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Keligious Intelligence.

FOURTEENTH ANNIVERSARY

would have been scouted as an enthusiastic visionary; and while we might have smiled

Of the British and Foreign Bible Society. at the good man's sanguine expectations,

(Continued from page 224.)

our smiles would have been followed by a sigh of regret, that anticipations so delightful should only be a dream. Yet, my Lord, ADMIRAL Sir James Saumarez, Bart. the dream has been realized; the vision conK. G. C. B. in moving the Thanks to the verted into a reality; and our minds are beVice-Presidents, expressed his warm attach-come so familiar with that which we should ment to the object of the Institution; and then have regarded as utopian and visionary, declared, that in the whole course of his that we have almost ceased to wonder at its professional experience, he had always astonishing details. If any thing could found those seamen who read the Scriptures, have impressed our minds with a deeper most attentive to their duties, most obedient astonishment, it must have been, that such to their officers, and most courageous in the a Society should ever meet with opposition. hour of danger. But, my Lord, I consider the cause of the

The Rev. Ralph Wardlaw, Secretary of Bible Society as the cause of God and truth, the Glasgow Bible Society.

and that all opposition to it is like the force "Thirteen years ago, my Lord, I had the of floating feathers against the rock of the pleasure of being a silent spectator and ocean. It has happened to this Society, as hearer at the First Anniversary of this In- it has happened to Christianity itself. The stitution; and I should have been pleased opposition of its enemies has called forth the had your Lordship and the Committee per-zeal, the talents, the argumentative elomitted me the same pleasure on the present quence of its friends; and every fresh assault accasion. And yet I know not whether I has only confirmed its stability, and brought ought to say so; for while I feel a diffidence, forth its righteousness as the light, and its which I hope is not affected, in coming for- judgment as the noon day. Yes, this tree ward to address such an assembly as this, I of life, in which there is food for all, and the do feel, at the same time, a glow of sacred leaves of which are for the healing of the satisfaction and delight, which, in some mea-nations, has only struck its roots the deeper sure, contributes to lift me above the fear of by the blasts by which it has been assailed; man; while I express my warm and grow-it has extended its branches the more wideing attachment to the cause of the British ly, and been covered with the more abundand Foreign Bible Society. And I partici- ant fruits of salvation for mankind; and pate in the satisfaction expressed already, amidst all the blasts brought upon it, not a this day, arising from the progressive tri-leaf of its lovely foliage has been given to umphs of this Institution, from the time of the wind. Then, my Lord, when I consider its formation to the present hour.

the object of this Society, and how dear "If, my Lord, fifteen years ago, any man that object must be to the God of the Bible, had ventured to stake the credit of his pro- that God who doeth marvellous things; I do phetic sagacity on the prediction that, so not feel that I am presumptuous in applying soon after, a Society should exist, spending to this Institution the language of ancient at the rate of Fourscore Thousand Pounds inspiration ;- When thou passest through a Year, in the distribution of the Holy Scrip- the waters, I will be with thee, and through tures alone, and surrounded by Auxiliary the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither Societies formed upon the same model, he shall the flames kindle upon thee.' In the

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"There seems to be a general feeling getting abroad in the world of the unsatisfactoriness and emptiness of the idolatry and superstition of paganism. There seems to be an agitated state of mind, as if the whole

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midst of all the assaults that can be made on this Society, we may sit down and sing Martin Luther's Psalm, God is our refuge and strength;' and possess our souls in tranquillity and perfect peace. “My Lord, I consider the British and Fo-world was saying. Wherewith shall I come reign Bible Society as having wrested from before the Lord, and bow myself before the infidelity two of its favourite sarcasms and most high God? Whatever be the distress reproaches which it has cast upon Christians. of man, it is distress which the Bible reThe first I allude to is the reproach of su- lieves. It is sent to men, whether savage pineness and indifference among Christians or civilized, to men in every conceivable with regard to that Bible which they profess condition, whatever be their wants, whatto believe. Well might the infidel be asto- ever their distresses, whatever their necessinished, and well might he sneer at Chris- ties. Now whence has come this solace for tians who professed to believe it, and yet seemed to show so little concern about diffusing the knowledge of that Book which they profess to regard as the Book of God, and the knowledge of which they conceive to be connected with the eternal well-being of their fellow-creatures. But, my Lord, that reproach is now rolling away, and infidels must see that Christians are in earnest about the Bible. May we all show the most anxious and increasing zeal to diffuse the knowledge of it through the earth.

