PREFACE. WITH this number closes the present volume of THE WESLEY BANNER AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY VISITOR, and with it terminates our issue. Valedictions and explanations are to us always unwelcome tasks; we, nevertheless, feel that we owe to our readers something of both. When nearly two years ago the proprietor of the present series of this Magazine undertook to prolong the existence of a periodical which had, owing to circumstances connected with the position of its original proprietor and editor, fallen to a circulation which was far from supporting the expenses of its issue,-he undertook that responsibility under the conviction, in the first place, that the necessity for such a periodical existed; and in the second, that if it were properly conducted the demand would be sufficiently large to render such an undertaking at least safe in a pecuniary sense. From a combination of causes perhaps not difficult to trace, but quite unnecessary to enumerate, his anticipations in this respect have not been realized; and having for some time issued the Magazine at a loss, he is, with much regret, compelled, owing to the increased cost of production caused by the high price of paper, thus to bring the series to an abrupt termination. The Editor, in thus closing his labours, has but few remarks to make. He entered on his task with much hope, and surrenders it with regret. The aims with which he set out, and the pledges he then gave, have been kept constantly in view and conscientiously maintained. He has endeavoured to instruct and elevate the minds of his readers, to develope enlightened and intelligent views of religious truth, and to promote the progress of practical evangelical Christianity. If he has in any degree effected these objects, his labour has not been in vain. October, 1854. SCRIPTURE CABINET-continued. Lukewarmness, 229 Moral Honesty, 138 Moses-His Moral Greatness, 303 Natural Theology of the Bible, 228 None of His, 140 Peter and Paul, 24 Providence, 231 Redeem the Time, 264 Spiritual Worship, 323 The Spiritual Merchant, 22 The Secret-Praying Christian, 24 The Lord's Prayer, 59 NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY: An Atom: what is it, 234 A Tropical Scene, 101 A Tropical Forest in a Storm, 101 Extent of the Universe, 235 Gravitation, 304 Indications of Weather, as shown by Animals, Insects, and Plants, 269 Ingenuity of Birds, 202 Minute Mechanism, 143 Natural Philosophy: its Practical Benefits, 141; Cohesion of Substances, 232; Modifications of Attraction, 267 MISCELLANY: A Heart on Fire, 181 A Parable, 174 A Patriarch's Counsel to Over-careful Christians, 333 A Special Providence, 28 A Test of Kindness, 278 Be True with Children, 276 Bible Christians, 76 Census Returns on Religious Worship: Church Fellowship-a Motive to seek it, 103 Confucius, the Chinese Moralist, 144 English Versions of the Bible, 331 Example of Teachers, 277 Faithfulness in Little Things, 177 Females in Russia, 242 The Meeting of John the Baptist and Jesus, 94 The Book of Jonah, 139 The Excellency of the Gospel, 167 The Text and Theme, 169 The Handful of Grain, 170 The One Thought of Paul, 230 The Burning Bush, 265 The Hand that Saves us, 266 The Christian's Death-bed, 301 "Thy Will be done!" 326 Poplar Cork Trees-Interesting Experiments, 329 Properties of Matter, 200 Science the Friend of the Masses, 171 Sugar Making, 235 Sago, 235 The Advantages of Science, 97 Free Moral Agency and God's Purposes: an Allegory, 32 How to Conquer an Enemy, 239 Jewish Sects in the Time of Christ, 272 Long Graces and Little Children, 331 Rules for Home Education, 34 Religious State of England prior to the Simon Magus-his Life and Character, 270 The Arithmetic of War, 150 The Cambridge Platonists: Dr. Henry More, 29 |