desired effect on those who heard it: their boys were sent to the school: they learned to read; and there are hundreds in that country who can now read the Word of God.

The Gospel has given them correct ideas of God and of His works, which they had not before. When the Natives heard something of that Great Being who created all things, and had once caught the idea, then they began to think and to speak of Him. One of them said, after hearing the Gospel, "When I stand by the sea shore, and see the tremendous waves rising, and hear them dashing on the rocks; and when I come the following day, and see that all is still and calm, and the sun is shining on the ocean; then I think, How great must be that Being, who made that great and mighty water! And when I see the mountains in the desert rising one above another, I think, How great must be that God, who made them! And I seem to hear a voice, saying, 'Go and pray to Him: go and call upon Him, who made the sea, and the mountains, and the fountains of water.' Thus, after they have heard the Gospel, Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge; then they see the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handy-work, which it did not do before. [Rev. Barnabas Shaw-at Wesleyan Miss. Ann. Evidences of an Awakening among the Nations. There is a meliorating process going on in the Nations, highly encouraging to our exertions. If we stood alone as Christians, or as

the British Nation, I should utterly despair; for the salvation of the world is too mighty a work for any single power to accomplish: but our exertions have, at length, as it strikes me, and this is an important feature of the times awakened almost the universal attention of the world. While we are in this great metropolis, the seat of science, of commerce, of the best system of Government that ever existed upon this earth; while we are in this mighty metropolis, the great centre of almost every thing that is Christian and that is wise; and while I stand here, debating the question of the salvation of men-it is a fact, that, at our antipodes, at New Zealand, the same question is debating in their savage eloquence.

While our friends in Ireland-Oh how I love

to think on the Irish name, and the Irish character, and upon that mighty, that glorious Reformation, which is taking place in Ireland! -while our friends there, with polemical skill, which does them the utmost credit, are raising the public mind to questions about the Scriptures, and the right of private judg ment, and national renovation, and social happiness; the Hottentots and Caffres are sitting in their wild regions and debating the same questions; and though not with the same learning, yet the subject is the same. While North America is measuring her strength against the superstition and wickedness of the world, South America is studying the best means of receiving the Scriptures, and education in its most useful form. All along the Mediterranean Shores, the same is going on; and, if you have not yet many converts in Spain, you have ascertained that a

spirit of inquiry is excited in that benighted country. In Greece, there is the same spirit of inquiry: though degraded, they feel their degradation; and, while fighting the battles of liberty, they are inquiring for Missionaries and the Word of God. I have nothing to do with the politics of that country or of any other: but we ought to watch the progress of these events; and, while the thunderbolts of heaven are ploughing up the soil, it is for this great assembly to sow the seed of eternal life.

[Rev. James Dixon—at the Wesleyan Miss. Ann. The Scriptures the only sure Guide of an Awakening World.

Owing to various causes-the dissolution of tyrannical Governments, the spread of intellectual light, and the progress of education-the corruptions of Popery, the imposture of Mahomet, and the baseless fabric of Idolatry have sustained severe attacks; and are beginning, in many instances, to give way and, opportunely, appropriately, and most seasonably, has our Society arisen at this time. It is preparing still further to unroll, as it has already done to a vast extent, the genuine page of Inspiration, in almost Hottentot. To every heart awakened to a every language, from the Esquimaux to the sense of its native sin and woe, our Society comes in most appropriately; and affords & strong-hold to all who have escaped from the dens of superstition and darkness, and prevents their falling into the opposite extreme of infidelity and atheism. Indeed we may the evil spirit of False Religion, once in a well say, that without such a Society as this, seeking rest and finding none, would take to measure dispossessed, and wandering about, himself, and return to take possession of the himself seven other spirits more wicked than soul; and the last state of that man would be worse than the first: but, with this Society, that Evil Spirit, once dispossessed, gives way God: that Spirit assumes His throne and His to the Spirit of the Word, to the Spirit of dominion; and will, doubtless, gradually bring the nations, thus delivered from their chains, into the glorious liberty of the Children of God. Distracted and disturbed as we

feel, by accounts from various parts of the

world, of vast masses of our fellow-men who held, whether on civil or religious subjects, in have changed the opinions which they once this Society we find a resting-place. We say immediately, we have given in some measure, and will in a greater measure give them the Bible-that Bible which, under God, will convert and save many souls, and will ultimately contribute to their national peace. [Bp. of Lich. & Cov.-at the Bible Soc. Ann. The Scriptures gather Honour by the Progress of Knowledge.

We have heard, from one of the Senators of our country, that the "Schoolmaster has gone forth; that he is walking abroad in the length and breadth of the great community of the world:" and while he is filling it with his Horn-books and Spelling-books, we will follow close upon his heels, and endeavour to fill it with Bibles. Christianity has nothing to fear from the advancement of knowledge.

