " The Earth is füll of the goodness Eve of the Lord " 725 .. 363 The Increase of the Revenue 704 431 The Lively Hope Allen White 622 249 The People's Park, Dundee 699 300 The Pope 192 Answer to J. Morison's Questions on Thought the Shorter Catechism 98 301 Travels in Palestine An Old Glass for New Faces 257 502 Tyrant Reproved by his Slave... 421 A Chrono-genealogical Chart of Bible United Prayer 457 .. 504 War in America, 62, 127, 191, 382, Ask and Receive... 507 Bertie Bristol 447, 573, 639, 702, 760 506 Working Men's Sabbath 127 Bear ye one another's Burdens... 507 Young Men's Christian Association 274 Better days for Working People 751 Yankee Cuteness Bible in the Collects 575 113 Bird Murder 180 MISSIONS. Bishop Colenso Honestly Answered.. 358 504 Bishop of Carlisle on the Missionary Boys' Packet 248 Cause 634 505 Missionary Collectors 749 Brief Observations on the Proper 505 POETRY. Burden Bearing ... 693 Cause and probable results of the Civil Anniversary Prayer War in America 300 An Epistle ... 530, 586 303 Better Things 268 Christian Advocate and Review 110 Cause of Unbelief 74 Christian Mother 363 Children's National Anthem 313 Christian Treasury 499 Death of Moses 17 Common-Life Sermons 179 Going Home 453 Chrono-Genealogical Chart of Bible “Give an account of thy Steward History 504 709 Considerations on the Pentateuch 358 Ilymns Sung at * Parents' Meet California Life Illustrated 563 ing." of Kingsland Congregational Daily Bible Illustrations 246 School 367 Daily Gleam 363 Here and There 409 248 Ich Dien 353 Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts ... 305 ... ... |