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was considered-when it was remembered, that nearly 6000 years had elapsed since the creation, and 2000 since the publication of the glad tidings of the Gospel; and that a large portion, alas how large a portion of our fellow-creatures, have never yet heard the name of a Saviour, how melancholy the reflections which must fill our minds! "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature," was the command. How had it been executed?

To a benevolent and feeling mind, it was sufficient to know that a fellow-creature was in misery to induce an instant effort to go to his relief. And here were millions sunk in the deepest moral suffering and the most deplorable of all conditions; and not deplorable in a moral point of view alone, but lost to comfort, lost to happiness-degraded to the earth, and almost below it, by the tyrannies and oppressions ever attendant on superstition and paganism.

Who then will show hearts answering to the call of a Saviour, and fly to the rescue of those for whom he shed his blood?

It was not many hundred years since we ourselves bowed in blind acquiescence before those who were murdering their fellowcreatures in the darkness of woods, and with all the mysteries of a horrid superstition. The religion of England, of our dear native country, was then a religion of hell; savage, barbarous, and revengeful as any, at the narratives of which we now shudder when they come to us from a distant clime. And how had we then been amazed, could we have been told that we ourselves should once enjoy the full meridian light of the Gospel day?

Providence has blessed us with most abundant means for the prosecution of these holy purposes. We enjoy liberty, wealth, commerce. We have been invested with an immense empire in the East, and our shipping is seen in every quarter of the globe. The responsibility attendant on these circumstances ought to fill us with serious

concern.

It will perhaps be said, however, that we have contributed. Yes, in this land, where every other national object commanded millions, thirty-two thousand a year was raised by this Society for the conversion of a world.

Do we not find, that in war our soldiers and sailors are forward, are the foremost in every contest? and should we be outstripped in a cause so glorious? The name of Wellington gave tone to every spirit; it nerved every soldier in the field. But we serve a higher Master, we have a more glorious Commander; one who in his own person fought our battle, and gained for us the greatest of victories.

The principal difficulties now before the Society arose, as it has been stated, from

one who had not been brought over to this country by the Society, but had stolen over, and it now appeared, for selfish purposes of temporal ambition. In Shunghee we had a striking view of the littleness of this world's greatness; but what could we say of that poor man, but that he had imbibed some of the spirit of this world, some of that fondness for its greatness which every where surrounds us?

We have found, in other instances, that discouragements, borne with faith and patience, give the surest earnest of eventual success. Look to Otaheite, and steadily persevere.

Our lesson of to-day then is, to be more liberal, looking upon our contributions not as a matter of benevolence, but of duty. God has called on us with a loud voice and a peremptory accent, and woe unto us if we refuse to listen.

Let us, then, go on and prosper. We can never be engaged in any task so truly great, so truly honourable. Some fruits we may have known, some assurances of good we may have received; but we shall never have a full knowledge of the vast importance of the cause in which we are embarked, until the veil of mortality is removed; until we cease to see 66 as through a glass, darkly;" until, in short, we arrive at that spiritual understanding which will be according to the fulness of the bless ings of the Gospel of God." Lord Viscount Lorton seconded this Resolution.

The Right Hon. Sir Geo. H. Rose, in moving the fourth Resolution, recognising with pleasure the permission obtained to form a printing establishment at Malta, felt an apology due to the Meeting for an absence of some years, passed on the Con tinent in duties of another kind. His mind, however, had constantly followed the Society's steps, and dwelt on its records; and he felt happy in being now able to give a closer degree of personal attention to the subject.

The Earl of Rocksavage seconded this motion.

The Rev. W. Marsh, in proposing the fifth Resolution, enforcing the duty of prayer to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth more labourers, wished to offer a few remarks on the characteristics to be sought for in those who offered themselves as candidates for the office of missionary. And, first, Christian simplicity was to be looked for. The greatest missionary the world ever saw had said, "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." Next, we do not want men who expect to rise in the world by becoming missionaries, but rather such as are willing

to fall in this world, that they may rise in the world to come; not men who will look for encouragement to the applause of even such a meeting as this, but who listen rather for the shouts of angels rejoicing over a recovered wanderer, and rely 'for support on Him who was made a little lower than the angels, that he might, he crowned with glory and honour. We want men like Owen, who can die at home; and men like Martyn, who are ready to die abroad, and who will count not their lives dear to them so that they may finish their course with joy.

