new ones be formed: and the time cannot be far distant, when in every part of the United States, the American Bible Society will have auxiliaries-an event most devoutly to be desired, to secure the circulation of the Scriptures throughout the country, with the best prospect of success. A considerable number of congregations, or individuals of congregations, have made their pas tors members for life of the "American Bible Society." The Managers have directed their attention to the translation of the Scriptures into the Judian languages of North America. They hope also in due time to accomplish the publication of the entire Scriptures in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, for the use of the inhabitants of South America. They have accepted af the offer of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to receive, as part of their donation, in lieu of money, a set of stereotype plates, duodecimo, of the French Bible, which, when received, will enable them to fur nish the public with a supply of French Bibles. They have also received from the New-York Bible Society all the copies in sheets of the French Bible in their possession, amounting to about 1000. They have likewise ordered 200 Gaelic, and 200 German Bibles, to be transmitted to them from England, Whenever they find that a greater number is wanted, they will not fail to procure the necessary supply. The Society is at present accommodated in the New-York Institution by the Historical Society and several printers have volunteered to publish, gratuitously, any communications which the Board may deem necessary to make to the public. The Managers have commenced a collection of Bibles, especially of the earlier editions, in every language, the successful progress of which must chiefly depend on public liberality. The Society has cultivated the most friendly relations with the Russian Bible Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other European institutions. The Report concludes with the follow ing remarks, as honourable to the Christian candour of the writers as to the country and institution which they eulogize:-"God has been pleased to make the people of Great Britain the instrument of forming, maturing, cherisbing, and constantly and substantially aiding, these societies, not only within her own territories, but throughout the world. Greater honour has never been conferred upon any people, since the sceptre departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet. Not to pay a tribute of respect to them on an occasion like the present, would be ungrateful; and to pay a smaller tribute than this would discover a criminal disregard to the work of the Lord and the operation of his hands. To honour those whom God honours, is both a Christian privilege and duty. Of the founders and patrons of the British and Foreign Bible Society — a society pre eminent in the felicity of its design and the grandeur of its plans — when they are gone down to the grave, posterity will say, in the language of an eminent statesman and orator of antiquity, 'Bestowing their lives on the public, they have every one received a praise that will never decay, a sepulchre that will always be most illustrious;-not that in which their bones lie mouldering, bat that in which their fame is preserved, to be on every occasion, when honour is the employ of either word or act, eternally remembered.' No glory is comparable to that of doing good to our fellow-men: and of all the various kinds of good that we can do to each other, none is comparable to that which has respect directly to the benefit of the spiritual estate of mankind. This is to do them good in the life which now is, by securing to them eternal good in the life which is to come. Such is the high and holy aim of Bible Societies in every part of our world, who, following in the track of the illustrious parent institution, guided by her experience, and quickened by her example, are depositing the seeds of Truth among the nations to whom they have access, with the confident hope that the Lord will cause it to spring up and bear fruit to his own glory, and the salvation of myriads of our fallen race. The word has gone out of His mouth who cannot lie, that in every place incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure offering; and the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform his promise." We shall survey with much interest the future labours of the American Bible Society, which we doubt not will prove as great a blessing to the new world, as the British and Foreign Bible Society has been to the old, VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. FOREIGN. INDIA. A Supplement to the London Gazette, of Oct. 10, contains dispatches of the 11th May, from the camp before Sholapore, announcing the carrying of the outworks of that place, and the complete defeat and dispersion of Bajee Row's remaining infantry, about 5000 in number, together with 6 or 700 horse. The war may be, therefore, viewed as virtually concluded.- Private letters, of a subsequent date, mention, that the hostile chiefs had all returned home, and that nothing remained except a few discontented intriguers, with very little influence or power to annoy the British government. The army in the Deckan had gone into cantonments, to avoid the rains, and to repose after their long and fatiguing warfare. The eyes of all Europe have been fixed during the present month upon the Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle, which met at the close of September. The principal official personages present have been the Emperors of Austria and Russia, and the King of Prussia, and their Ministers, together with the Representatives of the Courts of France and England. The withdrawment of the Army of Occupation from France has been agreed upon, and a treaty was signed for that purpose, on the 9th instant, specifying that the allied troops shall be withdrawn by the 30th of November, and the fortresses surrendered to his most Christian Majesty. The sum remaining to be paid by France, to complete the execution of the treaty of November 1815, is fixed at 265 millions of francs (something more than eleven millions sterling); of which 100 millions of effective value are to be paid by an inscription in the French stocks; and the remaining 165 millions in nine monthly instalments, by drafts on the houses of Hope and Co., and Baring, Brothers, and Co. Under the treaty of 1815, France would still have been in debted to the Allied Powers in the sum of 140 millions of francs for each of the two years yet remaining to complete the original term of military occupation; but the Allied Powers have consented r to remit fifteen