into their hands so valuable, or so conducive to their eternal well being, as the Holy Scriptures? We may greatly aid the salvation of our fellow men, by distributing among them religious tracts, and by sending them preachers of the Gospel. But these advantages will be very deficient without the Bible. This is the standard, by which men and doctrines are to be tried. And it is highly necessary that all should be able to search the Scriptures, daily, and in their own houses, that they may know whether that, which they hear and read, be according to sound doctrine.

The laudable efforts of others in distributing the Bible, should animate us in the good cause. The British and Foreign Bible Society, which was instituted in London, in 1804, stands foremost in the noble undertaking. Their "zeal hath provoked very ma ny." Numerous auxiliary Bible Societies have since been formed in Great Britain, and also nearly twenty Bible Societies in these American States. These Societies have been greatly succeeded in their attempts to diffuse the word of God. A vast many persons now have the Bible in their houses, who would otherwise have remained without this inestimable treasure. But much is yet to be done. Multitudes are still in want of the word of God. Yea, hundreds of millions have never seen the Gos. pel of Jesus Christ. Can you see your brethren have need, and shut up your bowels of compassion from them?

The present aspects of the religious and political world. give us reason to hope that the millennium is not far distant, when the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth. How greatly the more extensive distribution of the Holy Scriptures, will conduce to this important event, is be. yond our power of calculation. Cer tain we are, that it cannot be useless, nor in vain. It must have great infence, and produce permanent ef fects.

It is expected, and with good reason, that every minister of the Gos pel will take an active and zealous part in this business. Dear brethren, how can you better awaken in the

minds of your people, a sense of the value of the Scriptures, than by soliciting their aid in sending the Bible to the destitute and needy? Will not this at once lead them to realize the worth and preciousness of that sacred book? And while they water others, will they not be most likely to be watered themselves, by times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Let all unite in this great object. As we all profess to receive the Bible as the rule of our faith and practice, let us exert ourselves in its more extensive distribution. No one, in doing this, can be justly charged with bigotry, with sectarian zeal, or with party, political views. What object can be so unexceptionable, or so highly deserving the approbation and concurrence of every one, in every station of human life? Who can refuse his aid in giving the Bible to his fel. low men?

Consider, dear Brethren, how ma ny are now perishing for lack of vision. Realize the worth of their souls; and how much they need a knowledge of the way of salvation. You have opportunity to be instru mental in saving their souls. Soon you will meet them in the presence of your Judge. Shall they perish through your neglect; and be witnesses against you in the judgment day? O make them your friends, by a liberal use of the mammon of unrighteousness, that they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

In behalf of the Board of Directors,
JOHN H. CHURCH, Secretary.

BIBLE SOCIETIES IN ENGLAND.

The formation of Auxiliary Bible Societies progresses in England with wonderful zeal and activity. We presume our readers will be pleased with the following details extracted from late numbers of the Christian Observer.

NORFOLK AND NORWICH AUXIL IARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, on the 11th of September.

the Mayor in the chair, for the pur pose of instituting an Auxiliary Bible Society. The business was opened by the Mayor; after which the Bishop of Norwich rose, and, in a concise but impressive speech, laid before the assembly a luininous view of the nature and advantages of such an institution, congratulating them at the same time on the union of enlightened Christians of so many different persuasions. The secretaries of the parent society were present, and addressed the meeting with their ac customed energy and effect. Up wards of £800 were immediately subscribed. The Bishop of Norwich was chosen president of the institution, The vice-presidents are: the Earl of Orford; Lord Calthorpe; Sir J. H. Astley, Bart. M. P.; T. W. Coke, Esq. M. P.; J. Pattison, Esq M. P.; W. Smith, Esq. M. P.; and the Mayor, of Norwich.

The address of the Ssociety states that, "from observations lately made (chiefly in the neighborhood of Nor wich,) it has been ascertained, that, amongst the poor families, containing individuals who have been taught to read, a very great proportion are without either Bibles or Testaments; and it is supposed, upon the most moderate calculation, that there are at least 10,000 families in the country in this truly lamentable condition. The question, therefore, here agitated, is not, whether it be right to instruct the poor, if that can be a ques tion; but whether it be not our duty to give instruction already received its proper direction-The Committee trust, that a consideration of the important facts here detailed, will be sufficient, with the Divine blessing, to insure the Norwich Auxiliary Bible Society the support and patronage of all within the limits of this county. who wish well to the best interests of their neighbors, and the great cause of truth upon earth.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE AUXILIARY

BIBLE SOCIETY.

