Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Mr. Buck has added to several

useful pieces before published, and well received, these Serious Enquiries: his former publications were addressed chiefly to the religious world; he has now turned his attention to the careless and im penitent. The subjects first considered are Human Nature, Wealth, Pleasure, Beauty, Dress, Friendship, &c. He then presents to his readers Thoughts on the Knowledge of God, the Bible, the Soul, Judgment, Future Happiness, &c. The Jatter part of the volume contains Reflections on Mortality, first delivered to the Author's own congregation, since enlarged, and which Occupy 40 pages. As most of the pieces are short, and enlivened occasionally by anecdotes and sentences from the writings of wise and good men, we hope this book will prove acceptable and useful, especially to the rising generation.

[blocks in formation]

Christian Charity on true Evangelical Principles. The author strongly proves that benevolence grows out of every view of Christianity, as exbibited in the sacred records. A just tribute of respect is also paid to the sympathy and tenderness of the female sex. The notes and il

lustrations are valuable. We quote a sentence from the illustrious Bacon, p. 5: There never was found in any age of the world, either philosophy, or sect, or religion, or law, exalt the public good as Christian or discipline, that did so highly

Faith!'

A Sketch of the Life of Thomas Prior; and a Series of Letters, written by him, addressed to his Relatives, on the Importance of Religion. Compiled by his Brother, Mr. J. R. Prior.

THIS young man was led, by his extravagant love of music, intă the army; where he became a musician, hoping to indulge his corrupt appetites without controul; but his conscience was loaded with guilt, and all his pleasures were turned into pains. He then found out some praying soldiers, whose conversation was of great use to him; and he became, it is hoped, seized on his frame, and terminated a true penitent. Disease, however, in death, Aug. 19, 1810, at the age of 27. These Letters bespeak a pious mind, deeply affected with the things of God; and we hope will be useful to many young readers.

SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. Neale's History of the Puritans, abridged into two vols. by E. Pargus. Vol. I. (to form two vols.)

10s. 6d.

President Edwards's Works complete, 8 vols. royal 8vo, 31. 12s.

The Mosaic Creation: illustrated by Discoveries and Experiments derived from the present enlightened State of Science, with the Cosmography of the Antients. By the Rev. T. Wood, 8vo, 8s.

Ordination Service of Mr. J. Orchard. By the Rev. J. Barton, T. Priestly, T Smith, &c. 1s.

[ocr errors]

Canticles; or the Song of Solomon. By the Rev. J. Fry, A. B. 6s. Maxims and Directions for Youth. By the Rev. J. Thornton. 12mo, 3s. 6d.

An Address to Candidates for Communion in the Christian Church By the Rev. Mr. Harris, Cambridge. 6d.

Solitude Sweetened, the fourth edition, 8vo, 8s. 12mo, 4s.

Infant Interest in Christ's Commission (a Sermon on the Baptism' of the infant Daughters of the Rev. J.S.) By W. Milles. 1s.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

TRINIDA D.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Adam, daled Port of Spain, Aug. 1, 1811.

On the first Sabbath in June I preached at South Union Estate. The Manager who had long expected me, expressed much pleasure, and sent to the neighbouring estates, requesting the attendance of as many as could come. In the forenoon, about 70 negroes and 10 whites attended. At the service in the evening, 150 negroes attended. On the Sabbath following I attended Sevilla Estate. For want of conveyance, I did not arrive till eight o'clock on the Sabbath morning; at which time all the negroes were in their own grounds at work, for it is the regular practice to set them to work their own ground on the Lord's Day. The manager rode round the estate, and ordered them to be ready at 12 o'clock. By two o'clock 100 assembled, aud 14 whites. The negroes are very anxious to attend religious instruction; and the white gentlemen are equally so. There are 20 estates within three miles, on which are 3000 negroes, who all understand English. You will perceive from this, that there is a pros pect of much good on the coast; but the conveyance being by water, must be uncertain; and being engaged in town, I find it impossible to pay that attention to it which its importance demands, without another Missionary. The Directors have learnt, with grief, since the receipt of this letter, that in Trinidad, as well as in Jamaica and Demerara, &c. some restrictions have been laid on the exertions of Missionaries, utterly inconsistent with the liberal laws of the mother country.

TOBAGO.

MR. ELLIOTT writes, that the preaching is attended as well as when he wrote last; that a piece of land is purchased for a place of worship, and a few persons have subscribed liberally towards the building. It is proposed that the chapel should be 25 feet wide, and 60 long; which will cost nearly 500. My usual way, says Mr. Elliott, of instructing the negroes is, to sit down and catechise them, by asking them, and suffering them to ask me questions, in a familiar way; which they like, and which I think is the best way. I then give them a short address for about fifteen minutes.

Brief Abstract of the Seventh Re-
port of the British and Foreign
Bible Society, read at the last
Annual Meeting, May 2, 1811.

In the course of the last year copies of the Scriptures, in whole or in part, and in various languages, have been sent abroad to the following places:

In AMERICA:-To Upper Canada, - Quebec, Nova Scotia and Labrador,--to New York, the West Indies, and Newfoundland.

