"variably led to enlarged demands, and to increased facilities of distribution: so that, whilst the Christian injunction of subjection to the powers that be, has always guided the movements of the Committee, they have been favoured with the success of no mean progress, up to the hour in which the above Order was issued ;-" an Order so reasonable and wise in all its bearings-an Order most fit to stand written in characters of durability in the regulations of a Christian army-an Order in perfect unison with the feelings of him, the light of whose life still preserves a vivid lingering in the memory of an admiring people-an Order quite in character with the measures of the reign of his present Majesty, in which a sincere and simple adherence to sound principles has been blessed, by the Source of alf Truth, with a triumph over all that craft and cunning and concert could devise, or perfidy and blasphemy and power execute; a triumph which shall be appealed to for many generations yet to come ;-an Order in character, too, with all those ameliorating regulations which have associated so powerfully the name of his Royal Highness the Duke of York with the present high condition of the British army." The second point to which the Committee call for attention is, that whereas the objects to whom the bounty of this Society is at present restricted, are the British navy and army, it is recommended that that restriction should cease, and that the objects coming under the naval denomination should include the sailors in the service of the Honourable the East India Company, and fishermen, and all mariners, whether connected with inland or general navigation. The issues of this year have exceeded the former one by nearly seven hundred copies, amounting, as they do, to six thousand and forty-nine Bibles and Testaments; making the total issues of the Society a hundred and seventy-five thousand four hundred copies. From the Appendix containing correspondence we extract the following.From an Officer in one of his Majesty's . in ships, returned from a foreign station. "Aware of the deep interest you feel in every extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, particularly through the dissemination of the Scriptures, permit an individual to add one to the many instances where the circulation of the Word of God has been blessed to immortal souls. A seaman on board this ship was a swearing, drunken, inconsiderate character; short, what sailors generally are, unholy and unclean;' but I trust he has now found the efficacy of that blood which 'cleanseth from all sin.' His attention was called to his way of life by an affecting letter from his friends, and he was led to read the Bible, which, but for the Society's efforts, had not been within his reach. He has now for several months manifested that correctness of deportment, meekness, humility, and compassion for the souls of others, which surely denote a disciple of Jesus. Had we not been furnished with Bibles and Testaments by the Society, this ship, with one hundred and fifty souls on board, would not have had more than six or eight copies, and those inaccessible to the bulk of the crew. Others, besides the individual I have mentioned, have shewn concern for their future welfare, although in the time of temptation they have fallen away. May we not hope that some of the solemn truths of the Gospel may yet be remembered, and that the bread cast upon the waters, may be found after many days.' From the Chaplain of a Frigate."From the instructions you were kind enough to give me in your letter of the 4th November last, I was enabled to obtain a supply of Bibles, &c. for this ship's company, according to the number of messes, of which there are twenty-six. If it were not, however, irregular, Captain has expressed a wish that you would favour us with a few more, especially Prayer-Books; for my own part, I can truly say, that the attention paid to devotion is such, that the money could not perhaps be better employed. At the same time, I have to thank you for your past favour. MERCHANT SEAMEN'S BIBLE SOCIETY. The effects of the distribution of the Bible among our sailors, and the consequent importance of the extension of the operations of the Naval and Military Bible Society, as above mentioned, appears in a striking manner from the following extracts from the last Report of the Merchant Seamen's Bible Society. "The captain readily paid for Bibles for three of his crew, who seemed most anxious to possess them. He spoke in high terms of the Institution, and said, ، Every thing goes on as it ought, when the Bible is regarded by the crew; the sent circumstances. I knew little about letters when I purchased it, but I was resolved to learn to read it if possible; and I soon succeeded tolerably well, to the astonishment of many. I then began to learn to write, and next applied my mind to arithmetic. Thus I learned to read my Bible, to write, and to know navigation, in little more than two years. My Bible is my best chart, and I trust it will in the end guide me to the haven of eternal rest. I feel now that I have one talent committed to me, and it is my aim to improve it.' He added-Sailors are wonderfully altered about Bristol; indeed every means are now using there, and not in vain, to make them better men.' "The Lord bless you, sir, in your work,' said an old sailor, who had just got on board to see his son. My poor old father put a Bible into my chest, when I first went to sea. I read but little for some time, and practised less, but that was the