millions, in consideration of having the 265 millions paid up as above, within nine months from the date of the new convention. The share of this sum to England cannot be much less than two millions sterling. The subject of the Slave Trade, we are happy to find, will be discussed at the Congress, and we trust will be finally and effectually abolished. We are obliged to reserve for our next Number the copy of an address respecting it, which has been presented to the Sovereigns and their Ministers assembled at Aix-la-Chapelle. The King of France has withdrawn the national guards from under the orders of its own separate and peculiar staff, and has placed them at the disposal of the Minister of the Interior. They cease, therefore, to be a regular military force, being now subjected to the municipal power, their superior officers no longer retaining any effective command. The change appears to have been less for the sake of the concentration of power, so necessary in the conduct of the affairs of a great state, than for the purpose of overthrowing the influence of party spirit among the nd tional guards. This, and various other circumstances, would seem to indicate that the French government expect that they may be called to the exercise of considerable vigour, when the nation shall have been left to the uncontrolled influence of her own wayward parties. The experiment about to be tried in evacuating this still unsettled country, is, doubtless, one of fearful interest, and it will require all the wisdom and energy of the government to bring it to a successful issue. No official documents have appeared which shew the nature of the discussions that have arisen between the United States of America and Spain, respect ing the late events in the Floridas. A report has been in circulation that a negociation was pending between the two governments, for their cession, to the former, for a pecuniary compensation. It is, however, announced in different American journals, that Pensacola will be surrendered to any Spanish agent, duly authorised to receive it; but that St. Mark's, which is a military post of importance, will not be given up but to a force sufficient to protect it from the incursions of the neighbouring Indians. In South America the popular cause continues to make advances. The patriots, it is said, have received from Europe large supplies of arms, ammuni. tion and military stores, and rely with much confidence on the result of the Indies and the United States; so that the only point of importance remaining unsettled is the right of, visitation and seizure of seamen found on board the ships of either country during war. The particulars of the treaty will probably be made public soon after the return of advices from America. -The United States, under the operation of a new navigation law, have closed their ports against British vessels from Halifax and St. John's (New Brunswick), by which much inconvenience is apprehended to British merchants connected with the North-American trade. DOMESTIC. ensuing campaign. Bolivar, whose military renown had been impaired by some late reverses, has given up the command of the troops to General Paez, and has undertaken the affairs of the civil government. The ultimate issue of the contest between the colonies, and the mother country, cannot be very doubtful; and we are glad to find that the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle have wisely declined interfering in the dispute. Spain has been fitting out as considerable an expedition as its dilapidated revenues will permit, for reducing its transatlantic subjects to obedience, but apparently with very little sympathy from any of its European allies. At home that nation appears almost equally unsettled. The leading members of its cabinet have been suddenly and unexpectedly dismissed from office, and even condemned to exile in distant provinces. The new administration have received the foreign ambassadors resident at Madrid, with the most solemn assurances, on the part of the King, that existing relations with foreign courts would remain unaltered, the change having respect only to the internal affairs of the country. It is to be feared, however, that whatever remained of moderation in the government, has been banished with the displaced members; and that a system even more harsh and impolitic (if that be possible) than the last will in future be pursued. When will this unhappy government open its eyes to the true interests of its subjects, and cease to be a century behind the general march of the European community in its knowledge of what constitutes the privileges and the happiness of a nation? We have much satisfaction in learning that a treaty has been concluded between the Commissioners of Great Britain and of the United States, fixing the boundaries which have been so long in dispute, and making arrangements as to the right of fishing on the shores of Newfoundland. Provisions are also agreed upon respect ing the intercourse of the British West Of domestic affairs we have scarcely any thing to report except the continued illness of the Queen, whose malady, though greatly palliated by medical skill, remains unsubdued. The following is a statement of the net produce of the revenue of Great Britain, exclusive of the war duties on malt and property, during the quarter ending October 10th, compared with the produce during the same quarter in 1817. 1818. L.3,121,950. L. 3,669,754 1817. Customs Excise .... 4,889,836.. 5,866,804 1,688,668.. 1,672,165 Post-office .. 354,000.. 360,000 Assessed Taxes 782,602.. 787,426 Land Taxes.. 190,500.. 181,821 76,799.. 49,350 L.11,104,352 L.12,587,100 The increase of revenue upon the quar ter is therefore L. 1,482,748; that upou the year ending October 10th, as com pared with the former year, and exclusive of the malt and property taxes, is L.4,449,183. This increase includes all the great branches of revenue, with the exception of the land tax and the receipts of the Post-office, in which last there is a diminution of about L.10,000. This, however, would appear to be only temporary, as the last quarter indicates an addition of no less than L.6000. