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did not, as churches, profess Arianism, Socinianism, or any other grievous heresy. In general, they retained, though in some cases they had mutilated, their ancient confessions of faith; they professed at all events to be Trinitarian, so that no test that could possibly have been applied would have excluded the great majority of the persons with whom the Bible Society is accused of having held connexion-though that connexion was confined to the promotion of the circulation of the word of God. In conversations with many of my Sackville-street friends, I have put this question, "If your test had been adopted, in what way could it have possibly affected the case? What single agent or correspondent of the Earl-street Society would it have excluded? You speak of M. Levade and Dr. Haffner: would it have excluded them?" My friends have in every case admitted that it would not; and if it would not, then what test would exclude them? The matter lies much deeper it is not an affair that can be regulated by tests; it must be a question of detail in each instance, in correspondence with the increasing piety and spirituality of the members at home, and the larger choice of truly desirable connexions abroad, by means of that revival of religion of which, after all, under the all-wise providence of God, our despised Bible-Societies have been the germ.

Another fact necessary to be noticed is, that the great majority of what our Sackville-street friends call the Earl-street Society's continental agents, are no more its agents than is Oxford, or Cambridge, or the king's printer. M. Kieffer is avowedly an agent; Dr. Pinkerton is an agent; but Dr. Haffner, Professor Levade, the members of foreign universities, the pastors and individuals connected with continental Bible-Societies are not under the control of Earl-street, except so far as they agree to accept our assistance (now confined almost entirely to grants of bound books) for a certain definite object; and this very want of control has, in the course of experience, led to increasing restrictions and limitations, in order, as far as practicable, to prevent any possibility of the recurrence of mistake. By the laws of 1826 no pecuniary aid can be afforded to any society that circulates the Apocrypha; and if bound copies of pure Bibles are presented, the proceeds are to be accounted for. This is the utmost control the Society can exercise; for to interfere with the disputes of rival churches, or to hold courts of personal inquisition all over Europe, would neither be feasible, nor, I think, desirable. When the Society originally voted a grant to Dr. Blessig, Dr. Haffner, and their colleagues, for the specific purpose of printing a pure Bible, they did not consider that they had any control over them as individuals or as a society, except as honest men to perform their contract: this fair control they exercised, and effectually, to the withdrawing the obnoxious preface and replacing its cost; but they could go no further, and ought not, in common sense or equity, to be considered as accrediting the members of the Strasburg Society as their" agents," so as to become responsible for their opinions or conduct. It may indeed be said, Better all Europe had remained to this hour destitute of pure Scriptures than allow such men to print and disperse them. This is a question of inference which each individual must answer according to his own judgment; I speak at present only of the fact, that foreign churches, states, cities, or universities, or their members when agreeing to distribute the word of God to their neighbours, were not our agents. The Bible Society thought it might lawfully assist them in an object clearly good, and not to be perverted; but it went no further.

But the charge states further, that the Society refused to connect itself with good men, and chose bad ones in preference. Mr. Owen,

it is said, went to Switzerland when the discussion raged high between the pastors and M. Malan; and, instead of embracing the cause of the latter, he avoided all theological controversy, and contrived to attach the high-church party to the objects of his mission. Whether Mr. Owen acted from unchristian worldly policy, in order, as is objected, to shun the offence of the cross of Christ, or whether he exercised a conscientious, even if mistaken, judgment, is not for me to decide; but I have not a shadow of doubt that he acted, as in the sight of God, with faith and prayer. If Mr. Haldane will forgive me, I will freely say that Mr. Owen might think very highly of the personal piety and character of M. Malan or M. Empeytaz, and yet not consider it his duty to select them for his counsellors. I know that in other instances it was his opinion that it was desirable, if possible, to interest the local authorities of a place in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, even if their motives were only such as those which have frequently caused governments professing Christianity to lend their sanction to moral and religious institutions. He considered that wealth, station, and influence were talents which it was right to make use of for godly purposes, especially in an object so simple as the circulation of the Sacred Oracles. It was his custom when he visited a town, in order to form a Bible Society, first to call upon the clergyman of the place before he consulted with the Independent minister. I again merely state facts, leaving to each man to form his own inference; but I cannot doubt that Mr. Owen acted conscientiously.

But most decidedly and explicitly do I deny, from all that I can gather of the early history of the Society, that its continental agents were of the character which the Sackville-street papers ascribe to them, or that the Society almost went out of its way, as they affirm, to surround itself with Neologists and Socinians. On the contrary, the Reports and other documents of the institution are replete with facts, to prove the delight with which the conductors hailed every sentiment of true piety, and how anxious they were for the glory of God and the salvation of men. I believe in my conscience that they looked out every where for the most proper agents they could discover, and exerted their best influence to procure, as the acting officers of Bible Societies, men of truly Christian character. That they did this at home, the names of all their secretaries, and the large majority of their committees, is a proof; and why should it be said that they did not do so abroad? The truth was, that in too many instances piety was rare, and love cold; and if, by the blessing of God on the labours of this institution, there is in various parts of Europe an increase of both, it is not fair to turn the tables on the Society, and to ask why did you not five-and-twenty years ago select Mr. A. and B. and C.? when Mr. A. B. and C., as they now are, did not exist. The choice, I cannot but repeat, was between having no Bible distribution at all, or having it through the medium of the best agents they could procure, even though these were not always what they would have preferred, had a gracious Providence seen fit to raise up better.

