Any portion of it may be had separately, and forms a distinct history of the period to which it refers. A Supplementary Volume may hereafter be published, but certainly not for a considerable period. The Select Writings of the British Reformers have proceeded; and Three Volumes have been published during the year, containing the Writings of Knox, Becon, Tindal, Frith, and Barnes. The sales have greatly exceeded the expectations of the Committee. They are persuaded that the more these valuable works are known, the more they will be appreciated by the Christian Church. Keith's Evidence of Prophecy shews the fulfilment of Scripture Prophecies from the Evidence of Modern Travellers, some of whom were Infidels; and refers to many circumstances relative to various Countries, which are a present and visible proof of the truth of the Scriptures. This abridgment of the Author's larger work is calculated to be extremely useful, at a period when infidels are greatly exerting themselves. This excellent work has also been printed in French, and is preparing in German. Intended Commentary on the Scriptures. The importance of a cheap and popular Commentary on the Holy Scriptures has frequently been under the consideration of the Committee; and in a former Report it was stated that several friends had urged them to undertake the work. The Committee were aware that they had numerous difficulties to meet; but, after much consideration, they have determined to comply with the wishes of their friends. They are satisfied that the Commentary may be published in strict accordance with the principles of the Institution, and so as to be acceptable to the different Denominations of Christians who support your Cause. The Commentary will be compiled from the invaluable Writings of Henry and Scott, whose works are so generally acceptable to the Church of Christ; with a few additions from other writers, when they appear desirable. The Work will also contain Notes adapted to assist the reader in meeting the common, but oftenexploded, assertions of infidelity; without, however, unnecessarily raising objections in the mind. It is intended to print the Work so that it may be purchased either with or without the Sacred Text; and the whole Sept. 1830. Comment will be comprised in Three Volumes, or Six Parts. The First Part is in the press, and, it is hoped, will appear in the course of the ensuing winter. It will be a pleasing feature in this new Work, that it will add THE BIBLE to your numerous Publications, without which the best selection of books for a library must be considered as deficient. The Commentary will be useful to Christians of all ranks and ages; but more particularly to the Cottager, the SundaySchool Teacher, the Missionary, the Visitor of the Sick, and the Agents of Christian-Instruction and District-Visiting Societies. A Progress in gratuitous Stereotyping. During the past year, the Committee have received several donations for the purpose of stereotyping approved Works; which have enabled them to republish some valuable books, and to sell a large number of them at low prices. They trust that many friends, who have reWorks, will adopt the plan of stereoceived spiritual benefit from particular typing, through this Society. cases, several friends may unite together, and so accomplish the object; or the Committee will receive small donations toward the publication of a particular book, if approved of by them; and such an example may induce others to come forward. The following Works have been printed and stereotyped with funds furnished for the purpose:Select Writings of the British Reformers.. In some By a Friend. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Shaw's Welcome to Affliction, in French.... By Rt. Hon. Lord Bexley. The sum of 3661. 4s. has been received from benevolent friends, for stereotyping the Works which have already been reported. Numerous Openings in Foreign Parts. The calls upon the Society's friends to exercise an enlarged benevolence, in supporting the Foreign Objects of the Institution, were never so numerous and pressing as they are at present. The Chinese, who are found in Siam and the different ports of the Eastern Archipelago, gladly receive the Tracts, and confess that they are books "to reform the world." The Burmans have a written language; and the prevalence of educa 3 E tion opens the way for extensive usefulness among them. The Karens, a people without religion, without temples, and without gods, are crying out, “Give us books, give us books, in our own language! We want to know the True God." In