all the woes of men, and this relief for all their fears, and especially in reference to the prospects which lie before them in a future world? Whence has it come but from Him who has adapted his Gospel to our necessities? 'As it is appointed unto men once to die, and after death the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and to them that look for him, he shall come the second time without sin unto salvation.' I look upon the present assembly, my Lord, as the celebration of the tri"The other reproach I alluded to, my umphs of this Society. And it is a day, I Lord, is the reproach of alienation and dis- confess, to which I have looked forward cord among the friends of the Bible. Cer- with longing delight. I consider it as the tainly this Society has contributed most ex- celebration of the past triumphs of this Socitensively to take from infidelity this topic of ety, as well as the happy anticipation of what reproach. I speak for Scotland, when I say it is yet, through the blessing of Heaven, that this Society has materially changed the to accomplish. I cannot help viewing our aspect of Christian society there. Multi- present Meeting as a kind of annual festival tudes have met, that never met before, and held upon the summit of a mountain. We have wondered how they could agree so come up with our hearts glowing with muwell. They have looked one another in the tual love, and we meet at the top with shouts face, have embraced one another in the of joy and praise. Here we rear our altar arms of peace, affection, and love; and to God, here we plight our common fidelity joined hand and heart in the diffusion of that Bible which is the charter of our spiritual liberties, the bond of our social union, and the ground of our hopes for eternity.

to the cause of the Bible. From this elevation we cast an eye abroad upon the perish. ing world, upon the millions of our fellowcreatures yet destitute of the Bible, who are living without God, and without Christ, and without hope in the world.' Here we raise our signal to the surrounding nations, and we inscribe upon it, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will

"No feature of the present times strikes me as more interesting than the fact, that the zeal of Christians to give the Bible, is so remarkably meeting, throughout the whole world, with a zealous desire to receive it. And that desire to receive it appears to to men; while it is seen and hailed with spring from a principle of want.

rapturous delight from afar, it is communi

cated from pole to pole with the rapidity of lightning, and distant mountains catch the flying joy.'

the British and Foreign Bible Society shall never want its due proportion."

The Lord Bishop of Norwich, on moving Thanks to the Royal Dukes, spoke as follows:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I shall not attempt to bestow upon these illustrious personages the eulogiums to which they are so justly entitled. Their claims to our grateful regard are known to the whole of this assembly. On the Fourteenth Anniversary of this incomparable Institution, it cannot be necessary for me to point out either its nature or its design. If we take a view of almost every part of the habitable world; if we confine our view to the state of the Christian world; and still more, if we look at what is passing under our eye in this United Kingdom, we have ample cause to be thankful to Providence for the benefits arising from this excellent Institution. That truly great man, the