That this is not my charitable fancy, I will prove by the declaration of Dr. Steinkopff himself, in his letter to Mr. Haldane in 1826. His statement, it will be observed, goes farther than my argument: for my reasoning has been only as to the design of the conductors; his attestation goes to the actual working of the machine and well knowing, as I do, the spirit of detraction which has been abroad in relation to the continental friends of Bible Societies, I can quite as CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 364. 20

readily conceive that Mr. Haldane has too, little charity as that Dr. Steinkopff has too much, and the judicious reader will fairly adjust the balance. When I find a so-called neologian infidel ushering in his work with a solemn invocation of "the most holy and adorable Trinity," I call to mind the passage above quoted from the Apocrypha, "Believe not every tale." I forget the book and chapter, and have not the sheet that contains it at hand; but Mr. Haldane may find it by means of Cruden's Concordance to the Apocrypha, which he will find bound up with his Concordance to the Bible!

Dr. Steinkopff's testimony is as follows:

"If there is any thing which, more than another, has engaged the serious attention of the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, as well as that of its officers and agents, it is this,-to open a communication with truly enlightened and respectable persons in the Protestant, Catholic, Greek, and other Christian churches. In the earlier period of the Society's history, the correspondence was almost entirely confined to a few religious individuals and communities. Let the letters and documents annexed to the Reports, and many hundred others which are in the Society's archives, not printed, attest this fact. It is fully admitted, that, when in later years, large societies were formed for whole kingdoms or provinces, and presidents, vicepresidents, committees, treasurers, and secretaries were appointed (who were, of course, chosen by the body of their constituents, and without any interference on the part of the British and Foreign Bible Society), there was unavoidably a greater mixture of characters, differing as well in their religious views as in their rank and station. But, I would ask, is it possible, in the present state of the world, and of the Christian church, entirely to avoid an admixture of this kind? Tell me of a religious establishment or society in this or any other Christian country, however sound in its constitution, and distinguished by the moral excellence of its members, in which the gold of Christian faith, hope, and charity, is to be found in all its purity and brightness, without any alloy of baser metal? Did the primitive churches remain untainted with error and heresy? And was not a Judas Iscariot to be found even in the number of the twelve?"

"But, to come nearer to the point; my late invaluable friend Mr. Owen, as well as Drs. Paterson, Henderson, and Pinkerton, Mr. Leeves and myself, have extensively visited the continent, and, more or less, contributed to the establishment of Bible Societies there; and we can sincerely say, that we have considered it both our duty and privilege to associate with such persons as were, in our judgment, the most decided friends of revealed religion, and to engage their active co-operation. We can also testify, that, in almost every part of Europe, more especially the Protestant, we have met with many who received us for Christ's sake, who welcomed us to their hearts and to their houses in his name; and who, constrained by the love of a crucified Saviour, cheerfully came forward offering their talents, their influence, their money, and their active exertions in aid of the establishment of Bible Societies, which they have since continued to support with indefatigable zeal, perseverance, and success. Such Christian zeal we have not only found in the cottage of the peasant, but also in the mansion of the noble, and the palace of the prince. We do not deny that sometimes we have met with painful disappointments, and have become person ally acquainted with men of very different views and principles; but, after all these deductions, we are confident in the persuasion, that the operations of the continental Bible Societies have most essentially promoted the interests of real religion; that many of these societies have been, and still are, under the conduct of truly excellent and devoted individuals; that they have cherished a spirit of Christian charity; that they have given a powerful check to infidelity; that they have led to the formation of many other benevolent and Christian institutions; while, under the fostering care of the British and Foreign Bible Society, they have contributed to the circulation of more than 1,500,000 Bibles and Testaments, in almost every European language. In addition to this, it may be stated, from a variety of authentic documents, that this abundant dissemination of the seed of the word has not been sown in vain; that many, through an attentive and devout perusal of the sacred volume, under the influence of the Spirit of God, have been rescued from the abyss of scepticism and infidelity, and converted to God; that profligates have been reclaimed, drunkards made sober, thieves honest, and the licentious pure; that mourners have been comforted, the sick and the wounded directed to the great Physician of body and soul, and the dying refreshed in the last conflict of expiring nature."

You intimate that the foreign Bible Societies, composed,' as you represent them, of the enemies of the Gospel,' do harm rather than good. Whether such a charge against foreign Bible Societies can be justly maintained or not, let all well

informed, sober, and candid observers, who are really acquainted with their true state, impartially decide. If they were, indeed, composed of enemies of the Gospel,' how is it to be accounted for, that the avowed adversaries of Christianity, the bold advocates of infidel principles, and the zealous friends of superstition, do actually unite in opposing them? Every kingdom,' says our blessed Lord, divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?""

