rock, and notwithstanding the losses of friends, and the diminution of funds, they would have such an array in favour of the British and Foreign Bible Society, as they never had before. (Hear, hear.) Why had they been so successful heretofore? Because of their strict and uniform adherence to their original and simple principles. On these were founded their union, and their union was their strength. If they had not stood on such sure ground, they would not have distributed 536,000 copies of the Scriptures during the brief and rapid course of the last 12 months. They could not have sent so many mi lions of copies over the whole world. (Hear, hear.) He knew that all their efforts, and their rules, and principles, would have been unavailing without the blessing of Him in whose name they acted, but he also knew that that blessing had come upon the broad, strong, simple, lovely, and harmonious, principles of their Institution. (Hear, hear.) After earnestly hoping that they might continue in the same steady course, and feel its advantages more and more from year to year, humbling themselves in the sight of God-divesting themselves of all prejudice, and acting in the spirit of love, and meekness, and forbearance to those who differed from them. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by again urging the Meeting to persevere in their support of the Society. (Hear, hear.)

The Resolution was then put and carried.

The Rev. A. BRANDRAM begged to introduce to the notice of the Meeting the Rev. Dr. Cox, of New York, who had visited England as a deputation from the American Bible Society.

Dr. Cox said, that if he were unable to speak, he felt that he could weep for joy. He begged for one moment to disentangle himself from the poetry or the illusion of a scene like that he then beheld. He had slept but one night upon the island of his ancestors, and it was only three weeks this day since he left New York When the commission, to which he felt himself utterly inadequate, was handed to him, it was with grief on many accounts that he received it. He was afraid that he should be unable to reach this country by the first of May, but he embarked on board the ship Samson, and the God of the Nazarite, of the tribe of Dan controlling the winds, had brought him to the British shore sooner than he expected. (Applause.) The solemn agent by which God had strewed Asia and Europe with corpses, visited America, and he was a relic spared by the mercy of God. He feared approaching a scene of so much excitement as the present, lest it should make England his grave. If, however, there were one cause in which he would rather fall a sacrifice than in another, it was in that of the Bible Society. He hoped that when he died it would be in that cause in which death had chronicled and canonized the names that had been read that morning. (Hear, and applause.) His nervous debility had increased by hearing of the death of Hill, and he knew that the undulations of that Report would find access to the west of the Mississippi. The statistics of the Daughter Institution he presumed he need not detail. Why should it be that English and American feeling should not be one in that sacred unity so eloquently adverted to by the preceding speaker? Whatever might be the prejudices, national or provincial, that existed on either shore, these Societies tended to elicit the unity of the love of Jesus Christ. He was a monarchist in relation to the kingdom of heaven, and he was glad to know that the circle of heavenly light inclu led in one all those who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. He looked at the idea of any other principle taking the leal, as among the dreams of the cloister, and the stupidity of the dark ages. (Cheers.) They might as well undertake the enterprize of tunnelling the Atlantic, and lighting the dark aperture with scintillations of infi tel philosophy, as to attempt to foster any other principle. What interest had Englishmen in degrading their own offspring?

Just as much as the offspring had in dishonouring their sires. (Cheers.) He remembering hearing Dr. Waugh once said to an American clergyman who had just returned to Scotand, and who informed the Doctor that he had been well received, "It is Christianity, my dear son, that will bind all the world together." Christianity bound in its simple elements all heaven together; it was the only tie indissoluble, and it made one of the legions of honour of the King of kings. He recollected another sentiment eloquently stated by a Premier of England under a previous reign. “England and America, the mother and the daughter, against the world." It was not his province to touch upon political questions, but he would Christianize the sentiment and introduce it to the platform. England and America, the mother and the daughter, for the world. (Cheers.) What hurt would it do to the Antipodes or to nations of any clime, were they to receive from the hands of this Society the volume of that wisdom which had been called, "The means of the eternal Spirit." America did not like nullification. (A laugh.) But he thought the Legislature would be nullified if it spoke against the influence of the Spirit of God. The Rev. Doctor then adverted to the interest which the American Bible Society had always taken in the prosperity of this Institution, and concluded by moving a Resolution to the effect, "That in the continued tokens of Divine approbation with which the proceedings of the Society had been conducted, the Meeting desired with deep and lively gratitude to acknowledge the hand of God, and to be encouraged to increasing exertion."

Mr. J. SHEPPARD, of Frome, in seconding the Resolution, state that it was his privilege during the past month to be present at the Anniversary Meetings of the Paris Tract, Bible, and Missionary Societies. With regard to the Meeting of the Bible Society there was not cause for unqualified satisfaction. There was a frank confession in the Report that in many departments the Associations had fallen off. The charge was admitted by the pastors in those departments to be true, and they formed a Resolution to exert themselves to a greater extent during the ensuing year. The proceedings of the Missionary Society were rather more encouraging. Nothing could exceed the lively interest taken in the progress of missions in central Africa. At the meeting of the Tract Society a gentleman who was present as a deputation from America, stated that it was the invariable practice at the Meetings of the Tract Society in that country to pray for the spiritual interests of France, and he (Mr. S.) submitted to the Meeting whether it was not desirable to follow the example in this country.

