PREFACE. WE remember visiting, when a boy, an exhibition in which we saw, among other curiosities, an ancient clock, which not only performed a clock's ordinary duty, but also recorded the progress of weeks and months, and which only required to be wound up once a year. Our Magazine is, in some respects, not unlike this curious. machine. Whatever it may be to others, to us, at least, it is a monitor of Time's unresting flight. As each Number comes forth fresh from the printer's hands, we are reminded of months that are passing by, And soon must all be gone;" and as each Volume, in its new cover and bright inscription, takes its place on our shelves, it tells of another year lost in the mighty ocean of the past. Thirteen volumes have already read us their silent lessons; and now the first of a New Series is completed, and must be added to the number. It is a centre of pleasant recollections, associated with not a little hand-work, head-work, and heart-work, willingly bestowed by earnest helpers, and kindly received by many thousands of young people. And what of its influence?" we ask, as we look towards the time when " every man's work shall be tried." A solemn inquiry for the Editor and his coadjutors ;-an equally solemn inquiry for those who have been the readers of this Volume. It is ours, dear young friends, to write; it is yours to read; and we and you are alike responsible. To us it is said, "Take heed how ye write;" to you, "Take heed how ye read." We are labouring for eternity,-doing work, the results of which shall by-and-bye be made known. Shall we have cause for rejoicing that our time and thought have not been expended in vain? And each one of you has a mission to fulfil-to glorify your Creator, and benefit those by whom you are surrounded: that you may so live is our ardent hope and earnest prayer, and our aim has been to render your Magazine subservient to this great end. We are anxious that you should receive it not merely as a lively visitor, but as an intelligent companion, a wise counsellor, and a sincere friend; and so long as we are permitted to think and write for you, we shall seek to render it worthy of this high place in your regard. We ask your friendly help that it may become more widely known, and your prayers for its increasing usefulness to yourselves and to others. But the season for winding up our Magazine clock has returned, and the Editor is glad to acknowledge his indebtedness to many kind fellow-workers, by whose aid the machine has performed its twelve months' duty without accident or derangement. "Ancient Simeon," "A. L. S.," "Thekla," "Gildengate," "J. W. A.," "G. M. M.," "T. K.," with all others who have contributed to these pages, will please to accept our hearty thanks for the favours of the past. The coming year will, doubtless, witness the birth of many new periodicals. Nevertheless, there is still a place and a work for the Bible Class Magazine. Its conductors cannot but remember that, after fourteen years of publication, it still stands alone in its character and object; and while they are thankful that so much has already been accomplished, they feel called upon, not to relax in their exertions, but rather to put forth new efforts for the extension and improvement of this longestablished miscellany for youth. December, 1861. |