A MEETING was held on the 26th inst. at Wycombe (Bucks.) for the VOL. V. New Series.

purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society, in co-operation with the British and Foreign Bible Society, which was most numerously and respectably attended. Viscount Mahon having been called to the chair, delivered a very able and impressive speech, detailing the reasons for such an institution as it was proposed to form; and concluded by reading letters from several persons of distinction, among whom were the Marquis of Buckingham, and Lords Carrington and Grenville, expressing their approbation of the measure, and their regret at not being able to attend. The Vicar of Wycombe, the Rev. W. Pryce, then moved a string of Resolutions, after prefacing them by an address cliaracterized by neatness, piety, and feeling. The London secretaries were then called upon, and Messrs. Steinkopff and Hughes having been introduced by the Rev Mr. Owen, laid open more particularly the character and proceedings of the parent society and ber auxiliaries. The several votes of thanks were moved by Sir Thomas Baring member for the town; R. Lowndes, Esq. member for the county; the Rev. Messrs. Scott, Marsh, &c. with appropriate and animated addresses. The thanks to the London secretaries were acknowledged by the Rev. Mr. Owen, who took that opportunity of corroborating the statements made by the several speakers who had preceded him, and delineated the characteristic features of the institution, and the honorable attitude in which it placed Great Britian, as extending the everlasting Gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Nothing could exceed the harmony and Christian feeling which pervaded the meeting. The Marquis of Buckingham was appointed president of the Auxiliary Society; -The Lords Carrington, Mahon, Grenville, Gardner, Cardigan, and Hampden; Sir Thomas Baring, and Sir E. Dashwood King, barts.; and W. Lowndes, Esq. M. P., vice presidents, &c. Upwards of £400 were subscribed before the company left the room.

6

THE CAMBRIDGE AUXLIIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE proposed meeting for consider ing the propriety of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society at Cambridge took place on the 12th instant. It was most numerously and respectably attended; and the issue was such as might have been expected. A Society was formed, of which the Duke of Gloucester was appointed patron; the Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Hardwicke (who most ably and honorably filled the chair on this occasion) vice-patrons; the Bishop of Bristol President: and the Bishop of Landaff, the Earl of Bristol, Lord Headley, Dr Milner the Dean of Carlisle, and Dr. Davy, Master of Caius College, vice-presidents. Upwards of one thousand pounds have been subscribed.

BEDFORDSHIRE AUXILIARY BIBLE

SOCIETY.

On the 28th of November, a meeting was held at Bedford, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Socie ty for that county and its vicinity.

His Grace the Duke of Bedford opened the business of the day in a manner equally dignified and impres sive, and began by stating, that, on receiving an application to accept the office of president to the Society, he had thought it his duty, before he engaged in a step of so much importance, maturely to investigate the na ture, plan, and general principles of the institution which he was called upon to support; and that, after the fullest deliberation which he was able to give to the subject, his mind was strongly impressed with the impor tance of the object, and the obligation on his part to give it his most cordial and unqualified approbation and support. His Grace stated his opinion, that it was to the dissemination of the Scriptures we were to look in order to reclaim the vicious, instruct the ignorant, and administer consolation to the afflicted; and declared his firm conviction, that sound policy and the support of religion were invariably the

same; --that what his Majesty had once expressed on this subject was deeply engraven on his mind, viz. "That he hoped to see the day when every poor man's child in his dominions should be able to read his Bible;”—that most willingly did he concur in this sentiment; and with this view he had thought it incumbent on him to coun. tenance the measures taken for ex. tending the blessing of religious education among the lower classes of society.

His Grace was followed by the Rev. Mr. Beachcroft, the rector of Blunham, and by the three secretaries of the parent society, who, with their accustomed ability and feeling, sev erally explained the nature, and enforced the claims, of the institution which it was proposed to establish. The resolutions for the formation of an Auxiliary Society were unanimous. ly adopted; and his Grace the Duke of Bedford was appointed president of it; the Marquis of Tavistock, Lord St. John, Sir George Osborne, Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. P. Lee An. tonie, Esq. M. P. and Francis Pym, Esq. M. P. vice-presidents. In the course of the proceedings of the day, many speakers distinguished themselves by the force of their arguments and the fervor of their eloquence; and among them, the Rev. Leigh Richmond, rector of Turvey; the Rev. Mr. Anthony of Bedford; John Foster, Esq. of Biggleswade the Rev. Mr. Hillyard of Bedford; Mr. Professor Martyn, rector of Purtenall; the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw, vicar of Beddenham; the Rev. Richard Whittingham, vicar of Patten; the Rev. Mr. Freeman of Bradford; Samuel Whitbread, Esq.; and John Foster, Esq of Brickhill. It would be utterly impossible for us to give our readers even a faint sketch of these different speeches, which were certainly in the highest degree honorable both to the heads and hearts of the speakers. All we shall be able to effect is to preserve from oblivion, as far as our ephemeral pages can effect that object, the noble testimony which, with all his characteristic manliness and force, Mr. Whitbread bore in favor of the purposes of the meeting. (To be continued.}

Languages. 1 Sangskrit 2 Bengallee

3 Orissa

Printed.