"Let me just advert, my Lord, to the grand principle of this Society, to circulate the Bible without note or comment. I rejoice in this principle; but it involves another, a principle which every Protestant should be forward to avow; that the Bible itself is able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. I rejoice in this principle too, because it is an article that ties together all the Bible Societies, and Auxiliary Societies, and Branch Societies, and Associations, in Britain, and Europe, and throughout the world. If you trench upon this sacred principle, my Lord, you destroy the blessed charm that binds the whole together. If you trench upon this sacred principle, you overthrow our altars which we have erected to the God of the Bible. You silence our shouts of praise; Emperor of Russia, in a letter to the Gowe must then descend to our respective set-vernor General of Finland, which was pubtlements, with hearts deeply grieved, and inscribe on our Society, Ichabod; the glory is departed; the glory is departed from Britain, for the Bible Society is no more. When I say so, my Lord, I do not use language stronger than expresses the feelings of my mind; for I do consider the British and Foreign Bible Society as one of the principal glories of the age in which we live, and of the nation to which we belong. I consider it as the brightest gem in the diadem of Britain, as the most brilliant ray in the glory that encircles her head. My Lord, if you keep sacredly to the principle just adverted to, I think I may pledge myself, for Caledonia. And I hope there is not a North Briton who will not join his hand in the pledge. I pledge myself, she will utter her voice, and lift up her hands on high, in behalf of the Bible Society. She will do more than this; she will open her treasures, and present her gifts, not of frankincense and myrrh, for these her soil does not yield yet, my Lord, her sons are distinguished for the faculty which, by a sort of Midas-touch, turns every thing to gold; and of that gold,

lished in one of your Reports, says, with great truth, that religion is the only method of raising the morals of a people; and that when maintained with purity, it is the firmest bulwark of a state. 'I therefore,' says this illustrious Prince, give a part of that property which has lately been applied to the purposes of the State to defray the expense of publishing, in Finland, a Finnish Bible, that every one of my subjects, however poor, may have the advantage and the consolation of being in the possession of a Bible.' Owing to the exertions of this Institution, this sentiment now prevails every where, from the palace to the cottage, and the effects of it cannot fail to be soon very visible; and indeed they are so in a great degree already. We may fondly anticipate their effects in the diminution of juvenile offences; and in reducing the number of those capital executions which have brought upon our Statute Book the reproach of being sanguinary. For, most assuredly, Gentlemen, 'righteousness exalteth a nation, and sin is the reproach of a people,' and must be, sooner or later, their ruin."

277

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester.

cumstances occur to produce disturbance in "I have been requested to second the mo- a populous district, there has been a marked tion which has just been read to you; and distinction between the conduct of those I could do it successfully, without attempt-connected with the Bible Society, and of ing to add another word to the forcible re- those who are not. In the one they have marks which the Bishop of Norwich has laid seen contented submission to privations, and down; at the same time, I cannot but recol- decided loyalty; and in the other, alas! they lect, that the first time I addressed this as- have seen the exact reverse of these disposembly, it was on the subject of a similar sitions. They have likewise seen the vast Resolution of Thanks to those illustrious per- building erected in Russia, under the auspisons; and I cannot but press upon your con- ces of the Noble Sovereign of the North. sideration the proofs we have of their resem- They have seen, likewise, the immense exblance to their revered parent, in one point: tension of the Society through what I may namely, perseverance. He was, as we truly call, in a peculiar sense, a sister counknow, through a reign of peculiar length, try; a country whose sisterhood has been and most remarkable trials, pre-eminent for pre-eminently manifested in the eloquent his inflexible adherence to what he conceived encomium which you have heard from the to be his duty. When once his decision was American Ambassador. These illustrious formed on mature consideration, he never persons, then, have seen nothing to induce suffered himself to be drawn away by the them to withdraw, and every thing to eninfluence of persuasion, or deterred by the courage them to continue their patronage. fear of reproach. Those illustrious persons Let me then entreat you, my Lords and have, in this respect, shown themselves wor-Gentlemen, to follow, in this respect, their thy children of such a father. They have, in fact, seen nothing in the objections which have been made to this Society to induce them to withdraw; and nothing in the So-ple of godliness which has the promise of ciety itself but what should encourage them to proceed. The voice of objection seems to have been, in some measure, silenced in this country, or at least, in that part of the Empire in which we now are; it seems to have retreated, in a degree, to another part of the Empire, from which, I rejoice to say, we have had a representation to-day, which has shown us that such objections have little or no effect upon the generality of its inhabitants. These objections have sprung from THE TWENTY-FOURTH GENERAL

persons who have been converts from a church which objects to the free circulation of the Bible.

