Respecting the Publication in the hands of our readers, it were superfluous, after the long line of volumes to which it has extended, that we should offer any statement of the principles maintained in it. Those principles are now what they have been from the first; and we more firmly, if possible, than ever, believe them to be founded upon Holy Scripture, and to be conformable with the Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies of the Church of England.

If such a work as the Christian Observer was needed nearly half a century ago, it is not less so now. The main considerations which influenced those who projected it still apply in all their force; and to them many fresh ones might be added. When we hear so much of new lights and new eraism; of dissent upon principle; of bitter opposition to the Anglican communion, both as a Church and a National Establishment; of Popery triumphing and Tractism flourishing; and when we look forward to the probable forthcoming events of another year, among which we may anticipate the great national education struggle, and the project for further endowing Popery in Ireland; we do not think that even our feeble services in the common cause ought to be withheld. The triple union of High-churchism with Popery and Evangelical Dissent, against the Church of England as a National Institution, is a new and serious feature in the annals of these eventful times; and one upon which, if our life and labours are continued, we may have much occasion to remark.

We state our own case, without referring to other Church of England Magazines and Reviews; we mean those of a literary class, designed for the clergy and reading laity. One thing only will we remark of these; that several are the champions of Tractarianism; that there are not two of them which have not more or less fostered that direful heresy, though several of them now shrink from it, and oppose it, in its developments;—and that there is not one of them, Tractite, Orthodox, or Evangelical, which favours the Bible Society. In this we could weep to say the CHRISTIAN OBSERVER has stood alone during a long series of years; much to our injury in many ways; but when we look to what is passing in the Church and the world-see for example what the Lord has wrought at Manchester !-we increasingly regard this Society as the very bulwark of Protestantism; and one of the most powerful instruments in the hands of God for making known his Gospel to the ends of the earth.

No one can be so well convinced as the writer of these remarks that our Publication requires much improvement. The present Editor has now conducted it during thirty years. His pen is worn to the stump; yet with that stump he is obliged to write more than ever ;-besides the mass of private correspondence. He wishes, when circumstances favour his retirement, to place the work in more efficient hands; so that it may be made what the Church, and the improvements of the age, require. The pressure has fallen, for many years, too much upon an individual. As an illustration of this, he may mention, that during the whole period of his Editorship, he has never, in a single instance, been able to get any friend to draw up the brief monthly sketch of passing events; and in the present month's Appendix and December Number, every line, with the exception of two or three short papers, is from one pen-a pen, as we said, worn to the stump. This is not advisable; but the original phalanx of writers have either gone to their rest, or are now unable to render much aid; and, for whatever reason, the Evangelical Clergy (we use the popular phrase,) generally shrink from services of this nature ;-not, we think, sufficiently estimating the benefits which periodical literature may, and ought to, render to Christ's holy Gospel. The acting Conductor will be glad to resign his office, when a

plan can be devised for better discharging it, by the union of a strong body of friends who would prosecute it with zeal and unanimity. He feels increasingly the responsibility of his task in times like these, and shrinks from it. He must, however, remain at his post, till it shall please God in his providence to order otherwise; only beseeching his Subscribers to pardon all defects; and, better still, to enable him to remedy them.

It was said of a certain Frenchman, that he kept no library; but that when he wanted to read a book he made one. This has been very much the case in various departments of English periodical literature; but most of all among our Church of England religious publications: for though not one of them, of the literary class, is liberally supported, every year is adding to the number. The remark applies also to the smaller periodical tractates. The market is over-saturated with them; they may be had good and cheap of all kinds, and with every shade of religious sentiment: and yet we are constantly receiving letters from clergymen, stating that they do not find any family and cottage little books exactly adapted to their use, and that they propose to set up a new publication. It is set up; it ejects and injures others; it disappoints the projector; and it dies away. The same remark applies to publications of a higher class. We will offer an illustration in the case of one, now defunct—and of which we therefore speak, though we never alluded to it when any allusion might have been misinterpreted. In the beginning of 1844 there was to be a new era in Church of England periodical literature. A work was commenced, called "The Christian's Monthly Magazine, and Universal Review; price 2s. 6d." It was announced as being under the powerful patronage of noblemen, gentlemen, bishops, and other church dignitaries, and eminent professors and writers. The Conductors said:

"It is notorious that the Tractarians have their Quarterly, Monthly, and even Weekly organs, while those who are trembling at the progress of this heresy have no correcting medium-no established publication-upon which they can with confidence depend in the mighty struggle.' To supply this need, the Christian's Monthly Magazine is called into existence."

Notwithstanding the large and constantly increasing number of periodicals in circulation at the present time;-whether owing to the corruption of human nature or to the partial action of individual interest-one is yet wanting, in which the pious mind shall see reflected those high motives which are the springs of a religious life, and that pure spirit which-animating with Faith and Hope and Love the soul of the Christian-works through him to the production of whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. If on the least valued things should be written Holiness to the Lord!'-surely the more important should be dedicated to His glory; in a word, all should be used as a media for leading the soul to God."

"During the last few years, many religious periodicals have been started and conducted with different degrees of ability and learning, and professedly designed in support of the Church of England-the most excellent of all Ecclesiastical Es tablishments, whether we consider the purity of her doctrine or the simplicity of her worship. Unfortunately, however, some of these, by injudicious attempts at catholic union, [e. g. supporting the Bible Society] have succeeded only in producing agitation, doubt, disunion, an interruption of established order, and controversy. We have still to look for a periodical that shall serve as an unexceptionable guide to those Christian readers whose hearts' desire is for goodness and truth, without hypocrisy, uncharitableness, or injustice."

We made no comment (except privately to some of the projectors) upon the tone of these remarks. The world was wide enough for them and us; and more good, and in new ways, would be a public boon. Some of the Clerical Book Societies exchanged our old-fashioned pages for this muchpromising publication. Of this we felt no jealousy; but when the new work

died off, some of these clubs had, and have, no periodical work uncontaminated with Tractite leaven; and this love of novelty, and want of steadiness, prevents the due efficiency of other publications; for no Magazine can permanently keep up its internal strength which is not buttressed from without. A Church of England Evangelical publication of the literary class, cannot command popular suffrage. It must be supported by those who have at heart its important objects.

It is one of the most painful circumstances of a publication like ours, that the majority of readers require it to be extensively controversial. It must take up passing topics; especially the pending discussions in the Church of Christ; and on these there is so much difference of opinion, that every remark touches upon a dispute. We would sooner write fifty pages upon topics of permanent value, than one paragraph upon a squabble of the moment. There is (to allude to our present month's papers) much of interest in tracking out the history of the Protestant Reformation; or making researches into the forgotten lives and writings of the Italian martyrs; or in considering questions of biblical interpretation; or in writing religious essays; and we come into no personal collision by exposing myth and pantheism;-but it is unmixed pain to give an opinion upon the "Evangelical Alliance," or some litigated matter in a Bishop's Charge, or the proceedings of this or that individual or institution; and yet this most readers demand.

O Lord, we beseech Thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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