India, the power of caste and the influence of the Brahmins are decreasing; and increasing numbers read your Publications with deep interest, confessing that The time is at hand when all persons will be of one religion." The inhabitants of Ceylon, in addition to numerous Tracts, have received the "Pilgrim's Progress," to shew them the only true way to the Celestial City. In Polynesia, the Press is communicating the great truths of religion to a people prepared for their reception. The Young, in Spanish America, have received, for the first time, instructive Juvenile Publications in their own language. Negroes, in the West Indies, have obtained Books which proclaim that Spiritual Liberty wherewith Christ makes His people free; and the Greeks, desirous of instruction, receive with grateful eagerness the leaves of the Tree of Life. The Nations of Europe have been visited by your silent agents; and they have made known the pure Truths of the Gospel, where Infidel and Neological Opinions are ruining many souls. Surely this review is encouraging, and should lead the friends of the Society to abound more and more in their work of faith and labour of love. Doct. Tezis. Acts 18. 10. NOVEMBER. Rev. 3. 5. John 17. 11. John. 8. 26. Matth. 13.45,46. SEPTEMBER. 4 Ps. 8. 2. Mark 10. 33, 34. Ps. 100. 2. vi Ps, 119. 45. Mark 10. 29, 30.1 Is. 59. 21. 7 John 7. 37. Exod. 6. 2, 3. JULY. Luke 9. 56. John 15. 16. 6 Deut. 33. 8. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Ps. 19. 12. Matth. 19. 30. Luke 16. 15. John 17. 3. Matth. 5. 37. John 6. 64, 65. Matth. 24. 35. John 15. 5. Luke 13. 8, 9. Rev. 2. 3. John 15. 14. Matth. 7. 11. John 15. 20. 10 Mark 8. 35. Is. 11. 1. Matth. 12.34,35 X Deut. 4. 29. Rev. 3. 10. 14 Luke 7. 22. Matth. 5. 14. Luke 22. 28, 29. Mark 13. 35. John 10. 27, 28. Matth. 13. 12. Rev. 2. 4. Rev. 3. 2. xviii Is. 53. 10. Matth. 18. 3. John 3. 18. Matth. 13. 47. Matth. 11. 30. xvii Ps. 89. 2. John 17. 22. 19 Judges 5. 3. 20 Prov. 21. 1. Ps. 27. 9. Luke 21. 34. 22 Ezek. 16. 61, 63. Rev. 3. 8. John 2. 16. 27 Ps. 118. 23. Matth. 8. 3. Hos. 14. 4. John 21. 15. Matth. 5. 45. 3 28 Josh. 4. 14. John 6. 63. OCTOBER. Luke 15. IC. xxxi Ps. 119. 67. Ps. 54. 4. 4 2 Chron. 14. 11. Matth. 8. 20. Matth. 25. 1. DECEMBER. Ezek. 36. 37. Luke 11. 28. Matth. 18.32,33. John 14. 11. 6 2 1 Kings 18. 36. Luke 6. 26. Matth. 6. 9. pt.1 Is. 35. 4. Deut. 8. 3. Luke 18. 31. Matth. 18. 19. ix Is. 42. 12. 14 Deut. 32. 47. Ts. 32. 15. Matth. 6. 12. 16 Jer. 14. 9. Zech. 8. 3. Ps. 89. 33. Ps. 18. 35. Matth.6.13.pt.2. xviii Matth.6.13.pt.3. Prov. 2. 6. 19 Deut. 8. 18. Matth. 9. 38. xvi Ps. 40. 17. John 14. 19. 20 12 Hos. 12. 10. Ps. 69. 9. Zeph. 3. 10. 13 Ps. 119. 128. Is. 49. 3. Micah 6. 8. Matth. 5. 29, 30. Luke 8. 17. Matth. 15. 32. John 16. 27. Luke 19. 42. Matth. 9. 12 John 20.29. Matth. 24. 14. John 13. 17. 15 Ps. 143. 10. 24 Is. 53. 4. John 2. 12. 17 Ps. 138. 6. 26 18 Numb. 23. 23. John 10. 3. xxiii Gen. 12. 1, 4. Rev. 3. 11. Jer. 31. 10. Is. 28. 5. Matth. 11.5.26. 29 xxi Ps. 27. 5. Continent. BIBLE SOCIETIES. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH-AND-FOREIGN AND CONTINENTAL BIBLE SOCIETIES. THE last Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, with its Appendix, has furnished the materials for the following abstract. Dr. Pinkerton accomplished another extensive journey during the year; and witnessed many indications of improvement from the perusal of the Scriptures, which had been happily Matth. 13. 31. Rev. 3. 13. distributed in so many directions. France. The Total Issues from the Depository at Paris, under the superintendence of Prof. Kieffer, have been 38,384 copies; among which are 24,337 Bibles and Testaments of De Sacy. This Total is considerably less than that of last year: among the causes, that have contributed to this diminution, may be mentioned the absence of Prof. Kieffer for two months indispensable -an absence rendered from debility, occasioned by excessive application to business; and the pleasing efforts of the Ladies of the Roman-Ca tholic Association for distributing De Sacy's New Testament. Your Committee regret to be obliged to mention, also, the hostility manifested in some quarters to the dissemination of the New Testament; hostility which has intimidated some who would otherwise have proved friendly to the work. There have been ordered for the Depôt at Paris 7600 Bibles and 15,250 Testaments. Many additional Depôts have been opened in different places during the year, and Schools in the Departments have been supplied. The Gentleman who has largely assisted in circulating the Scriptures writes