chaos, the Present without a motive, and the Future without a prophecy, will be the earnest and prayerful endeavour of those who unite in the preparation of this Magazine. May Heavenly wisdom profitably direct their minds, and Divine blessings rest upon their efforts." We tender our warmest thanks for the very kind manner in which many Christian friends have cooperated with us, either in promoting the circulation of the Magazine, or in furnishing contributions to its pages. We rejoice to find that the endeavours which have been carefully made, to improve the character of our Miscellany, and augment its claim to public esteem, have succeeded in gaining for us general approval. The warm eulogiums we have received gratify us in no small measure, and cheer us onward in renewed enterprises for the welfare of our beloved youthful friends. The few alterations in the form of the Magazine, which were thought expedient, and which were not determined upon without mature consider ation, still seem to us wise and prudent. One or two of our friends have objected to them; but the bulk of our readers, as well as many literary reviewers, decidedly approve of the changes. Let it not be forgotten that we have changed to more than double the quantity of matter given in the earlier volumes. Our type is the same as those volumes, but our printers get more words into a page, and of these pages, our readers receive sixty-four instead of thirty-six. The active co-operation of our friends will materially aid our endeavours. As there is no other Magazine which precisely occupies the same field as our own, we have no hesitation in asking the efforts of Christian zeal in promotion of its circulation. The Young People wWILL read- they read more than ever they did-it is of urgent necessity that they have profitable books. Books that will not repel them by austere gloom; that will not weary them by inane reiterations; that will not awaken a morbid imagination; that will not pander to sinful passions; that will not feed the intellect, and congeal the heart-these must be given to the Young. reasonable; that will talk to them as if "face to face;" that will show how the every-day events of life are eloquent in their teachings; that will help them to keep young heads upon young shoulders, and yet show them that these same young heads have a business of their own to do in this great, busy world; that, above all, will make the Atonement the key-stone of their literary arch, and that in their most desultory ramblings will find themselves easily and pleasantly in view of the Cross; these books, we repeat the affirmation, must be given to the Young. Books that will treat them as Else they will drift away without rudder, compass, or pilot, on the great ocean of thought and opinion; their little barks will be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine; and perhaps make that worst of all shipwrecks, the shipwreck of faith! A heathen sage asserted, that the greatest reverence is due to the Young. The light of the Gospel gives this assertion a fuller meaning. And the Saviour |