book which led me to know my ,,, self as a condemned sinner, and Jesus NEWFOUNDLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY. The Annual Report of this Society is preceded by a valuable Sermon from Proverbs iv. 18, preached May 9, by the Rev. Henry Budd, which contains, among other excellent matter, the following appeal. "Let me, then, call upon you for your aid, to enable us to apply these principles in educating our neglected fellow-subjects of Newfoundland. "And here I would first premise, that as the inhabitants of this colony consist of individuals of different denominations of religion, it is the desire of this Society to accommodate its education to the moral wants of those it proposes to benefit, in sacrifice of such a manner as, without any principle, may, by the blessing of God, most commend it to their acceptance. Desirous as it is of becoming a general blessing to the uneducated population of the island, the Society has thought it expedient to express itself explicitly on this subject. It being the object of this Society, it says, to supply the moral wants of the uneducated part of the community of Newfoundland, while it adopts Dr. Bell's system of instruction, it is cautious of giving offence, by insisting on the general introduction of any particular catechism. The Society intends that all the children of the schools should receive instruction in the holy Scriptures, and that, upon one or more days in the week, the children of the Establishment should be instructed in the Church Catechism, and that the attendance of all other children, at such seasons, should be left to the discretion of their parents.' The Society, therefore, acts wisely in accommodating its means to the character of the soil it has undertaken to cultivate. "But, however willing the Society may be to become all things to all men, far as forms and means are concerned, that it may save some,' yet the principles of its education must be considered as unaccommodating and unchangeable: the Scriptures of immortal truth are the subject of its instruction; and the one great truth they are revealed to convey, Christ, the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth,' the great efficient principle, by which, under the influence of the Spirit, man is to be educated, as a blessing to himself and his neighbour, and an honour to his God. "The island of Newfoundland seems to have peculiar claims to our attention. "It is our oldest colony. It was discovered and annexed to the crown of England, in the reign of King Henry the Seventh, by the celebrated navigators, Sir John Cabot and his son Sebastian; to the latter of whom the discovery of the continent of America seems justly due. "And, as it is our oldest colony, so it is that, probably, the moral state of which has been most neglected.' "It has a claim upon us for arrears. Its population is said to consist of ninety thousand souls, most of whom, either themselves or ancestors, were inhabitants of Ireland, or the western parts of England; and this, spread along a sinuous coast, of six hundred miles in extent, with a Christian ministry, including all denominations, quite inadequate to their wants, and a provision for general instruction more inadequate still; there being, it is said, but one free school in the island, and that such other schools as are instituted for the poor, are 'but of contracted operation, and none of them, as it is understood, possessing the advantages of the new system of instruction.' "Nor are we wanting in encouragement to proceed. The people of the island are desirous to receive instruction, the Society having received frequent and pressing applications from them for teachers; and they have promised to assist the Society, both with money and labour, to erect the necessary establishments.-Teachers, both male and female, are rising up at home, and presenting themselves as candidates for the Society's missionary labours.Success has attended the efforts already made; the two masters sent out last year being engaged in educating about 380 persons, children and adults.-And, lastly, the Government have encouraged the Society to exertion, by a grant of money, for their chief school and master, at St. John's, and by a promise of a grant of land for the necessary buildings. "Let me, then, conclude, by asking your encouragement also. We ask of you an interest in our endeavours;-money to support them;-masters to carry them into effect; and prayer for a blessing, that we may obtain the desired success. "We ask first, an interest in our endeavours; without exciting your interest in our favour, we in vain expect your influence and aid. We ask also for your money; if your heart is interested in our cause, we shall not want the support of your purse. Favourable as circumstances are, yet we cannot hope to effect much without money. Much as may be expect ed from the kindness of Government, and from the voluntary exertions of the people of Newfoundland, yet, after all, the mother country must be depended on for a parent's interest and a parent's support. If the Society meditates the establishment but of twenty schools, (and these will be but an indifferent provision for so large a population,) at least 6,000l. will be required, in addition to native contributions, for their original establishment; and for the permanent support of these schools, together with incidental expenses, we cannot calculate on a less demand than from 4,000l. to 5,000l. annually: we ask you then to supply the funds according to your ability. "Nor can I omit