In AFRICA:-To Sierra Leone and Bashia, the Cape of Good Hope, and various parts of Southern Africa,-to Senegal and Goree.

[blocks in formation]

many, Lisbon, Sicily, Malta, Guerasey and Alderney, and the Morea:

At HOME:-To the Female Penito the Prisoners of War at the tentiaries of London and Plymouth, several depots, to poor Danes,— the Miners in Cornwall, - the Hospitals at Bath, the Hibernian Sopoor Germans at Hull, - to sundry cieties in London and Dublin, --tg Work-houses and Gaols, and to various Military and Naval Stations, soldiers and sailors. for sale, at reduced prices, to the

Irish, and Modern Greek languages. New Testaments in the Mauks, have been completed and put iute

circulation in the Isle of Man, Ireland, and the Greek Islands. Editions of the French and Dutch Bible, and of Italian and German Testaments, are in progress.

Thirteen new Auxiliary Societies have been formed within the year in Great Britain; and ten additional Societies, having the same object ia view, have been established in the United States of America, and most of them assisted in their funds by the Society in London.'

Twelve Thousand Polish Bibles and Testaments have been printed by the Bible Society of Berlin, at the expence of £1600; of which the Society have contributed £960. It does not appear that more than four editions of the Scriptures were ever before printed for the inhabitants of Poland.

Five hundred pounds have been granted to the Committee at Konigsberg, to enable them to print 3000 copies of the Bible in the Lithuanian language, In Lithuania there are reckoned 400 schools, 74 churches, and a million of inhabitants, very indigent: but so scarce were the Scriptures, that it was greatly to be apprehended that the Old Testament, at least, would fall into utter oblivion among them. 1300 copies were subscribed for, almost as soon as it was known that a Bible was in the press.

The Society at Baste has been enabled to distribute many hundred German Bibles and Testaments. It has almost finished a French Bible, the printing of which was assisted by 300 from the Society.

200 have been granted to it for printing a Romanese Old Testament; and £ 200 more for an Italian New Testament.

From Esthonia (or Revel) and Livonia, the following account is received: The poverty of the lower classes is extreme; many of the peasants are ignorant even of the existence of a Bible; at all events, from its price and scarcity, it is unattainable by them; not one family in a hundred possesses a copy; and there are 400,000 families in the two provinces absolutely without a Bible. For the last 40 years, also, almost every individual

has been taught to read; and there are many respectable and benevolent persons anxious for the religious improvement of their country, from whom an active co-operation may be expected.' The Society has voted £600. for the printing of 10,000 Testaments in the dialects of these provinces.

The Society at Stockholm have printed 10,600 Testaments, in the Swedish language; they have a fourth edition in the press; and the printing of 5000 copies of the whole Bible is considerably advanced. The demands for the Swedish Scriptures are much greater than can be satisfied; and are daily increasing. The Society have also printed an edition of the New Testament in the language of Lapland.

The printing of the New Testa ment at Karass, in the Turkish language (a language spoken by 30 millions of people) was advanced as far as the Acts of the Apostles, in August last.

The translation of the Scriptures into the various dialects of the East. Indies, is rapidly adyancing. In a few years, editions will be completed in 20 languages. In addition to the sum of £5000, before contributed for the advancement of this great work, the Society have engaged for £2000 annually, for the next three years.-Besides this, the Corresponding Committee at Calcutta have raised 1000 on the Society's account, for the supplying of copies of the Scriptures to 12,000 native Protestant Christians belonging to the Tanjore Mission, &c. none of whom possessed the Old Testament; and not above one in 200 or 300 the New.' The Society have also sent out a printing press, &c. for printing the Scriptures in the language of that part of India.

Very pleasing accounts are given of the manner in which the books dispersed by the Society have been received, and of the effects produced by them, Prisoners of war have expressed the liveliest gratitude for the Bibles and Testaments distributed to them.' The warmest acknowledgments have been re

ceived from various Ministers among the Hottentots, for a seasonable supply of the Dutch Scriptures, which could not otherwise have been procured; accompanied by the information that several of the Hottentots can read very well, and are sensible of the obligations thus conferred upon them.' The Portuguese Testaments, sent to Lisbon, have been circulated with great rapidity there, and are represented as held in high estimation by all ranks. The same success has attended the distribution of italian Testaments at Malta and Messina, and other places in the Mediterranean. Copies of the Scriptures have been gratefully accepted also by Roman Catholics, both priests and laity, in South America, and in Gerinany, Switzerland, and France. Gratifying testimonies have also beeu received of the beneficial effects produced among the Negroes in Barbadoes, Antigua, and St. Kitt's, by the copies sent thither.

