interesting, by making the developments of it which it merits. I will confine myself to merely observing, that we have never seen an example of ill effects resulting from the reading of the ancient that code; that we can cite a thousand of a salutary influence; those nations of Europe where it is most read, are those which shine most in the purity of morals, the serious turn of their thought, and in fervent piety; that the picture, the annals, the detail of the theocracy of the children of Israel familiarise us, better than any other study in the world, with the idea of an universa! theocracy, of a tutelary and special providence: the first foundation of every sentiment truly religious.

Surely it is in seeing Christians, separated by climate, by nation, by rites, by ceremonies, I had almost said etiquettes of worship, offer themselves, of one accord, and unite their common efforts to distribute among unbelievers the sacred volume, which is the foundation of our faith; it is then, that methinks we see, all at once, the manifestation and grandeur of that invisible church of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is not confined within the limits of any particular sect, or any form of external community, but which embraces all the true worshippers of God, and of his Son, dispersed through all parts of the habitable earth. We have then the same Lawgiver, the same charter, the same doctrines of faith, of love, and of hope; when we endeavour, with one common consent, to communicate to those who have them not, these inestimable blessings.

After having rendered to each other reciprocal justice, and after having recognized this first and grand identifying trait of moral physiognomy, the desire of extending the kingdom of heaven; we will read again this book, which offers to us, to the infidels, and to the pagans, to the victims of the double idolatry of reason and of imaginary gods ;-we will read again, with other eyes, with more charity for our brethren; and we will discover, with astonishment, with joy, that we are agreed upon all the opinions which are exposed, under twenty aspects, in many hundred passages of scripture, and that we only quarrel or divide about a few points in relation to the exterior organization of the church, the certainty of which depends upon the true sense of three or four lines of the original text differently interpreted.

ITALY.

A PROTESTANT CHURCH IN ROME!

Paris, April 26.

Letters from Rome announce "That religious toleration has achieved a victory in the chief city of Catholicism. His holiness has permitted the Calvinists at present in Rome, the public exercise of their worship, and, in consequence, they have administered the sacrament in a church open to the public. M.

Necker, an ancient Cyndic, of the republic of Geneva, being at present in Rome, the Protestants have requested him to walk at their head in going to the communion. This has been done, and gave general satisfaction.

"I attribute this determination of the court of Rome, to the progress of knowledge, as well as to the well known character of the sovereign Pontiff for toleration. I do not agree with those who see in this act a motive of temporal interest, which will be pleasing to the cabinet of St. James. Whatever it may be, the friends of morality cannot but felicitate themselves in seeing the Pope render such a solemn homage to the liberty of conscience."

GERMANY.

From Mr. Charles Enslin, Secretary to the Wirtemberg Bible Society, dated Stuttgardt, March 8, 1820.

When his majesty visited, a few weeks ago, the School of Industry, he entered into conversation on the subject of the Bible Society with Mr. Lotter, one of its Directors. This active friend of ours, gratefully acknowledged the accommodation his majesty had graciously afforded to the institution by having favoured it with part of a building for the establishment of a printing-office; and took the liberty to add, that the institution would derive an additional advantage from being allowed the free use of the remainder of the house.

The King replied "Let the society make an immediate application to my ministers; and, if any difficulty should arise, they may directly apply to myself, and I will take the necessary measures for the accomplishment of their wish." At parting, the King added, "If the society should have any other request to make, let them freely apply to me."

Two days after this interview the King sent a donation of 500 florins, (about 50%.)

SWITZERLAND.

From the Rev. Casper Steinmann, Treasurer of the Bible Society at St. Gall, dated 14th December, 1819.

In transmitting the last Report of that society, the Treasurer writes,-"When I consider that the King's glory consists in the multitude of his subjects, I rejoice to see the accession of fresh forces, who may enjoy in his service the same advantages which I possess. I hail in spirit their arrival; I congratulate them on their happiness, and still ascend higher, to the top, as it were, of the mount, from which I see either individuals or whole troops advancing in various directions, some cheerfully pursuing their march, conducted by their leaders, others support

ed by the arms of their stronger brethren. Thus the numbers are continually swelling; and, when the whole host shall be assembled together, shouts of joy and triumph will resound on every side. No one will ever find reason to repent of having exerted himself, to the utmost of his power, for the advancement of the kingdom of the Redeemer, but rather regret his having been able to do so little; but our King is not an austere man, reaping that which he did not sow, but generously regarding the smallest service we have rendered, and taking notice even of what it was in our hearts to do. Indeed we cannot sufficiently admire his forbearing and forgiving spirit, and that he often rewards, even here below, our works of faith and labour of love; and sometimes favours us with a foretaste of higher celestial joys.

"We are preparing a plan for the establishment of associations, May the Lord grant me the satisfaction of witnessing their formation; and may the constraining love of Christ be the ruling principle of all our operations, for without this no real good will be effected."

RUSSIA.

From the Rev. Dr. Pinkerton.