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In turning over very lately the History of India, he had fallen upon a passage quoted from an Hindoo author, in which it was stated how a man might evince himself a fool: "That man is a fool," it was said, "who seeks an end without suitable means '-" and that man is a fool who attempts to teach others what he has not first learnt himself." Upon this maxim, let all our missionaries be fully taught, that "God is love." Their grand object is to show the heathen that of which they are at present profoundly ignorant-that God is love, and to evince by their lives that this is the spirit of Christianity.

The Hindoos have a fable of their deity, that wherever he plants his foot a rose-tree in full bloom rises. We know of our Saviour, that at his approach the desert rejoices and blossoms like the rose, and Regent's Town can witness the delightful effects of his presence and blessing.

Mahometans have a notion, that every man has an angel sitting on his head, writing down every act he commits. We know whose eye is constantly resting upon us, and may trust that few of our moments offer less that is displeasing to him, than those spent in promoting such objects as we are now met to support.

The Hon. and Rev. L. Powys said a few words in support of this Resolution.

The Rev. R. Daly said, that he had been much struck by the observations made in the Report, on the subject of the education of females in India. He hailed with joy the attempts making, and the progress made, in this particular department; he attached much importance to the result. Great, indeed, must necessarily be the influence of those to whom the education of all infants, in all nations, was necessarily intrusted. Let it be observed, too, that wherever the human form was particularly degraded by the superstition, the vices, or the tyrannies of paganism, there the female would constantly be found oppressed, trampled on, treated with scorn and contempt. On the other hand, wherever the Gospel of Christ had done its work, there woman rose to her just station, was treated no longer as the slave but as the friend of

man, the sharer of his joys and of his

sorrows.

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"My Lord," said Mr. Daly, ings have been practised upon. We have been so much interested with the idea of the schools at Regent's Town, and by the little black boys with white shirts, that we have almost forgotten our own little white boys without shirts at all. We have rohbed ourselves, and Mr. Johnson and his negroes were the great accomplices. But, my Lord, would that we had been more robbed; would that we had had more of hearts to be robbed in such a cause as this: for, we have found abundant example of the fulfilment of that promise, He that watereth shall be watered himself.' We have seen, in many instances, the blessed effects of a missionary zeal, by which those who may have been first excited to care for the poor little blacks, have come at last to care for their own souls."

The Rev. B. Woodd wished to read to the meeting a few observations made by one long honoured and revered in this Society, the late Rev. Thomas Scott, who in bis sermon on occasion of their first Anniversary, had these words:

"Let it be observed, that when the Lord intends eventually to prosper any design, he seldom answers the first sanguine hopes of its zealous friends. By previous delays and disappointments, he commonly purifies our motives, renders our dependence on his power and grace more simple, and excites us to more fervent and earnest prayer and supplication. He thus leads us to compare our measures and means with the sacred Scriptures, and to rectify what had not accorded to them. He gives us deeper views of our own unworthiness and insufficiency, and brings us to despair of success, except from his powerful interposition. Having thus formed us to a more proper disposition of mind, and the use of hallowed means exclusively, he begins to prosper the design, and to work for the glory of his name: so that discouraging ill success, in the outset of a good design, often gives occasion to that self-examination and study, and that melioration of our motives and means, which make way for the most important subsequent success. We should, therefore, neither despond, as we are very apt to do, nor faint, when we are thus rebuked and disappointed; nor should we object to evidently good designs, because of failures and discouragements; but we should try to profit by experience, and prosecute the object with greater simplicity and humility, and with persevering patience and unceasing prayer.”

The Rev. J. W. Cunningham moved thanks to the noble President, who briefly acknowledged the vote, and closed the Meeting.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE nineteenth Annual Meeting was held in Freemasons' Hall, on Wednesday the 7th of May; the President in the Chair.

