3 Monthly Chronicle of the Churches. CONDUCTED BY MEMBERS OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. WHERETO WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED, LET US WALK BY THE SAME RULE, LET US MIND THE SAME THING."-PHIL. III. 16. PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM JOHN JOHNSON, 121, FLEET-STREET. EDINBURGH: JOHN MENZIES. DUBLIN: GEORGE HERBERT; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. MDCCCLXIV. PREFACE. YEARS may be in store for the world more eventful than the twelve months now closing; seldom, however, has any year left these British Isles so rich in the materials of well-being, and so laden with the loving-kindness of the Lord. A continued depression in some branches of industry notwithstanding, the commerce of the year has been unprecedented; and although the recklessness of a few speculators has occasioned no small anxiety and disaster, there is reason to believe that seldom has there been within our borders the same amount of solid wealth and substantial comfort. All other blessings have been enhanced by peace, and a good and early harvest has crowned the mercy. In Ireland sparks of ancient animosities still smoulder, and into what a fierce and sudden flame they can be stirred was seen in the Belfast riots; but probably there never has been a time when all classes of the English community were drawn so closely together, when political rancour was so feeble, when there was the same honest, hearty effort on all hands for the good of the commonwealth, when the poor felt so little suspicion or heartburning towards the rich, or when the highest in the land felt so proud of the growing worth and intelligence of the labouring classes. Whether Christianity makes equal progress, is a more doubtful question. Το many minds the recent controversies have been exceedingly unhinging. The hopeful piety of some has been nipped by the frosty winds of Rationalism, and the careless have found in these debates a convenient excuse for their continued worldliness and unbelief. Nor are symptoms wanting that, encouraged by the hope of assistance from traitors within the camp, the attack will be resumed with new vigour against the sanctity of the Christian Sabbath, which secularists rightly deem the chief bulwark of spiritual religion in these lands. The ludicrous collapse of the Shakespeare celebration enables us to congratulate our friends in Geneva on the comparative success of the Calvin centenary. The literature evoked there and elsewhere, even when not entirely favourable, has done much to dispel prejudices regarding the great Reformer; and innumerable discourses and addresses from the pulpits of the Old World and the New must have done good service in recalling men's minds to the truths which this mighty thinker did so much to systematise and vindicate. If the friends of peace have still to deplore the continuance of strife and slaughter amongst our Transatlantic brethren, and if the well-wishers to Germany regret the war of passion which has done such injury to Denmark and |