St. Petersburgh, Feb. 7, O. S. 1820. It will doubtless afford you pleasure to hear that I have met with a most cordial reception from my numerous Russian friends in this place. The second day after my arrival, I had my first interview with our venerable President, Prince Galitzin, who most sincerely rejoiced at the success which had attended my efforts in Greece and Turkey, and cordially invited me to put my hand to assist forward the work in Russia, where there was still so much that had been begun, that required to be completed. When I waited on the venerable Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, Michael, in the Nevsky Monastery, I found his eminence with the Archbishop Philaret, two Archimandrites, the Protoire of the Cathedral Church, and his excellency Popoff, busily employed in revising the First Epistle of Peter, of the Russ version. After the most kind and friendly salutations, the Archimandrite observed to me, that they were unitedly labouring for the same good work which I had been travelling to promote. Their joy and astonishment were great, at hearing of what had been begun among their brethren in Greece.

On the 31st ult. the Prince Galitzin sent for me, and told me "that his Imperial Majesty had ordered him to say to me, that he had perused the whole series of my letters from Greece and Turkey-that they had afforded him much pleasure that he rejoiced at what I had been enabled to do for the promotion of the object of the Bible Society in those parts; and that whatever was in his power to do, in order to carry forward

what had been so auspiciously begun, he would most willingly grant."

My object in mentioning these particulars is to encourage your Committee, and the numerous friends of the Bible Society in Britain, not to be weary in well doing; for in due time we shall reap, if we faint not. Amen.

Extract from the speech of the Metropolitan of Moscow, Seraphim, at the 7th anniversary of the Moscow Bible Society, 13th March, O.S. 1820.

Most respectable assembly,

Of all the blessings which the mercy of God has bestowed upon us, there is none greater and more complete than His holy word. I shall not attempt to describe all those advantages which flow from it, for they are more than can be numbered or expressed: suffice it for me, with the apostle Paul, to declare, that it is the power of God unto salvation.

Ó that the truth which is revealed by the Holy Spirit in the sacred volume, may become the life of our life, and the light and food of our souls: and may the word of truth, the word of God, be the only rule of our lives!-But wo, wo unto those who disregard this truth of God, and unto such as hold it in unrighteousness!-Because of disrespect to His holy word, the Lord cut off the most ancient church in the world, the Jewish church: on account of this direspect and neglect, the Lord removed the candlesticks out of their places in many of the churches of Asia and Africa, which once shone in the beauty of holiness like the stars in the firmament; others of them he punished with spiritual famine, so that the prophecy of Amos was accomplished upon them; "They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." O what a fearful punishment was this!-For where the word of the Lord is not to be found, there the Lord himself is absent, his gracious influences are unknown, and there remains nothing but lies, deceptions, fables, spiritual death, and the dominion of the prince of darkness! In proportion, therefore, as we esteem the word of God to be holy, and indispensable for ourselves, the sacred obligation rests upon us, not merely to know it, and zealously to strive to obey it, but also to endeavour, by every possible means, to put it into the hands of others, that they may also learn to know and obey it. We are bound not only to nourish our own souls with this celestial bread, but likewise to impart it to such as are hungering after it; not merely to quench the thirst of our own souls with this living water, which floweth into everlasting life, but to give it to others, that they likewise may quench their thirst. Our love to God our Saviour demands this from us: to him nothing can be more accept

able than our caring for the good of our neighbours, for whom he shed his precious blood. Love to our neighbour demands this from us; for, in bestowing upon him the word of God, we afford him the most infallible and hopeful means for obtaining the salvation of his soul.

of men.

It is with infinite regret, however, that we must confess, that this highly important and sacred duty has been but seldom rightly understood and felt by us in its full extent: the sacred writings, in time past, have been left in the hands of the clergy, as a something with which they only had a concern; while among the other classes of society, but very few possessed them, or read them. Out of this state of things a mighty evil arose, this evil-ignorance of the law of God, the only effectual restraint of the corrupt passions No sooner was this thrown aside than men became ungovernable. In every direction the passions of men have raged with fury, and have filled cities and peaceful villages with falsehood, deceit, oppression, bribery, corruption, and every species of wickedness. But, when this iniquity began to abound, and to threaten the existence of all social order and happiness, a gracious God was pleased to raise up the Bible Society, whose sole object is the increase and circulation of the books of holy writ, with a view to re-establish and extend the pure knowledge of the holy law of God, which is the only right guide of our actions; by this distinguished intervention of Providence, God has placed a strong barrier to this evil, and laid a stable foundation for the building up of the true faith and genuine piety even unto the ends of the earth.

Nor is this mere conjecture-it is truth, supported by numerous present events; for, the benevolent Bible Society, which, at its commencement, undertook the circulation of the sacred writings, first among their fellow-countrymen, were soon after excited by the spirit of faith to extend their labours to the whole of mankind: and with what diligence and flaming zeal did they begin the truly grand undertaking! Certain of their members, leaving their place of nativity, their wives, children, and friends, have crossed distant seas and rivers; others have traversed burning sands and deepening snows; settled among uncivilized and half-savage tribes for the express purpose of learning their language, and translating the holy scriptures into them, in order to bestow this precious light and treasure upon them.

Verily it seems to me, that the consummating vision of the be"And I saw another loved disciple of Christ is now realizing: angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him."-For, in the present day, the Bible Societies are actually promulgating the gospel of God among every nation almost, in the languages which they understand;