His Lordship opened the proceedings by observing, that the Society had been visited since their last meeting with a calamity, the extent of which it was difficult to overstate. If the success of its cause depended on human efforts alone, the loss must be irreparable, for where could the Society expect to find another Owen? The visitation strongly inculcated the awful lesson, of increased industry and exertion, of zeal to serve our day and generation, while the stroke which must one day follow each of us, was suspended.

His Lordship then read letters from H.R. H. the Duke of Gloucester, and from the Bishops of Durham and Calcutta, stating their concern at being necessarily absent. His Royal Highness inclosed 201. and Dr. Heber expressed the pleasure with which he embraced the opportunity of "renewing his allegiance to the Society, and to the cause in which it was embarked."

An abstract of the Report was then read. It commenced by stating the satisfactory progress making by the Paris Bible Society and its numerous branches.

The Russian Societies continued to prosper. The Scriptures had been printed by them in thirty languages.

Leander Van Ess had distributed of his New Testament, within a few years, 456,000 copies. A grant of 6007. had been presented to him.

To the Calcutta Committee the sum of 55001. had been voted within the last year, and to the Serampore Committee 5000%. The death of the late Bishop of Calcutta was mentioned with great regret. His Majesty had been graciously pleased to command the Government of Columbo not to receive payment of a loan granted to the Columbo Bible Society.

The American Bible Society had circulated, since its establishment, 242,000 copies of the Scriptures.

With a deep sense of the loss sustained by the death of the late Rev. John Owen, the Committee had to report that the Rev. Andrew Brandram, M. A. of Oriel College, Oxford, and Curate of Beckenham, had been prevailed upon to accept the office of Secretary, and they derived much satisfaction from a confident assurance, that the zeal, learning, and judgment of this gentleman, would render his appointment a most important advantage to the Institution. They had also to state that Thomas Pell Platt, Esq. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, had consented to become the Society's Librarian.

Upon a most mature consideration of
JUNE 1823.

the subject, it had been considered most advisable in every point of view, to affix for the future a salary to the office of Secretary. In doing this, economy had been consulted, especially as it was clearly impossible, by any pecuniary acknowledgment, to make any thing like a compensation for services so invaluable.

The issue of the past year had been 123,000 Bibles and 186,000 Testaments, forming, with the issues of former years, a total of 3,875,474 copies of the Scriptures circulated, exclusive of those issued on the Society's account, in various parts of Europe.

The adoption of this Report was moved by Lord Bexley, who remarked one particular circumstance stated in the Report: that in Iceland the success of the Bible Society had been such, that every cottage in the island was provided with a Bible. Surely this would prompt our Associations to redouble their exertions, till a similar report might be made of England.

Lord Lorton seconded the motion.

Lord Harrowby rose to move the thanks of the meeting to the Right Hon. Lord Teignmouth. The peculiar happiness enjoyed by his Lordship had scarcely a parallel in history. Perhaps he might be allowed to attempt a comparison between the noble President and Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of our metropolitan cathedral, who himself laid the foundation-stone, and lived to see its noble dome ascending to the skies, surmounted by the cross of Jesus.

Here he

The Bishop of Gloucester, in seconding the motion, remarked on the superiority of services performed in this cause, to those on which mankind were accustomed to rest their fame. The hero, the statesman, might be made greatly beneficial to their country; but still in their successes, in their triumphs, there was little or no reference to eternity. Here all was important, for all was permanent. A labourer too, in other fields, felt himself involved in constant competition, and not unfrequent contention. freely loves all who love the Bible. The undiminished energy and continning success which they now rejoiced to perceive, was obtained at the expense of none, but tended to the benefit of all. His Lordship said, there was one statement in the Report at which he was particularly gratified-namely, the progress which the Society bad made in Ireland; for he was convinced tha the only permanent remedy for the evils which afflicted that unhappy country was religious and moral education.