"But these illustrious persons have seen enough, I am fully persuaded, to encourage them to persevere in the support of this Institution. They have seen in it an inflexible adherence to principle. They have seen in it effects of the most peculiar importance to the welfare of our Society. They have seen in it this effect, that, where a variety of cir

example; to cleave closer and closer to an Institution which is so admirably adapted to communicate to each individual that princi

the life that now is, and of that which is to come; which, while it fixes our minds in faith upon God and the Saviour, has, at the same time, such a tendency to promote all the duties of social life-to make us sound members of Society, and happy in ourselves."

(To be continued.)

MEETING OF THE MISSIONARY
SOCIETY,

Held in London, on the 13th, 14th, and
15th days of May, 1818.

[Continued from page 235.]

REV. MR. ECCLES, (of Leeds.) AS to the vote of thanks which this meeting has now passed to the subscribers, and active agents of the Society, I have in the first place to observe, that it will afford me

entered heartily into the feelings, interests, and proceedings, of the Missionary Society, that is not at this day abundantly the better for it. I can testify here, to the glory of God, respecting one congregation, with the interests of which I am best acquainted, that we have abundantly profited by the mea

particular pleasure, when, after my returh | in the West Riding of Yorkshire, that has into the West Riding of Yorkshire, at the approaching anniversary of that Auxiliary Society of which I have the honour to be the Secretary, to communicate the thanks that have now been voted. At the same time, Mr. Chairman, allow me to hope that there is no such thing intended by this vote, as may be called an expression of compli-sures which, in reference to this Society, we We come together on these occa-have seen it necessary to adopt. And, Sir, sions not to compliment each other-we we look forward to the great day, when the have other and higher purposes in view; secrets of all hearts shall be judged, and and I feel a degree of satisfaction that, if ever there was any reason, on former occasions, to complain on this subject, that it is now on the decline; and that the day is fast approaching, when there will not be the least occasion for it.

ment.

when every man shall have praise of God. And though we are encouraged by the expression we have received of the grateful and affectionate feeling of our brethren, yet we rejoice particularly in the anticipation. of that Divine and gracious plaudit-' Well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord.'

Perhaps I may be allowed to express another hope, which is, that in the annual meetings of the parent Society, a vote of Res. III. That this meeting, deeply sensithanks passed to Auxiliary Societies, and ble of the importance of voluntary assoespecially to the active agents in those So- ciations among the friends of the Redeemer, cieties, is not intended to insinuate that in promotion of the cause of missions, not those Societies are not in fact integral only as affording the most efficient support parts of this Society. Surely it is not to be to the funds of this Society, but as tending for a moment doubted, that all those who to diffuse among British Christians a due in the various parts of the country stand sense of their obligations to send the Gospel pledged to the interests of this Society, are to Heathen nations, do earnestly press upon as much the members of this Institution as the attention of the brethren throughout the those who happen to reside in the metro-united kingdom the duty of extending as polis. Having made these prefatory obser- far as possible such associations. They vations, I shall only add, that what we have done, we have done under a deep impression that it was our imperious duty; that God our Saviour called us to that duty; and that we were bound, as the disciples of Jesus Christ, to do our utmost, in order that his Gospel may be preached in all na- The Rev. Mr. Berry, of Warminster, tions. When we consider what our Mis-moved the above resolutions, but wishing to sionary brethren, who have left the con- give place to his elder brethren, he moveniences and comforts of home, are doing destly declined enlarging on the subject and suffering every day, in foreign lands of it. we can scarcely think that any thanks are due to those who are serving the Society at home. And I would also observe, that we have found the advantage of the institution, in reference to our own immediate and domestic concerns. I know not a congregation to eternity, proceeded to say]-It is under

beg leave also to recommend the formation of Female Associations for this purpose, wherever they can with propriety be introduced, the pious zeal of some female Christians, both in town and country, having already proved highly beneficial.

Mr. John Wilks, who seconded the motion,

[After dwelling at some length upon the vast and wonderful powers of the human soul, and of its infinite value in reference

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