An acquaintance with the nature of evangelical faith and the mode of its exercise is the most important of all knowledge. The deepest familiarity with politics and history, the profoundest intimacy with ethics and, philosophy, the greatest proficiency in the arts and sciences, and the most brilliant exploits in statesmanship and military achievements, will fail in happifying and saving the soul, and must go out in darkness without a sinconquering faith. To fail at the mercy-Seat, where faith alone can succeed, is to fall everywhere and forever.

Every careful reader of the Scriptures has not failed to notice that much greater efficiency than appears in the Churches is graciously tendered to the saints. And under this light the general Christian heart yearns, by the promptings of the Holy Spirit, to realize in experience and work the Saviors statement, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. All earnest Christians long for this gift, but, through spiritual blindness, many are searching for it where it can never be found. It is not to be found in travel amidst classic ruins, nor in the learning furnished by the schools of philosophy, nor the knowledge obtained in the seminaries of theology, nor yet in the wisdom of methods and plans. Nothing succeeds here but that meek, lowly, and humble faith discussed in these pages, and which unites its subjects to the risen, glorified, and almighty Christ. Hence any effort that promises success in spreading the knowledge of this all-important grace ought to have the encouragement and support of the universal Church.

Great numbers who read theFAITH PAPERS, as they appeared in the different issues of the now extinct Beulah Land, testified to their great worth and the benefit which they received from them, and congratulated the author upon his happy method of presenting and elucidating the subject of faith. Now that these papers are to be given to the Church in a more durable form, and with conditions for much wider distribution, it is gratifying to know that they must enter upon a much larger mission of usefulness.