Lord Teignmouth returned thanks, and said, that if, as had been generally allowed, the existence of the harmony and order a society depended upon the attention of the whole to religious duties-if the co-opera

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tion of the poor in labour and love was maintained in these times by no other tie than the Christian religion, then interest and humanity, as well as Christianity, were united in the support of the great object. They had one happy proof of the benefits of the Institution, that the demand upon their charity increased in proportion to the increase of their correspondence. He congratulated the Meeting that they had outlived all the prejudices and misconceptions which had at first opposed their progress. His Lordship also congratulated them upon their progress abroad, and the great increase of correspondence in the most remote and uncivilized nations. But those immense territories where idolatry and darkness still prevailed, had large claims upon Christian benevolence, and there was little doubt that their charity would produce its fruit. They had seen this in many places; for, in extensive countries, where men were formerly lost in error, ignorance, and superstition, praises were now offered to the only true God, from that book of books which had been given to them by this Society.

The Secretary of the Russian Bible Society, Mr. Papoff, next addressed the meeting. He returned them the thanks of their fellow-labourers in Russia, and begged to inform the Meeting that they had circulated the Scriptures amongst Cossacks and Tartars of various nations, amongst even the Chinese, and to the confines of that vast empire. The Secretary said, that from the progress they were making in various nations, the prospect of all being united in one bond of Christian unity and brotherhood was neither distant nor chimerical. But his friend Dr. Paterson would give them the best account of their progress.

Dr. Paterson addressed the meeting, and assured them, that if the Secretary could have expressed his thoughts adequately in the English language, he would have electrified them with the account he could have given of the progress of the Society in the Russian empire. In Russia the grand principle of distributing the Scriptures without note or comment, was found to be productive of the happiest results. Often had he seen the President of the Russian Bible Society, His Excellency Prince Galitzin, surrounded by the Metropolitan of the Greek Church, the Metropolitan of the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishop of the Lutheran Church, with members of every other religious body known in the empire, and never was a discordant voice heard among them. The effects of the use of the Bible in Russia were far greater than the people of this country could have any idea of.

Mr. Marshman, from Serampore, presented a copy of the whole Chinese Bible, now completed after sixteen years' labour.

Lord Calthorpe remarked, that when the great moral effects of this Institution over the whole world were contemplated, it was matter of the highest congratulation that this Institution had been originated and perfected in Great Britain. He said it must be productive of one great public benefit; namely, that of gaining to us in every country the best of allies, and the good opinion of a large portion of the inhabitants of the world. Even the Catholic Priests of France and other countries would soon find that the best mode of recommending themselves to, or securing the affections of, their flocks, would be to support Institutions like the present. He concluded by moving the thanks of the Meeting to the Duke of York, and the other Members of the Royal Family, for their continued countenance to this Institution.

The Right Hon. Charles Grant seconded the motion. He had heard that the funds of the Society were somewhat lower this year than in the former; he did not know whether it was to be attributed to the want of an attack on the Society. He was, for his own part, still a Churchman, and still unconscious of any danger threatening the Church from this Society. And even were such danger apparent, he could not help considering that the Church itself was not altogether the only thing to be considered. The Church which preserved and guarded the doctrine, was surely somewhat inferior to the doctrine it preserves. The fallacy of those who feared the Bible Society consisted chiefly in this, that they argued as if the Society precluded them from the use of comments; whereas it only left every distributor of the Bible to choose that which coincided with his own views.

Professor Satpfer, from Paris, gave some account of the progress of the cause in France. The income of the past year of the Paris Bible Society had amounted to 225,000 francs, or about 80007. sterling. The plan of issuing monthly papers had also been adopted.

Professor Gautier, the representative of the Geneva Bible Society, followed with accounts of a similar nature.

The Rev. R. Daly, on moving thanks to the Vice-Presidents, stated that the Hibernian Bible Society continued to prosper, and to increase both in distribution and in funds. He was rejoiced to know this, feeling as he did, that there was but one cure for poor distracted Ireland, and that was to be found in God's word alone.

