Professor A. A. Wallace.
[1856 001 1st edition] The Bible Treasury is intended to supply an acknowledged want in religious periodical literature, by providing a popular organ for the interchange of practical opinion upon Biblical subjects. Yet the work, it is hoped, will present one positive, definite, pervading thought — the grace and the glory of God, as revealed in the person, the work, and the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will seek to proclaim Jesus Christ and him crucified. It will endeavour to set forth the sufferings of Christ, and the glory which shall follow. It will be designed to unfold the fulness of the Gospel both of the grace and the kingdom of God. Prophecy will thus necessarily occupy a large share of our attention. It is a subject upon which almost all earnest Christians are deeply exercised; and, happily, it is ground common to all believers.
We frankly admit, however, that we look and long for the personal and visible advent of our Lord Jesus Christ; and are as fully persuaded that He will thus come a second time and take to Himself His great power and reign, as we are that He came once visibly and personally, in weakness and humiliation. With us, this is a polar truth, harmonizing much that would otherwise be discordant, and giving order and arrangement to elements, which without it, would be chaotic and non-attractive. We believe that the hearty reception of this truth would quicken the church of Christ into new and energetic life; and we shall seek, by suitable argument and illustration, to promulgate it amongst all classes of evangelical Christians, without reference to theological or ecclesiastical distinctions. Further than this, we are not the advocates or exponents of any particular system of prophetic interpretation, nor is The Bible Treasury connected, either directly or indirectly, with any society, church, or other organization.
We shall not refuse to open our columns occasionally to those who may differ from us upon this important topic. One of our objects in commencing The Bible Treasury is, to provide a literary platform for the discussion of prophetic and other practical subjects; and we hope to be able to accomplish that object, consistently with the principles laid down in our "postscript to contributors and correspondents."
An important part of our review will be occupied with the discussion or illustration of Biblical subjects, calculated to assist the student or teacher in his labours; and otherwise to advance the cause of truth or promote edification. We have obtained the co-operation of Christian brethren who are able to place at the service of the church the result of laborious study and patient critical investigation; nevertheless our periodical will be a popular, as distinguished from a scholastic or critical one. It is said of our Lord, as an emphatic testimony to his vocation as a teacher, that "He spake as one having authority, and not as the scribes:" but it is also said, that "the common people heard Him gladly." We desire for ourselves and our contributors, to emulate His example.
In The Bible Treasury how can we forget the land and people of Israel? From time to time we shall endeavour to present our readers with accurate records in connection with these deeply interesting subjects, which are so intimately bound up with the future history of the church and the world; and it affords us no small gratification to number more than one Hebrew Christian brother amongst our stated contributors.
As far as our space will admit, we hope to chronicle passing events, such as public meetings, lectures, etc.; and to give brief and compendious notices of the work of God in various parts of the world; in so far as these events or notices may bear upon our leading objects. We shall hold ourselves at liberty occasionally to open our columns to any important topic, the discussion of which will be likely to bring the church back to the first principles of the Word of God, or to unite Christian brethren; and we shall be glad to admit the communications of any who have useful information to supply, or who are anxious for the solution of questions profitable to believers in general. Finally, we shall strive earnestly for "peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ;" adding heartily, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Amen. [Ed. Professor A. A. Wallace.]