The whole Bible is translated and printed in the Malay language. This was done several years ago by the Dutch government, at Batavia. The whole Bible is translated and printed in the Tamul language, or that spoken on the east coast of the Peninsula, from Madras to Cape Comorin. We are about to print a new and large edition of this version, at the expense of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Soci ety.

The New Testament is translated into Cingalese, or the language of Ceylon, and the Old Testament is in a course of translation on the Island.

We are about also to print a large edi

tion of the New Testament in this language at the expense of the same society. N.B. There are 380,000 pro fessed Christians on that Island, and at present not more than thirty copies of the New Testament to be found among them all,

The whole Bio. N. T

[third Ed. N. Test. Hagiography, [Prophets, Joshua. N. T. 2d ed. of the Gos[pels. Gen. begun,

N. T. Genesis.
N. T. in the press.
N. T. in the press.
N. T. just commencing.
Matt, and Mark.

Not begun-types cast.
Not begun,

Not begun.

Matt. begun, but relin[quished for the present. Not begun.

The Gospels, and I believe the whole New Testament have been lately translated into the Malayalam language, or that spoken on the western side of the Peninsula, by the Bishop of the Syrian churches there. We are about to print an edition of this version also, at the expense of the same society.

There are still several languages in the East into which no translation is yet begun, viz. The language of Ca-> bul; that of Thibet; the languages of Tartary, the Arrakan, Siam, and Cambodian languages, together with

I am at Calcutta, and our accounts at

Serampore, I cannot therefore specify the number of dollars; I only recollect that we received a large sum, I think $2000, and afterwards a small sum, which I be lieve was that brought by Capt. Griffin, I however well recollect that they exactly agreed with your account which accompanied them,

those spoken by different small na. tions of mountaineers, north and east of India. Also a number of languages spoken in the Islands, as the Javan, Macassar, Batta, Buggeso, and sever. al others unknown to me.

Among the works in the press at Serampore, I ought to have mention. ed a version in the Arabico-Hindoosthannee, by the Rev. Mr. Martyn; a Pers an version of the New Testament by the Rev. Mr. Sebastiani, a Catholic; and an Arabic one, not yet put to press, by Mr. Nathaneal Sabat. Thus I have given you a short account of the works which we are carrying on, and of those carrying on by others; also a short and very imperfect account of what still remains to be done in the way of translating the word of God. It must, however, not be supposed that I have given a complete account of all that remains to be done. The languages spoken' through all the Islands of the Indian Ocean, and the Chinese seas, must be very numerous, and many of them have scarcely been noticed by Europeans. These islands are, however, full of inhabitants, and many of them are in the most dreadful state of barbarism. In Sumatra, one nation, if not more, are cannibals, and exceed all that has ever been heard of cannibals. We have a lad now in our free school at Calcutta, who was saved from being devoured by a gentleman, captain of a ship in the Eastern trade, who gave me the acoount, which is as follows. He was on the east side of Sumatra, when having occasion one day to go ashore, his attention was particularly arrested by three boys in a sort of enclosure. On inquiring of a Malay what these boys were intended for, he told him they had been stolen from a neighboring Island, that they would be fattened, and then sold to the Battas, (a nation residing on the island) for food. He inquired the price of the boys, and was told 150 dollars, which he immediately paid, and thus saved them from that destruction. I suppose the greatest enemies to missions will scarcely think it wrong to send the Gospel to a country like this.

The cause of our Redeemer pros pers in India, and I trust will go on to prosper. There are five churches in Bengal, two in Hindoosthan, one in Orissa, and one in the Birman Empire. We have it in contemplation to send missions to Java and Amboyna, and, should the Lord prosper us, eventually to other places.

The distress of nations is great, and political confusion prevails all over the earth, but I trust the Lord is carrying forward his great work throughout the earth, and that his cause will triumph, and eventually accomplish all that which has so long been expected in vain from political chan ges. It will always be found that the depravity of human nature is the root of all human evils, and that the effect. ual prevalence of the Gospel of our Redeemer in the hearts of men is the only true remedy for it.

Give my love to our good friend Capt. Wickes; and to Mr. Mayhew, I delayed writing because of the great uncertainty of this ship's sailing, and must now make short work of my correspondence, as I find she will sail immediately.

I am very affectionately yours,
W. CAREY.
Calcutta, Oct. 4, 1811.

MASSACHUSETTS BIBLE SOCIETY.