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. E. E.; G. H.; A CONSTANT READER; received, and are under consideration. AN UNDER-GRADUATE; and S.; will appear. ; KIMCHI; have been The publication of the paper alluded to by W. B. has been suspended. We have not received the papers referred to by G. H. We are much obliged to THEOGNIS for his friendly letter. He is, perhaps, not aware that the papers of Crito and Philo have already been republished in the select remains of their Author, the late John Bowdler, junior, Esquire. THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. No. 203.] NOVEMBER, 1818. No. 11. Vol. XVII. RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. For the Christian Observer. conception made no part of the CURSORY REMARKS ON UNITA- Gospel as preached by that Apo RIANISM, AND THE ARGUMENTS BY WHICH IT IS USUALLY SUPPORTED. A (Continued from p. 634.) No. XI. NOTHER proof urged by Mr. Wright, to shew that the miraculous conception is no part of the Gospel of Christ, is as follows: "It is evident Mark did not believe the miraculous conception to be any part of the Gospel; for he calls the preaching of John the Baptist, The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:' of course he could not regard any event which had taken place prior to the commencement of John's ministry as a Gospel-fact." Surely it cannot be conceived that the use of the word "Gospel," by St. Mark, is to exclude any facts, recorded by the other preachers of Jesus Christ, from bearing the name of Gospel. He means only that his own Gospel begins there. It stands as a title to his work, and has no reference to any other. Otherwise it would be perfectly justifiable to call the first promise to Adam the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: for the "glad tidings" of Redemption were then first communicated; and accordingly, in a similar manner, it is expressly said, that "the Gospel was preached unto Abraham." (Gal. iii. 8.) Lastly, our author concludes his proofs of his positions, as follows: "The Gospel which Paul preached, he received by revelation from Jesus Christ; but the miraculous CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 203. stle; for he preserved a total silence on the subject, both in his preaching and writings; of course it was no part of what Christ revealed to him. Indeed, we find no mention made of it by any one of the Apostles, either in their public preaching, or in their Epistles. If they knew any thing of such a fact, it is evident, they did not think it of sufficient importance to be noticed either in their public discourses or in their letters to the churches."— That the Apostles do not frequently refer, in express terms, in any of their Epistles to the miraculous conception of our Saviour, is as true as that they do not refer in the same writings to many other unquestionable facts related in the Evangelists. The truth seems to be, that they wrote to churches already grounded and settled in the grand outlines of their faith; and their Epistles are therefore filled with exalting views of admitted truth, rather than with facts long received and known. Yet they refer tacitly to the miraculous conception, whenever they call their Master the Son of God; and St. Paul, in the opening of his Epistle to the Romans, adduces the resurrection of Christ as a Divine attestation to his miraculous conception; for he says, that "He, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead." Here the descent of Christ is twice mentioned; once his natural de4 X scent according to the flesh, which was from David; and then his preternatural, descent according to the Holy Spirit, which was from God: Secondly, the author argues, that the miraculous conception, if true, "would not make the person conceived more than human. Adam, though without either earthly father or mother, was simply a man. The offspring of a woman can be neither more nor less than a man. Real dignity and excellency of character consist in knowledge, virtue, and goodness. When the excellency of the person of Christ is brought into view, in the New Testament, it is always referred to his spirit and conduct in real life, never to any peculiar circumstances of his conception and birth; and the dignity to which he is raised, is ever spoken of as the reward of his obedience. His mission is never mentioned as founded on his miraculous conception: but simply on God's having anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power; nor is that circumstance ever referred to as adding any authority to his mission or doctrine."-But the author himself furnishes a sufficient reason for the miraculous conception not being cited in proof of our Lord's dignity of person and character, without resorting to the supposition that the Apostles did not believe it. "A circumstance of that kind could not be used as a proof of any thing; being in itself the most difficult of all facts to prove, and of too private and dubious a nature to be brought into evidence." We therefore receive it upon the infallible testimony of Inspiration, but I would not adduce it in proof of any thing. At the same time, I cannot agree with the author, that it adds nothing to the dignity of our Lord's person. His Godhead, indeed, is incapable of accession. But in regard to his human nature he must needs be viewed as a more august person, having been born immediately of God, than if he were indebted for existence to the ordinary course of nature. It would not make him indeed more than man: for, as the author has truly observed, " Adam, though without either earthly father or mother, was simply a man." But yet even Adam, in his original state, is regarded as a being of higher dignity than any of his descendants from that single consideration; and with regard to Christ, though it might not constitute him a being of a superior order, or prove him to be truly God, it yet accorded with the dignity of his pre-existent greatness, and suits well with all our ideas of his nature. So also it does with those remarkable texts, already dwelt upon (Gal. iv. 4; Phil. ii. 6, 7); “ God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, who, being in the form of God, took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." The reason, however, of the extraordinary repugnance shewn to the admission of this truth, appears in what follows:-" It is impossible to imagine how the miraculous conception can be of any practical utility. It is very dif ficult to associate it with other parts of the Christian system, so as to give it the least bearing or influence on the Christian temper and conduct. No inference that tends to promote holiness and happiness can be derived from it."-It is, indeed, difficult to associate this fact with other parts of the Unitarian system. But with ours it harmonizes well; and believing, as we do, the radical corruption of the nature of every man, who is “naturally engendered of the offspring of Adam," we view in this fact a manifest distinction between ourselves and our Saviour, who was exempt from the fatal inheritance, of which the natural descendants are partakers, Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only excepted, from which he was clearly void, |