The Rev. J. ENTWISTLE moved, That the cordial thanks of the Meeting be given to Lord Teignmouth, for his continued attention to the objects and interests of the Institution." It appeared to him to be kind and judicious to allow a Wesleyan a place on the platform of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr. Wesley, in 1729, used an expressive Latin phrase, the purport of which was, that he was a man of one book. He (Mr. W.) was a firm, zealous, uniform, and persevering friend of the Book of God, and he (Mr. E.) thought the Report which had been read furnished decisive evidence, that those who succeeded Mr. Wesley, had entered into the views, and spirit, and practice of the founder of their Society. They were attached to this Society from conceiving it to be one of the most active and efficient machines, formed and kept in motion by the hand of God for the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures. He had often thought that the cottages of the poor were not completely furnished till they had a Bible, and he did not consider that the house of a nobleman could be in that state till every room contained a copy of the Holy Scriptures. (Cheers.)

The Rev. Dr. PINKERTON, in seconding the Resolution, said, that he had laboured for the last twenty years in connexion with this Society, and when

he contrasted the state of Europe, both in a religious and moral point of view, now, with what it was at the period to which he referred, he took courage himself, and called upon the Meeting to rejoice at the change which had taken place. The principles of the Bible were at that time rejected by men who sought to deify their own minds rather than the God who created them; but latterly Bible principles had been rapidly gaining ground. There were in Germany, at the present day, individuals of the highest abilities and of the most profound learning, arrayed in defence of the Bible. (Cheers.) The Bible had been introduced into thousands of schools from which it was formerly excluded. The Catholic Universities of Germany had received copies of the Scriptures, and placed them in the hands of the students. How different was the state of France at the present day compared with the year 1818, when a Bible Society was first introduced. The Government at the former period would only allow the formation of a Bible Society for Protestants, and there was the greatest difficulty in introducing the Scriptures into the schools. Upwards of 200 Catholic schools, however, had made an application for the Scriptures within the last quarter, and a Christian spirit had increased in different parts of the kingdom. The Rev. Dr. then alluded to the increased facilities for circulating the Bible in various parts of the world, and concluded by impressing on the Meeting the necessity for making an effort to increase the annual subscribers to the Institution, by which means alone the required supply could be furnished.

The Hon. and Rev. BAPTIST NOEL moved thanks of the Meeting to the Vice-Presidents for their continued patronage and support. He moved this Resolution, he said, with the greatest satisfaction, because the present was a time when the aid which such friends could render to the Institution was valuable. Still he should have come forward with reluctance, had he not recollected that on a former occasion he had perhaps done the Society some damage. He was anxious to repair the mischief; and the more, because he knew how much easier it was to commit an error than to counteract its effects, and how difficult it often was found to retrace steps which had been taken inconsiderately and in haste. (Hear, hear.) It was difficult too to counteract the effect of an opinion, when that opinion had been publicly expressed. He had heard with regret of the defalcation in the fund. If he only regarded it as the cause of withholding from many nations a portion of the bread of life, it was matter for regret; but for that deficiency, many thousands more Bibles and Testaments might have been distributed; and when it was considered that the Bible was the appointed and the authorised means of Evangelizing the heathen world, that was a calamity of no common order. But it must be looked at also as a result of some former friends of the Society having withdrawn their support. If such a c'rcumstance as this occurred at home, he should regard it with pain, because it would imply the breaking up, in some degree, of the harmonious compact which had so long subsisted between them. It had been the joy of many, that in that Society had been found a common centre where all might meet. The Word of God had been regarded as that book of which all orthodox Christians must approve, and which they all agree is to be the means of renova ting the world. But he regarded it more painfully, because that defalcation would go far to impede the circulation of the Scriptures abroad. It might be said, that the 6,000l. which was deficient in their funds had been poured into the coffers of other Societies, and that therefore the same number of copies of the Scriptures would still be circulated. Were this really the case, there would not be such cause for regret; the Scriptures would be circulated, and good would still be done. But even in that case there would be a great loss, because if there were two or three Societies, instead of one, there must also be a double or a triple agency, and that at a consider