A gentleman writes from Messina, in Sicily, The distribution of the Italian Testaments has exceeded my expectations, from the pressing and anxious desires of all ranks of people to obtain them. I have bad at my house, from the prince to the poor labourer solicit ing them. From Tanjore, in the East indies: Almost all the men, particularly to the south of Tanjore, know how to read; and are very eager for books. If only every tenth person among them had a copy of the Holy Scriptures, we should soon see the word of Christ dwelling richly in them, and his saving knowledge spread among their heathen and Popish neighhours. Car Portuguese Christians are also in great want of Bibles. Dr. Buchasan states, that when a proposal was made of sending a copy of the Scriptures in the Malayarim language to each of the 55 churches of the Syrian Christians in the East Indies, as a standard book, on condition that they would transcribe it, and circulate the copies among the people,' -- the fers replica, that so great was desire of the people in general

6

to have the Bible in the vulgar tongue, that it might be expected that every man who could write, would make a copy on ollus (palm leaves) for his own family."

In short, as the Edinburgh Society remarks, It is a most surprising and animating symptom of modern times, that the zeal to circulate, and the anxiety to receive, the sacred volume, seem to have commenced at the same period; and they increase in similar proportions.' When it is considered that of the 800 millions of souls which inhabit the earth, 480 millions are still Pagans, and 140 milli ons Mabommedans, and only 50 milions Protestant Christians,what is the state of the nations destitute of the light of Revelation, which may in some measure be conceived from the following facts, viz. that the sacrifice of multitudes of children annually, within our dominions in the East Indies, was only stopped by the last GovernorGeneral: that thousands of women are now annually burned to death at the tombs of their deceased husbands, within the same district: and that the Hindoo religion could furnish no better direction to the troubled mind of a Brahmin (since become a Christian) who had con ceived an earnest desire of eternal happiness,' than that he should

repeat a certain prayer 400,000 times, with many wearisome ceremonies:- When these things are considered, we cannot but be impressed with the great importance of the object proposed by the Bible Society, and the blessed effects likely to result from its widely-extended and successful operations.

Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society.

WE rejoice to learn that on February 21, 1811, a meeting was held at the College of Fort William, Calcutta, in the East Indies, for the purpose of considering the propriety of insituting a Bible Society, as auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society in London; when it was resolved,

That this meeting do now form themselves into a Society, to be en

titled, The Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society; the object of which shall be the same with that of the British and Foreign Bible Society, viz. to encourage the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment; and especially to supply the demands of the native Christians of India, computed to be nearly a million, including those in the island of Ceylon.'

This Society will have an ample field for their benevolent operations, as there are nearly a million of persons, called Christians, who are almost destitute of the Bible. It will be the work of years to supply that demand which now exists for it. Books are opened for the reception of Subscribers' names; and we hope to hear that very liberal sums are supplied by the affluent in that country.

A hope is entertained that this laudable example will be followed by similar institutions at Madras, Bombay, and Columbo. God grant it!

An excellent letter to the Society in London on this subject. concludes thus: I feel persuaded, that by his grace, something will be done in Asia, as well as in Europe, towards the spread of the glad tidings of his gospel over the earth; and if no other good should proceed from our Auxiliary Bible Society at this Presidency, it will, I trust, be blessed, to render the members of it more sensible of the inestimable value of what Mr. Martyn (in a late sermon) emphatically calls, next to the Saviour, God's best gift to

man.'

JAMAICA.

MAY 30, Mr. J. Wiggins and Mr. J. Toland, two preachers of the Methodist connexion, were convicted at Kingston for preaching without a licence, and after sun-set: they were fined £50 each.

This is the method which some of the gentlemen of Jamaica take to ensure their safety and their property! May they remember that the Jews filled up the measure of their iniquities, by forbidding the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles! God forbid that our West India planters should imitate their example!

GUERNSEY.

June 30, a new chapel was opened at Guernsey, for the use of the French and English Inhabitants of the town of St. Pierre Port; when

four sermons were preached on the occasion; two in French, by Mess. Franeis and Clement Perrot, from Jersey; and two in English, by Messrs. Western and Gray. The following day (July 1) Mr. Gray was ordained to the pastoral charge of the English Congregation; who, after struggling for several years with a great variety of trials, we rejoice to find are at length provided with a commodious place of worship, and a settled minister for the regular enjoyment of divine ordinances. We have only now to pray that the peace of the island may be preserved from the threatened attack of an invading foe, and that prosperity may attend this infant cause. The liberality of the British Churches will, we understand, be solicited for defraying the expence of erecting this chapel for the accommodation of their French and English fellow - subjects in Guernsey.

Another Accouut, extracted from the Letter of a Friend.

We have heard, with great satisfaction, that the preaching of the gospel is accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit in this island. A friend informs us that there is now a French congregation of 800 persons; and that 16 are about to be added to a regular church there. The Lord is carrying on his work in these islands (Jersey and Guernsey); and there seems to be as fair a prospect in regard to the extension of the gospel, as in any part of the habitable world. The contiguity of these islands to the French empire, to gether with the sameness of language and habits, promises much. May we not hope that, from these islands, which sheltered many who fled from persecution in France, the pure word of life may sound out through the widely extended empire of Gaul?'

Mr. Clement Perrot has been

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »