OFFICE OF MANFORD'S MAGAZINE.

Chicago, Ill., No. 774 W. Van Buren St., to which all letters should be addressed, for the present.

REV. T. H. TABOR, Editor and Publisher.

THE MAGAZINE.

TERMS OF THE MAGAZINE are the same as usual, $1.50 per annum. NO DISCONTINUANCES until all arrearages are settled.

SPECIMEN COPIES.

We send out many specimen copies of our paper to those who are not subscribers, as an invitation to subscribe. We have no desire to crowd our MAGAZINE upon anyone, but is the only literary and religious monthly published in the Universalist denomination, and we greatly desire to have its character and worth known.

We send it for one dollar a year (our lowest club price) to all clergymen, and we send to a club of five new subscribers for $5, in advance. We know from many years' experience as a pastor, that there are Universalists of moderate means in nearly every parish who do not take a religious periodical of any kind, and largely for the reason that they feel that they cannot afford it. Our pastors cannot do a better work for the cause of truth than by persuading such families to join in a club to take and read our MAGAZINE, which certainly comes within their reach and will do them good.

TRULY GRATEFUL.

If ever a man has reason to be grateful, it is when friends come to his aid when

in great perplexity and trial, unasked. That we had such friends during the recent dangerous sickness in our family, is an evidence to us that we have not lived in vain. The bread cast upon the water during past years, has come back to us. And we have reason to hold the names of Mrs. Rebecca Miller, Mrs. Charles Morgan, Mrs. R. W. Willetts and Rev. B. F. Rogers in grateful remembrance.

CHRIST AS A WITNESS.

The Sacred Scriptures speak of Christ as "the faithful and true witness." To. the disciples of John, He said, "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see-the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."-Matt. 11:5.

Again he said, "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works."-John 10:25; 37-38. Shall we receive and believe his testimony?

He goes farther than this, for he declares-"I AM the light of the world"; "I AM the way"; "I AM the door"; "I AM the bread of life"; "I AM the good shepherd"; "I AM the true vine', "I AM the resurrection and the life"; "I AM the first and the last"; " Before Abraham was I Am"; "I AM Jesus"; "Ye call me Magter and Lord, and ye say well; for so I AM."-John 13:13. This is the testimony of Jesus Christ, who claims to be a faithful and true witness. Shall we be

lieve his statements? If not, what is there in him, or what was there done by him, that deserves our respect or confi. dence?

Is it not because we believe his testimony in relation to the works done in his Father's name-works that no other man ever did--that his words have such importance and value, when he said:

"Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me.

THE THREE SYSTEMS. Calvanists believe God can save all mankind, but will not; Methodists believe that he would save all, but cannot; Universalists, that he both can and will save all men; this is the real difference between the three systems. The first denies God's infinite benevolence; the second, his infinite power; the third allows and contends for both. Which is the most honorable to God? Which is most adapted to the wants of mankind? Which is the most rational and consistent? Choose ye, candid readers.

THE UTILITY OF FAITH IN A FUTURE LIFE.

The question of the continuation of the life of man, beyond the death of the body, is one in which all thoughtful people must ever take a very deep interest. And for the simple reason that all are aware that the life that is must come to an end. And Hugh Miller has well said, "That the belief in the existence after death which forms the distinguishing instinct of humanity, is too essential a part of man's moral constitution not to be missed when away; and so, when once fairly

eradicated, the life and character rarely fail to betray its absence."

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And on this account we are compelled to regard the utility of faith in a future life as one of the strongest reasons for believing in its existence. The worthlessness of the life that is without faith in the life to come, was well presented by Senator Ingalls, of Kansas, in an eulogy delivered in the United States Senate, on the life and character of Hon. J. N. Burnes. He said: "If death be the end, if the life of Burnes terminated upon this bank and shoal of time,' if no morning is to dawn upon the night in which he sleeps, then sorrow has no consolation and this impressive and solemn ceremony which we observe to-day, has no more significance than the painted pageant of the stage. If the existence of Burnes was but a troubled dream, his death obliv. ion, what avails it that the Senate should pause to recount his virtues? Neither veneration nor reverence is due the dead if they are but dust; no cenotaph should be reared to preserve for posterity the memory of their achievements, if those who come after them are to be only their successors in annihilation and ex tinction. If in this world only we have hope and consciousness, duty must be a chimera; our pleasures and our passions should be the guides of conduct, and vir tue is indeed a superstition, if life ends at the grave. This is the conclusion which the philosophy of negation must accept at last. Such is the felicity of those degrading precepts which make the epitaph the end. If the life of Burnes is as a taper that is burned out, then we treasure his memory and example in vain, and the latest prayer of his departing spirit has no more sanctity to us, who soon or late must follow him, than the whisper of winds that stir the leaves of the protesting forest, or the murmur of the waves that break upon the complaining shore."