Schools to our Bible Classes; from our Bible Classes to our Teachers; and from our Teachers to our Clergymen.

[Rev. B. Allen-at the Sund, Sch. Un. Ann. Beneficial Influence of the Bible Society on other Institutions.

I have long been a friend of this Society; one of the earliest friends; one of the few that formed one of the most efficient Auxiliaries in the kingdom. I have watched its operation, and its effects on the neighbourhood in which I live; and I can truly say, that it has not only promoted the circulation of the Bible, but has been the life and soul of other good works: it has given birth to many New Institutions; and it has stimulated and brought to life and activity some Old Institutions, which had been slumbering in comparative obscurity. If I wished to enlighten and civilize the darkest spot in the United Kingdom, I would commence by establishing a Bible Society: if I wished to put an end to animosity and discord in a neighbourhood, and to promote concord and harmony, I would commence with a Bible Society: if I wished to build a Hospital, or erect an Almshouse, or in short to do any good public or private work, I would begin with a Bible Society. Wherever you see a Bible Society flourish, you may depend upon it every good work will flourish with it. The Bible Society opens the heart to charity. Wherever a Bible Society is well established, you may bring charitable object upon charitable object before the people, and the heart is ready to receive them. They are never wearied of your charities while they have a farthing, they are sure to give it you. I shall therefore exhort every one of you to go home to your respective towns, villages, and neighbourhoods, and promote the Bible Society.

[Bp. of Sodor and Man-at the Bible Soc. Ann.

Urgent Want of the Scriptures.

I am asked, sometimes, whether, after so many years of the circulation of the Scriptures, and after the large sums which have been sent up to this Society, from time to time, there is still a field for exertion. To such inquirers I might answer, by referring to the Reports already circulated-by referring them to the Report which we have just heard-and by referring them to those Monthly Extracts, which, in my judgment, are most wisely circulated, for the information of those who take an interest in the labours of the Society-every one of which contains accounts of the eagerness with which the Scriptures are inquired for, and the satisfaction with which they are received. But it is not to these written statements alone that I might refer, but to the local knowledge of those who have inquired into the wants of their own particular neighbourhoods, who are all able to bear testimony to the truth, that there is room still for all that we can do. Here, then, are topics not only encouraging exertion; but calling for prayer, not only that the Sacred Scriptures may be circulated, but that, by those Scriptures, men may be made wise to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. That these Scriptures have,

in many cases, been received to the eternal benefit of those on whom they have been conferred through the means of this Society, there is no one here but can bear witness: and if this be true, let me ask you how many more cases there are of which men know nothing-how many souls there are, known to God alone, who, through the instrumentality of this Society, have seen, for the first time, the Word-have received it with powerand will be made finally heirs of life, through the Gospel of Grace.

of

[Bp. of Winchester- at the Bible Soc. Ann. The very lowest Classes of Society not yet brought under Instruction.

Sunday Schools have not yet touched the most depraved classes of society. I am acoffice, has to register the offences tried at the quainted with a Gentleman, who, from his Old Bailey; and I stated to that Gentleman deration, that all the Religious Societies, that my mind was depressed with the consitold with fuller effect. The reply of that which had been so long in operation, had not Gentleman was, that, in his opinion, it was owing to their operations never having reached those classes, which made their appearance at the bar of the Old Bailey. There is, he said, in this large city, a dense weight praved sink to the bottom; while those, who poverty, misery, and crime: the most defloat, as it were, in the fluid, are gathered from the top by these Societies, which have and the mire, where they are most wanted. not yet immersed themselves into the depth In such operations as these, it is not a casthave seen them employing on the Thames-a net that we want; but we require what I sort of dredging machine, which goes to the made these observations, in order to shew the bottom in the very deepest parts. I have Meeting the necessity for establishing Local Schools and I have no doubt, but that I am heard at this moment by crowds of Young Persons, anxious to become Missionaries in the formation of Local Establishments. is not enough to have a Sunday School established behind the Chapel: we must enter the very citadels of Satan. Half the crime of the Metropolis arises from ignorance; and it is, therefore, of the utmost importance, that this experiment should be pushed out to the fullest extent. It is in vain to look for a harvest, where the clods are not broken, and the seeds not scattered.

It

[Rev. John Blackburn-at the Sund. Sch. Un. Ann. Duty of becoming acquainted with Missionary Proceedings.

Some men who profess to have a sense of the value of immortal souls, and to wish the conversion of their fellow-creatures, yet seem to take little interest in the accounts which are published relative to Missions to the Heathen: they will read with delight travels -and voyages-and fictitious tales of distress, which, however well written, are but fiction still; and, while they expend their sympathies on those who suffer by the disasters of the seas or on the sorrows of imaginary beings, will throw aside with indifference the details of far severer hardships endured in gaining victories over the Powers of Darkness. It is

the sacred duty of all to combat this error; for it indicates that state of criminal lukewarmness, which our Lord has declared to be His peculiar abhorrence.