I have visited a great number of towns and villages, whither I had previously sent New Testaments. Everywhere I obtained sure proofs of your charitable views having been appreciated, seconded, and crowned with the most happy results. The Paris Protestant Bible Society circulated, during the year, 6355 copies. While the Committee lament over some symptoms of declension of zeal, they can yet make the following animating statement: On a review of the Reports of our Auxiliary Societies, you will find that in many Churches, in which the Sacred Scriptures have been circulated, they are diligently read; and that while the Public Service is there better attended to, Private Worship has been re-established in a great number of families. The conduct and the manners of the people have improved in some instances, parents are seen leading on their children to the knowledge of the truths of religion; in others, the piety of the children themselves causes their aged parents to return to those religious views which they had too long forgotten. Far from collections which are made on behalf of the Bible Cause having a tendency to exhaust the sources of Benevolence, it is precisely in those very places where Bible Societies are the most flourishing that charity most fruitfully abounds; and, according to an expression, which we borrow from the Report of one of our Auxiliaries, it is in this way that the poor FIND CHRISTIANS among their brethren. At their Annual Meeting in 1829, the Rev. Mr. Martin, of Bordeaux, presented a copy of the Basque New Testament, printed at the expense of your Society and the mention of the circumstance is accompanied by the following observations: Among 60,000 souls, forming the Basque Population of France, it was found impossible, notwithstanding the most accurate search, to meet with a single copy of the Sacred Scriptures, which had, however, been formerly translated into the language of the Country. By the manifest direction of Providence, nevertheless, there had been deposited in the Library of the University of Oxford a copy of the Basque New Testament, printed at Rochelle in 1571, and conveyed, without doubt, to England by a French Refugee. This copy, the only one which we have been able to discover, has formed the basis of the new edition, the distribution of which is now carried on with such activity. Switzerland. The Basle Society has circulated, in the year ending in June last, 5001 Bibles and Testaments; and, in all, 156,307: the Secretary writes : Our Society, in its tranquil operations, continues with gratitude to experience the gracious assistance and blessing of the Lord; and is privileged to see many encouraging and cheering instances of the blessed fruits arising from the circulation of the Word of Life. At Berne, the Income and Issues have augmented considerably beyond those of the preceding year. The Lausanne Society has, since its formation in 1826, distributed 2782 Bibles and 420 Testaments, with its own funds; and all without the Apocrypha. The Geneva Society, with its Twelve Ladies' Associations, having effected much in its own immediate sphere, has assisted the Paris Bible Society with a donation of 1000 francs, and has likewise given 1400 for the circulation of Testaments in Germany. Its Committee are now going to print an edition of the New Testament for Greece. Netherlands. Much opposition is manifested in many parts of the Netherlands: but, both at Tournay and Brussels, your Agent felt authorised to encourage the friends of the Society to use -a greater liberty and freedom in the gratuitous distribution of the Scriptures, and, if possible, to employ other friends in the work, so as to bring more copies into the hands of all ranks, leaving the fate of the copies circulated to the gracious protection of Divine Providence; and thus to provoke, as it were, the attention of the public to the subject. Germany and Prussia. Berlin-The Central Prussian Society, with its 44 Auxiliaries, has distributed, since August 1814, more than 450,000 copies of the Scriptures... A Correspondent has been introduced to your Committee, who has manifested activity for several years; and his circle of distribution having greatly enlarged, he has, through Mr. Elsner, applied to your CONTINENT. 