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"It affords me the most lively satisfaction to be able to state, that the greater part of the deputies from the foreign Bible Societies, both on the continent of Europe and in America, so far from their being justly denominated Arian deputies, or men of no religion,' are men known in their respective countries and stations as the determined friends and defenders of the great fundamental truths of the Bible, and who recommended themselves, during their stay in this country, to their British fellowChristians, by their excellent spirit and conduct."

Here we have the testimony of Dr. Steinkopff, Mr. Owen, Dr. Paterson, Dr. Henderson, Dr. Pinkerton, and Mr. Leeves; all men of known orthodoxy and piety, and who have had the most ample opportunity of judging of the facts to which they depose.

But these, it may be said, were direct agents of the Society. Let us, then, take the deposition of a clergyman unconnected with it, except as a warm friend who knows its excellence, and whose extensive continental intercourse renders him a well-qualified judge-the Rev. F. Cunningham. The latter part of his statement is peculiarly important.

"From all the inquiries I was able to make, I could never learn that any individual in Germany, publicly holding neological sentiments, was an active agent of the Bible Society. And how could any thing like an active agency be expected of such individuals? After the Bible Society had been formed in Germany, it soon spread very rapidly. Many Neologians, from various motives no doubt, enlisted themselves in its ranks. But what was the real history of this movement? The religious body were the originators of these societies; but they were soon compelled to seek the protection of others in authority, because the existence of societies in many countries must depend upon their sanction; and they were glad, even in other cases, to make those who heeded not the word of God themselves the distributors of it to the rest of the world."

These are not a tithe of the testimonies I might adduce. And what have we on the other side? The assertion of Mr. Haldane; I speak advisedly, the assertion of Mr. Haldane. The assertion, say our Sackville-street replicants! the assertion? Have we not scores of assertions, and scores of testimonies? Yes, just as you have scores of echoes from the eagle's nest on the Lake of Killarney; but it is all the thunder of one blunderbuss. You are deceived, says Mr. Melvill; you are deceived, says Mr. Armstrong; you are deceived, says Mr. Gordon; the testimonies are manifold. Now, gentlemen, listen and you shall hear the blunderbuss itself. It was exploded at "The Glasgow Report" no longer ago than 1829, and thus went forth its shot in the shape of leaden types: "The charges against the continental agency of the British and Foreign Bible Society have been chiefly, and in the first instance, brought by myself." Yes, chiefly, and in the first instance; but subordinately and in echo by many others; and all Sackville Street rings with the repetition. The eagle's nest and the Lake of Killarney are nothing to it; but I advertise my friends that they wax not vain, as if each had a pop-gun of his own; it is only an aërial rebound from the same indefatigable blunderbuss, and it has gone off so often that the very geese on the lake now heed it not.

But I will indulge my friends with yet another attestation, and— let them not be alarmed from an avowed neologian quarter. They shall see how far their statement, that Bible Societies foster neology, agrees with the hopes or fears of neologists themselves. Again am I indebted to that prime invention-parallel columns.

From Mr. Haldane and Mr. Melvill.

The Blunderbuss. "The Earl-street Committee erected Bible and Apocryphal Societies all over Europe, while the servants of God were excluded, and placed them under the care of Arians, Socinians, Neologians and persecutors, in one word Infidels."

The Echo.

"The system of the British and Foreign Bible Society threw the Society into the arms of the Socinian, the Arian, and the Neologist."

From the Darmstadt Church Journal, an avowed Neologian pública

tion.

"On Bible Societies.

"The dissemination of the Scriptures does not appear to be conducted in a proper spirit, and with proper views. If we investigate the character of many of those who distinguish themselves by more than ordinary activity in the cause, it cannot be denied that they frequently seem to possess only a narrow view of theology [meaning the orthodox system], and exceeding littleness of mind. That laudable veneration which they feel for the word of God, easily acts in them, in the absence of more solid theological attainments, as a check to the liberty of thought and judgment......they seek the essentials of our religion in the blood-and-wound theology [the doctrine of the atonement by Christ, and justification through faith] of former centuries......The peculiar interests which mystics and pietists of the present day take in the advancement of Bible Societies," &c. &c.

So far from this neological writer thinking the friends of the Bible Society favourable to the Apocrypha, he complains loudly of the resolutions passed against it; adding, that "two thirds of the canonical books of the Old Testament might with far less injury be withheld than one single book of the Apocrypha,-for instance, the Book of Sirach."

Our Killarney friends will here see most clearly that the estimate which the devil and his angels take of continental Bible-Societies is very different to theirs; and will, perhaps, in future be cautious how they listen to Mr. Haldane's echoes.

This question of the Bible Society's continental connexions has been so unfairly dealt with, that I trust your lordship will bear with me while I adduce yet another and a most convincing species of evidence ; I mean the letters, speeches, and reports from the lips and pens of the parties accused. That I may not take any passage which Mr. Haldane can allege was written to serve a turn at the present moment, I will extract no passage of a later date than 1820; long before this outcry arose. Nay, further, as Mr. Owen is said to have been the great encourager of this alleged irreligious system on the continent, I will take no passage that is not contained in his "History of the Bible

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