[Mr. Wilberforce-at the Church Miss. Ann. Duty of contributing to the Support of Missions. There is a great error of judgment in respect of the claims of the Missionary Cause. Men, who profess themselves Christians, consider it optional with them to support or not to support that Cause. But this is not the case. It is their positive and imperious duty; nor has any one a right to evade this duty, so long as he arrogates to himself the name of Christian. How will such men feel before the Judgment-Seat of Christ, when He shall demand of them an account of the manner in which they have used the substance entrusted to them? How will they feel, when they meet at that Bar multitudes who had died in the darkness of Idolatry, who might have lived and died in the light of the Gospel, if these men had zealously employed all the means in their power?

Mr. Wilberforce-at the Church Miss. Ann.
Zeal of a Penitent Female.

A female, in one of our large trading towns, was formerly a most abandoned character: by the grace of God, she was brought to a knowledge of the truth; and was sent to a Penitentiary, where she gave decided evidence of a change of heart; but, shortly after being put into that situation, she was deprived of the use both of her hands and her feet. Her heart, however, was full of love to the Saviour; and she was at a loss to shew forth the praises of that God who had called her out of darkness into His marvellous light. She could not walk about to tell what God had done for her soul: she could not employ her hands: but she learned to write with her mouth; and the Letters, thus written, being sold at small sums, produced something considerable to the funds of the Penitentiary. She began to learn the art of painting; and the produce of those paintings, which she accomplished with her mouth, added, last year, 171. to the funds of the Institution. Now, I will not say to this Assembly, Go and do likewise; but I will say, You have hands and you have feet, and you have a tongue to tell the wonders of Redeeming Love-Go, and do what may be in your power.

[Rev. Dr. Henderson-at Rel. Tract Soc. Ann. Plea against Declension in Missionary Zeal. Some persons may entertain an idea that there is no necessity for continued support; but let the moral history of the Heathen Nations, let the Map of the World unfolding to view three-fourths of its population sunk in idolatry, dispel such an error. Can any notion respecting the instruments employed in the great work, as being either careless or ineffi›cient, have contributed to the decline in our funds? Let the Report of the Society be rigidly scrutinised-let the opinion of Bishop Heber, and of other persons in high stations in life, far remove such an apprehension. Can it be possible that this declension arises from love waxing cold, and faith wavering? Awake! awake! from the fatal doom which has been pointed out by Him who said, If

any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Whoso putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is not fit for the kingdom of God. Can it be that this decline is owing to the exertions of recent or revived Institutions of a kindred nature? God forbid that we should be jealous of fellow-labourers, or wish them any thing but success; but let not that Society, which is thus labouring to become the instrument of salvation to immortal souls in the Heathen World, let not that Society which has engaged our first love, suffer declension. Let some superfluity of luxury, let some supernumerary comfort, be sacrificed to such a cause; that we may be enabled to maintain our accustomed contributions, and thus answer to the cry, "Bless me, even me also, my Brother, my Sister, my Friend!"

[Bp. of Lichfield & Cov.-at the Church Miss. Ann, I cannot but see something very delightful in the testimony which Bp. Heber was permitted to bear to Societies like this; though, perhaps, his testimony refers more to the Church Missionary Society. But, in truth, the Bible Society and the Church Missionary Society are one: for the Bible is the instrument by which they work; and they are one Society, animated by the same zeal, and diffusing their benefits from the same source, and by the same means. I was delighted to see, in Dr. Heber's writings, several declarations which tend to shew how much more his mind had become impressed with the benefits derived from these Societies, by what he had witnessed in the principal scene of their operations: and I cannot but be delighted with the thought, that before Bishop James got to Calcutta, he probably might have seen these very writings. I know not whether he had; but it is delightful to see how you will find continually, that, where the proceedings of those who take a part in our service are properly conducted, they will tend to soften prejudice, and diffuse just notions of the value of our Institutions, and dispose persons more generally to support them.

[Mr. Wilberforce-at the Bible Soc. Ann. Necessity of greatly-enlarged Liberality. It is often recommended to us to avoid extending our operations; but it is only in a small degree that this is within our power. Growth and expansion are the very essence of our undertaking: if attended with any degree of success, it MUST expand. It would be as reasonable to require of the husbandman, that the seed which he sows should, at harvest time, cover no greater portion of the surface of the ground than the bare seed occupied, as to require that a Christian Mission, advancing in success, shall not extend its sphere, and occasion increased expense. The Missions in the South Seas, and in Southern India, in particular, are proofs of this; and, in due time, I doubt not, this will also be the case with those in the China Seas.

The Directors are convinced that a higher scale of liberality will be adopted: the British Churches, in taking up the cause of Missions for evangelizing the Heathen, doubtless resolved to meet all the cost which their undertaking might involve. This pledge