able cost, so that the number of copies of the Scriptures to be distributed must needs be diminished. (Hear, hear.) When he considered that ignorance of Divine truth was a disaster which nothing could remedy but the Book of God, the idea of its being withheld was a source of unspeakable regret. He could not but look at Albania, and many other places which had been mentioned, and then reflect with pain that the Scriptures were to be restricted as to their distribution. (Hear.) And what if the defalcation should increase? What, if next year, instead of 60007. it should be 12,000/. and the year following that there should be a still further decline? What would be the regret of sincere Christians! What would be the extent of the disasters which would befall the world! (Hear) At the present period a spir't of inquiry was springing up in every part of the word; the ploughshare was driving over the roots of error, and they were being scorched and burnt up by popular indignation. But what would that avail if the soil were only prepared to receive plants more deadly? (Hear) if the nations thus disturbed were only to become as fields into which any noxious thing might be thrown?-if the errors of polytheism should be followed by those of a denial of the Divine existence-by a neglect of God-by a lawless and heart-destroying infidelity? But how could it be otherwise but by the circulatian of that volume of truth which descended from heaven, and which was given to lead men to Jesus Christ the only Saviour-that book which, by the energy of the Holy Spirit, was the appointed means of quickening, of enlightening, of saving the souls of men? Were that truth withheld, the world must still be involved in miserable darkness, in hopeless despair. They had hoped that the world would be blessed—that its darkness would be enlightened by the wisdom of God-that the world would be made happy in the experience of the Gospel; and if it were not so, what was the reason? Not because they had not that Word—not because they had not the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit to render that Word affectual-not because it was not the honoured and appointed agent of God himself:-but because we had not been sufficiently united--because we had indulged in cold calculations-because we had kept the blessing too much to ourselves-because we had not entered the doors which Providence had opened before us; as if the world was not yet large enough for the scope of our charity, or the heathen sufficiently numerous to engage our exertions. (Hear, hear.) It might be said that Missionaries were employed in diffusing the truths of Scripture. But was that a reason why Christians in this country should aim to circulate them? It was by the industrious and persevering labours of missionaries that translations into the languages of various nations were effected, and how little would those translations avail if they were not circulated? And did not Missionaries undertake those translations with a view to their circulation? (Hear.) Why had Morison devoted his health for years to the work of translating the Scriptures into the language of China, but that it might be given, through the liberality of Christians, to the millions of that country? And why had Bailey, at Cochin, devoted himself to similar work, even, cutting and casting the types, composing, and printing with his own hands various portions of the Scriptures? Were these men unable to estimate the importance of the circulation of Scriptures? And did not Martyn, and others whom he might name, entertain similar views? And when did Luther begin to strike his deadly blows at the system of Popery? Was it not when the Scriptures were beginning to be given in the vernacular language of Germany? And to what end were the la ours of Wickliff and Tyndal directed? Did not they aim to put the Scriptures into their own language, in order that they might be circulated far and wide? Why should Christians treasure the Word of God up in their chambers? Why

should they so often retire to meditate upon its sacred truths? Why should they set their seals to the truth of that remarkable declaration of a man of God, that he found one single passage of the Bible so full of sweetness and glory that he knew not how to proceed to the consideration of any other? Why should there be this love to the Book of God, and such satisfaction in the perusal of its contents, and why should it not be given to the heathen also why should not the savage tribes be brought under its sanctifying influence? (Hear.) When the celebrated and beloved Dr. Watts was drawing near his end, he was found with a Bible opened before him, and in answer to the inquiry of a friend, he said, that he blessed God that he could now find refreshment in those simple elementary truths of the Scriptures which a child might understand, and which alone were now on a level to his impaired understanding. Whatever might be their views upon the subject, there was another assembly which might pass, in imagination at least, before them. They might collect a number of missionaries from their various stations, together with their converts, (a company which a room far larger than that in which they were then met would not contain,) and they might ask them what were their sentiments on that subject. Would they not all reply that they would rather lose their right arms than that the book of God should be taken from them? By means of that book the missionary had won his choicest triumphs, and on the circulation of that book his hope of success mainly depended. (Hear.) It was deemed a question of importance how the funds should be replenished, and the general answer was, that the friends of the Society must be urged to renewed exertions. But as much depended on the spirit in which those exertions were made, as on the exertions themselves. If the spirit breathed in the Report and in the speeches of that day should influence all the proceedings of the various Auxiliaries and Associations, he was assured that God could not suffer the operations of the Society to be impeded. Again: the Society was charged with having formed associations with men of the world. There were many respects in which he rejoiced in that union; but they should be careful so to employ that union, as that it might produce the most desirable results. It was passing strange that any should object to persons uniting for such an object as theirs, because those persons did not enter fully into all the benefits of such union, and because in many things, they were still worldlyminded. Why, if the whole world should unite for the purpose of sending forth the Book of God, would it not be an unspeakable mercy, and what harm could result? To get men to unite with them was, so far, a step in the cause of truth and righteousness, and even for this they would find cause to bless God. The Society had been caused also of discouraging many preachers of the truth, and of encouraging Neologians and sceptics. He was very sure that such men as Oberlin and Neff would never have thought of preferring such a charge-they never supposed that their pastoral operations were impeded because the Word of God was circulated by that Society. They were also charged with want of unity among themselves. But it was strange that they should be charged with disunion as to trifles, while they were so evidently united in grand particulars. (Hear.) It was his wish that the prayer of the Saviour for the union of all his followers might be speedily fulfilled; for it was painful to him to discover any want of affection or union. But surely if there was one means better calculated than another to promote such unity, it was their meeting together for the promotion of such objects as now brought them together. Such meetings were calculated alike to conciliate and to refresh the mind. They had also been accused of idolizing the Bible, and of superseding the need of divine influence. Such a disposition were deeply to be deplored; but the objection Would hardly be made by those who had listened to their Reports, in

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