And this is not all, for it has been well

said that "if this life were all, there are many things that are among the highest, and most lovely, and valuable that culture without religion could never engender

Purity, disinterestedness, reverence -these finest fruits of the spirit, can never come into full maturity in any soul but one which lives habitually in the Di-, vine presence, and under the power of the world to come. And are not these the qualities which are needed, not only to fit a man for the next world, but even to make him all that is best to be even in this world? If this is so-if man cannot be what he ought to be, even for this life, without taking account of a future life, does not this prove that all attempts to divide these two by any sharp demarkation are futile: And is there not here a strong argument for the reality of a future life, when we find that the best cannot be attained in this life, if we lose faith in the life which is to come? The highest qualities of the human soul cannot be based on a belief which is a delusion." No! No! the utility of faith in a future life, is one of the strongest proofs of its reality.

EDITORIAL JOTTINGS.

We spread a table this month for our readers that is rich and varied. Much that this number of the MAGAZINE Contains, is deserving of special attention. Our first article is one of the most forcible statements of our blessed faith, ever published. Its author, Rev. Benjamin Hunt, has been standing for years on the border of the undiscovered land, desiring to depart and be with Christ. This article, written for our MAGAZINE, will cheer many a soul sitting in darkness, and send them on their way rejoicing towards their immortal home.

-The evidence of the value of the Universalist faith, will not be passed without notice. And the article we publish"The light of the Gentiles," defies the whole school of skeptics to answer it.

-We commence in this number of our

MAGAZINE, a Serial Story for Girls"Aunt Lois and her Family." Written by Rev. Mary C. Billings of Texas. This story contains seven chapters, and one chapter will be published each month until it is completed. Its publication will add much to the value of our MAGAZINE this year for home reading. Sister Billings reserves the right to publish this story in book form, after it is published in our MAGAZINE. Its publication ought to bring us many new subscribers.

-We publish a temperance story in this number of the MAGAZINE, written by an Illinois woman, and founded on facts. It shows what a fearful sacrifice is sometimes required to reform men from habits of dissipation. The cost of their only fault is sometimes terrible to contemplate--and the worst of it all is, that the sacrifice is so often made, and nothing comes of it.

-We cannot imagine a greater impertinence, than for the Pope of Rome to cause an order to be read in certain New York pulpits, in regard to the management of the public schools in that city.

-Rev. Josiah Davis wishes us to call attention to two ministers in Kansas that should be employed all the time in that State-Rev. J. A. Stoner, of Berlin, Bourbon county, and Rev. T. B. Ferguson, of Wauneta, Chautauqua county. We hope our friends in Kansas will remember these brothers, and keep them at work, and thus benefit themselves and aid the cause of truth in their State.

-The first lesson that Holy Scripture teaches is unlearnt, if we have not discovered that God is interested in all the affairs of our daily life, and judges us not merely by our prayers and religious af fections but by our works.

-Let those who are content with morality and uprightness of conduct, and are different to religious duty, be assured that there is an unearthly peace, a heavenly joy, a blessedness like that of the angels, for every one who has learnt the happy secret of dwelling in the light of

the Divine presence. When the heart glows with devout affection, and the spirit sinks in prostrate worship, and the eye gazes on the glory of Christ, Heaven comes down to earth, and the promises of immortal bliss begins to be fulfilled.

The sins of finite beings, though ever so numerous and aggravated in character, cannot possibly be infinite.

-We hold that all sin deserves, and will certainly receive finite punishmentand that the finite retribution that God's justice will inflict is in perfect harmony with his goodness, and will certainly correct every sinner.

-The modern attacks upon the Old Testament are but masked attacks upon our Lord himself. By destroying the genuineness, authenticity, and inspiration of the Old Testament, they both make Jesus a liar and cut off from him all the Messianic testimonies. They thus gain their end, which is to eliminate all that is supernatural from religion and annul all the distinctive features of Christianity.

- Never allow the style in which a thought is clothed to gain any influence with you, to the neglect of the idea-for many a lie has been told in fine language, and many a villain has been dressed in fine clothes.

CHRIST'S QUESTION. "Whom say ye that I am?"

This is still the all important question of the hour, and every professed Christian should be able to answer it for himself. It does not refer to Christ's doctrine, or philosophy, or morality, but to his personality.