this opportunity of asking for masters and mistresses: there may be some young persons in this congregation, who are not yet settled in life, and whose hearts are so filled with the love of God and man, that they may be meditating the devotion of themselves to missionary labours." "We ask, lastly, for your prayers." The following brief extracts from the correspondence in the Report are all we can at present insert. "As to the number of the children, we may safely say there are enough to fill many schools, as we often see them in groups among the cottages, and truly, if we may judge from their countenances, they are most interesting. We have taken several walks to see our new abode, and when I compare my present ideas with those I formerly entertained of this place, how contrary they seem! Instead of craggy rocks, and barren houseless land, the neighbourhood of St. John's is, at this season (September), very fertile-the crops of hay gathering; potatoes, oats, and a great variety of vegetables growing; cottages, with their gardens, scattered about, the new roads, &c., make it appear to us, indeed, a new-found-land; and it needs only a better cultivation, to make it a happy land. When we look also at the harbour crowded with vessels coming from, or bound to, almost every part of the world, how important does this station appear!" "I have had much conversation with the fishermen who come from the different out-harbours and coves, and it is lamentable to hear how many there are, residing at those various places, without any means of instruction-many of the men have begged spelling-books for their children, whose wants I have supplied." "The boys not only make a great improvement in their learning, but in their behaviour also; there is, in many, a visible alteration; some, who at the first were proud and disagreeable, are become quite humble and attentive; others, who were affronted at every reproof, are now affable and kind."-So rapid, indeed was the success of the school, and so great the desire of the poor to obtain instruction for their children, that, in three months from the day it opened, no less than one hundred and thirty-two children were entered on the books, and regularly attended. "Our little flock (observes one of the schoolmasters), resembles the church of Christ, being one of a city, two of a family; and oh, may they be the precious of the earth! Sufficient are they, if we receive no more, to spread the knowledge of a Redeemer along the bleak and rocky shores of this island.-An evening adult school was opened this week, and is considerably increasing; the first scholar was an interesting Bermudian, a Black boy, lately come from Bermuda; three also of the young men employed on the wharfs have joined it, and several others are coming.' The first communication which the Committee received this spring from Newfoundland, announced the welcome intelligence, that when the central school closed at Christmas, for the holydays, the total number of children on the books was one hundred and forty-six, and that when it reopened, there were in attendance, seventyeight boys, and seventy-five girls, making together one hundred and fifty-three. It was very far from our intention to advert again to the Apocryphal Question: we are, however, compelled, by various communications, to append a few remarks. 1. We are accused of error, mistatement, rash interference, &c.-We plead NOT GUILTY. We are not infallible; and have never laid claim to infallibility; but are quite prepared to confess our faults, and rectify our mistakes, whenever we can discover them. If, therefore, those who are so confident that our review of this controversy is full of errors, &c. will kindly point out a few-nay, even one or two-we will endeavour to correct them without delay. To talk of rash interference, is highly absurd. When the Edinburgh Statement, the Cambridge (or, more properly, Mr. Venn's) Remarks, and Mr. Simeon's Letter, were publicly advertised and extensively circulated, it surely became our duty, as reviewers, to notice so important a controversy. 2. It has been said "that in cautioning auxiliaries, secretaries, &c. from adopting rash or hasty resolutions, or from committing themselves in any way to measures which may tend to schism or disunion, we gave advice inconsistent with the exigences of the case, which especially call for an exhibition of public and Christian feeling. It was not our intention by this caution to prevent Auxiliaries, &c. from expressing, in firm and respectful language, to the Parent Committee, the views which they might entertain on this important subject. For we are fully persuaded, that if the Parent Committee had any idea how decided the Christian Public are against countenancing the INTERMINGLED Apocrypha, the question would be set at rest for ever. But we wished to warn the friends of the Inspired Volume against pledging themselves to measures which they might afterwards be called upon to retract;-a caution obviously suggested by the conduct of the Edinburgh Committee. 