It would perhaps surprise the meeting, although the fact was one which might be reasonably anticipated, to learn the disparity which existed between the quiet and the disturbed districts of Ireland, with respect to religious instruction. In Ulster, the proportion of children receiving instruction in schools, when compared with

the gross population, was as 1 in 12; in Munster, only 1 out of every 500 was a scholar; and in Limerick, that focus of murder and rapine, one child only out of every nine hundred and seventy-six persons was receiving instruction.

He had stated these facts to a politician, and was called a quack!-Whether quack or not, he would continue to prescribe, in all cases and under all circumstances, the Word of God, as the one sole remedy for all the miseries of mankind.

One topic there was, which he felt particularly desirous of bringing before the meeting. Two millions of souls at present existed in Ireland, who could speak no other tongue but the Irish; and in that tongue not a Bible could be found. So scarce were the Scriptures in this language, that when he, after a long search, once found a copy of the Bible in Irish, he was compelled to pay two pounds sterling for it. The policy of England seemed to have long been, to convert the Irish by preaching English to them. An Act of Parliament was formerly made for this purpose, and two churches were assigned for the especial purpose of preaching to these poor people in English, not a word of which could they understand. It was further provided, that if it was found difficult to procure an English preacher, the sermons should then be-in what?-in Irish surely -no, but in Latin! It might be supposed that few converts were made.

These two millions of our own brethren had been left for a century without the slightest provision, while within that period no less than seventeen editions of the Welsh Bible were printed for the use of that small principality; and, after all this, is it to be said that the state of Ireland is wonderful? Is it any thing more than

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effect following cause? 'St. Paul taught us to be all things to all men. When he addressed the Jews, he spoke to them in their own language:

"And when they perceived that he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence." Let us address the Irish in their own language, and we shall have their eyes and their hearts also.

The murders and devastations which had become so common in the south of Ireland had made many ask, Is there no barrier, is there no cure for these evils? He said again, This, this alone was the remedy.

The Rev. Mr. Fletcher seconded the motion.

The Rev. Dr. Pinkerton moved thanks to the Treasurer and Secretary.

The Rev. Joseph Hughes, in acknowledging the vote, most feelingly expressed his sense of the misfortune which he, in common with the Society, had suffered, in the loss of his late colleague. Of his varied excellencies it was needless for him to speak; of the irreparable nature of the loss they were all aware. There were many moral philosophers, but few Bacons; many poets, but few Miltons; many mathematicians, but few Newtons; many Secretaries, but not one Owen. The threefold cord was now broken; not by a moral defalcation, not by a mutual disagreement, but by death, which breaks so many other bonds. Nineteen years had the connexion lasted, and, during that long period, who could say that one jarring chord was ever struck, one discordant sentiment awakened? His sorrow could not soon subside, but what mitigation it might receive arose from the announcement of a valuable successo. From his classic attainments, his solid judgment, his deep humility, his sincere piety, his strong attachment to the cause, much confidence arose that his services to the Institution would be important.

The Hon. Mr. Shore and the Rev. R. Newton moved the next Resolution; and Sir G. H. Rose and John Hardy, Esq. the last after which the meeting dissolved.

NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY. TUESDAY, May 13, the Anniversary Meeting of this Society, for the distribution of Bibles amongst sailors and soldiers, was held at the King's Concert Room, which was extremely crowded. Lord Visc. Lorton took the chair.

The Secretary read the Report, which stated, that the Society had been greatly cramped by their want of adequate funds; but they were determined to proceed in their course, and not sheath the spiritual sword until all should submit to the sacred standard. The Institution had received important assistance from the Auxiliary Societies in Ireland and Scotland, and also from the Ladies' Association, under the patronage of the Duchess of Beaufort.

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The exertions of the ladies indeed had been by far the most efficient, and they had contributed the greatest subscriptions. The Society had appointed an officer to travel from station to station, who had distributed nine thousand copies of the Scriptures, and received in return upwards of 1007. This agent had been eminently successful in supplanting blasphemous and seditious tracts, which he feared had been extensively circulated in the army; but, notwithstanding these endeavours to seduce the soldiers, there was a strong desire amongst them for the Scriptures, which desire was manifested by actually purchasing them at cost price. The Report concluded by exhorting the friends of the Bible to

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