He had previously asked his disciples, whom do men say that I am? And the response showed that the world had a very complimentary view of his personality, from their stand-point. Some thought he was Elijah, others that he was John the Baptist, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. But what they all agreed in was, that he was no ordina

ry man. This is interesting as showing the impression Christ made on the public mind, by his character, his teaching and works; and his bitterest enemies said, "never man spake like him."

Jesus then asked his disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?" and Peter answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." He who denies the truth of Peter's statement, not only contradicts the testimony of Christ himself, but the revelation of the Father also. But he who holds fast to Jesus as the Christ, the appointed Saviour, and as the Son of the living God, the appointed Rerealer, holds fast to the heart of true Christianity, and to him, Jesus Christ, is both Savior and Lord.

DIFFERENT BUT NOT INFERIOR.

The claim is sometimes put forth that woman is inferior to man. General Garibaldi made a good reply to this statement when he said: "So far from being man's inferior, woman was appointed the instructeress of man, and designed by the Creator to mould and educate man's moral nature."

This is not only true, but it is also true, that the most successful men, are the men who have received the most attention and care from women. They were the worthy sons of noble mothers, and had received devoted mother's watchful care and instruction, or, they were blessed with loving and devoted wives, who encouraged and aided them in their work.

A noted French lady, Mme. de Remusat, expresses the difference between the mind of man and the mind of woman as follows: "Research and depth are lack ing to us, when we desire to apply our selves to general questions. Gifted with a quick intelligence, we understand things at a glance: we divine better, and often see as well as men. But often, too

emotional to be just, too swift to weigh things well, insight serves us better than observation.

Too fixed attention to any.

thing wearies us: we are, to sum it up, more gentle than patient. To be deprived of a thing we bear better than holding on to hope deferred. Those women, who, ambitious of attaining everything, devote themselves to varied studies, quickly seize enough science for conversation, they quickly become well versed in everything; that is to say, able to converse about everything, to judge rapidly, often to satisfy and always to interest others."

FAITH IN CHRIST'S MIRACLES.

Rev. L. R. Paige, D. D., has recently written a letter to the Christian Leader, in which he said "I shall regard it as a favor if you permit me thus publicly to offer my thanks to Dr. Sawyer for his admirable series of papers (published in the Leader) concerning the "Miracles of Jesus." In these latter days, when semi-infidelity is rampant, it is refreshing to read his testimony on behalf of Jesus of Nazareth as a man approved of Godby miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the presence of witnesses both competent and reliable."

We are very glad for an opportunity to repeat this testimony. We recall the words published by Rev. Eli Ballou, D. D., some twenty years ago. He said: We agree with Dr. Emerson in the idea, that Christ was a man, a human being, filled with the divine nature. "In him dwelt the fullness of the godhead bodily." Jesus said, "The words that I speak are not mine, but the Father's who sent me. I, of myself can do nothing.

The Father who dwelleth in me, He doeth the work." We differ with the Trinitarians in saying that the person of Jesus was God, and that he was the second person in the Godhead, because we believe no plurality of persons in the Godhead; but we agree with them in saying that

there was a fullness of the divine nature dwelling in the humanity of Jesus and manifested through him to the world. It was not the second person in God, who thus dwelt in Christ-for there is no such second person-but it was the Father, the first and only one God, who was in him.

The Scriptures seem to us to teach, that the nature of the person of Christ was human nature-while the nature in that person, was the supreme divinity of the Father. These two being conjoined, constitute Him the Son of God in a high sense, and make him "the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his person." Paul says, The man, Christ Jesus." Peter says, "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by signs, and wonders and miracles, which God did by him."

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AN IRISHMAN'S WISH.

An amusing experience has been published of the late Rev. Thomas F. King (father of Rev. Thomas Starr King), who is said to have been a man of great benevolence. While settled in Portsmouth, N. H., he was once called down from his study by a rough-looking Irishman, who had established himself in the sittingroom, and who demanded help. What do you want? Mr. King mildly inquired. Money enough, your riverence, to get to Boston." Why do you call on me rather than on the Roman Catholic priest? "Well, I thought I'd give you the pref erence." Where did you come from last? "Concord." In what part of Concord ?" Well, your riverence, I think they call it the States prison; but mind, I was not put in there for any dirty larceny, but for having in an unguarded moment, just laid my hands on a countryman of mine in a way they call manslaughter."

With the fluent eloquence characteristic of his race, he proceeded to urge his claim. The Universalist minister only knew that the fellow was in want, and disposed to do better-and the money was