3. The intimation " that the Sub-Committee to whom the question has been referred, is not fairly chosen, in that a majority are supposed to favour the Apocrypha," is not very probable. The Sub-Committee certainly contains some very acute and decided opponents of the Apocrypha : nor is there any ground of alarm, since both the special and the general Committee must bow to the public voice. We give no credit to the report that an alteration of the fundamental laws of the Society will be attempted : the idea is too absurd to be entertained. It implies a confession which the Apocryphal party are certainly not disposed to make. Any such alteration could only be made at a General Meeting; and when any considerable diversity of sentiment prevails, in a numerous assembly, it is difficult, nay almost impossibile, either to enact new laws or alter the old. All the plans which have been suggested about separate funds, appear to be on this ground impracticable. The friends of the Apocrypha may form a new Society: they cannot re-model the old. 4. The Bristol Auxiliary has unanimously adopted a series of resolutions, disapproving, in very decided terms, of employing the funds of the Bible Society in publishing or circulating the Apocrypha. Similar resolutions are preparing throughout the kingdom, and are only delayed out of respect to the Parent Committee. 5. A new and enlarged edition of Mr. Gorham's pamphlet has appeared; shewing clearly that the separation of the Apocryphal Books from the Inspired Writings is a grand pillar of Protestantism;—that as such it was studiously maintained by Luther; Lonicerus; the Editors of the Geneva and of Olivetan's French Bible; by Cranmer, Latimer, Calvin, the Synod of Dort, &c.;-and that it must still be maintained, if we would refrain from placing a serious stumbling-block in the way of the Jews, who are most strictly attached to that canon of which they have so long been the guardians. Mr. G. points out the absurdity of two separate funds, as being contrary to the first Law of the Society, which declares that this Society has a sole object. This valuable production suggests, for the consideration of the Public, the following Resolutions: · -- "I. With regard to the general principle: "That the British and Foreign Bible Society shall neither print nor circulate the Apocryphal Books. "II. With regard to Foreign Societies which publish Bibles containing the Apocrypha, but separate and distinct from the Canonical Books: "1. That grants of money be made, under an express stipulation, and the assurance of the parties receiving the same, that such grants shall be exclusively applied to printing and publishing the Canonical Books only. 2. That grants of the Canonical Books be made, either in whole or in part. "III. With regard to Foreign Societies which publish Bibles containing the Apocrypha mixed with and undistinguished from the Canonical Books: "1. That no pecuniary grants be made for the purpose of aiding the printing or publishing of any edition of the Bible, in which the Apocrypha shall be mixed and interspersed with the Canonical Books. "2. That grants be made of the Books of the New Testament, or of the Canonical Scriptures of the Old Testament in whole or in part, but that such Volumes be invariably bound." THE CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN, AND Church of England Magazine. OCTOBER 1825. MEMOIRS OF THE REFORMERS. THE serious student of ecclesiastical history must be deeply affected at that judicial providence, which permitted the unfaithful Christians of the East to fall under the tyrannical power of the Mohamedan rulers. What thick darkness hath been suffered to hang over that division of the globe, from whence the light of Revelation first broke on the nations! Who does not hail with delightful anticipation the endeavours of zealous professors in the West, to return to this unhappy portion of the family of man that best of boons, "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God!" But whatever difference may have existed between the gross imposture of Asia, and the plausible superstition of Europe, they have both borne the characteristic feature of opposition to the spirituality of the pious and humble follower of the Messiah. From the recorded sufferings of those champions of truth, who have sustained the violence of both adversaries, may be selected the memorial of the good Zegedine. Stephen Kish derived this appellation from the place of his birth, a town en the Theiss, in Hungary, where he was born in the year 1505. Successively educated at Zegedine, Lippain, and Gyula, he made such progress, that on the loss of his parents, in early life, he undertook the charge of instruction; but, disост. 1825. satisfied with his own attainments, he much desired to become the pupil of Luther and Melancthon, at Wittenberg. Poor and inexperienced, he contented himself for a while with a sojourn at Cracow, in Poland, which was noted for the study of musical, as the chief schools in his native country were for grammatical, authors, to the neglect, however, of the Hebrew and Greek languages. In 1541 he was enabled to undertake the expense of a German journey, and, arriving at Wittenberg, read logic with Melancthon, and divinity with Luther, for three years; at the end of which term he returned to Hungary, and became a tutor in great estimation and request. He was hired by the townsmen of Thasnyadin to educate their children in the liberal arts, but in the course of instruction was constrained to speak to the people on the truths of the Gospel; intelligence of which was brought to the treasurer of the king, through means of a monk, who was tutor to the monarch's son. This brutal officer, ordering him to make his appearance, sentenced him to be scourged, and struck him as often as he attempted to reply to the accusation against him, and pricked him so severely with his large iron spurs, that he was almost slain. He then demanded of him two hundred books, which were his only treasure, and drove him out of the town. After 3 A |