1830.] Committee for assistance: the prospect appears most encouraging; and, though the quantity solicited was much larger, 4000 copies only have, in the first instance, been granted: more than One Thousand Schools are under the beneficial influence of this Gentleman, and these in districts in which hitherto comparatively little has been done. Another individual, introduced by Mr. Elsner, in order to avail himself of an opportunity of extensively supplying several regiments, has earnestly petitioned to be allowed to purchase 5000 Testaments at half the cost price; a proposal to which your Committee have acceded, to the extent of 1000 copies... Dr. Pinkerton observes: The Rev. Mr. Couard and Mr. Elsner, Secretaries of the Prussian Bible Society, have, in their individual capacity, taken charge of the distribution of our Bibles and Testaments since my visit in 1827. They have issued 2500 Bibles in German, and 350 in Hebrew; together with 3000 German Testaments, 900 Polish, and 2450 Bohemian. These have been sent, in larger or smaller numbers, to their Correspondents in various parts of the Prussian Dominions, for circulation, according to our Rules; or circulated in Prisons, Workhouses, and other Public Institutions. Bremen-The Society has now circulated 8450 copies, but has not required further assistance in the present year. Buchwald-The Countess of Reden has very recently forwarded two Letters, received by her from Upper Silesia, shewing a great importunity on the part of the poor for New Testaments... She has sent a fresh application for 300 Bibles to meet the following case : Although Bibles without the Apocrypha, as we receive them from you, are comparatively little in demand, and some even refuse to take them instead of a complete Bible, there has, nevertheless, to our joy, a channel been opened for their circulation, and we are anxious to avail ourselves of the same without delay. Our Penny-a-week Bible Associations, which have been continued here during the space of three years with a good result, are more and more approved of; and my last report evinces that this benevolent regulation is fully adopted in many schools. It may easily be expected that the number of Bibles required will be considerably increased; and, with a view of satisfying all applications, it has been resolved, at our last meeting, that on Luther's birth-day, the 10th of November, we shall only distribute Bibles without the Apocrypha, as the children have no need of any other in their schools; and as thereby they will be imperceptibly introduced into private families, where often a more bigoted adherence to ancient customs, without any attempts at improvement, in duces people to object to receiving these Bibles. Buntzlau-The Society writes The interest taken in the Bible Cause has evidently been increased: our receipts have been greater than in any previous year, and the demand for Bibles has likewise been enlarged. Carlsruhe The benevolent and active friend of the Society, Madame de Moser, though in her 74th year, continues her exertions: she has made application for and received 2000 copies of the New Testament. From the Bible Society a very satisfactory statement has been received of the distribution of 500 Bibles and 1000 Testaments. On their arrival, the Protestant Superintendants of Dioceses were requested to ascertain if there were any poor families, who wished to have Bibles bestowed on them, and who would willingly accept of them without the Apocrypha: 2163 Bibles and 2776 Testaments were applied for; and, though regret was expressed by some at the absence of the Apocrypha, yet the Bibles were received in the most grateful manner, and the grant, so far as it would go, was disposed of in Twenty-seven Dioceses. Cologne - This Society has issued 52,480 copies... The Committee have about one hundred Correspondents in different parts of the country, who.communicate with them twice a-year, and each of whom is a distributor. A Correspondent writes I wish you could be a witness of the eagerness with which the poor, who are truly hungry after the Word of God, come from remote places to obtain it. Dantzig-The Society, last year, circulated 1143 copies; and 15,105, since 1815. The Rev. Mr. Alexander, Missionary to the Jews, at Dantzig, writes We are at times asked why the Apocrypha is not in your Bibles; but never have they been rejected or refused on account of its being wanting: and it gives us a very good opportunity of pointing out to the people what is the Word of God. Detmold-The Society has issued, in all, 3174 copies. Dresden- Mr. Naumann had distributed, in the seven months preceding Dr. Pinkerton's visit, 571 Bibles and 173 Testaments. Mr. Naumann is now one of the Secretaries of the Saxon Bible Society that Society has appointed three of its members to superintend the distribution of Bibles without the Apocrypha, and 500 have been placed at their dis |