ABRIDGED STATEMENT

OF THE

LEADING TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY;

WITH

A DIGEST

OF THE

VIEWS OF THE SOCIETY,

AND

A NOTICE OF ITS CHIEF PATRONS.

Extracted from the Historical Sketch of the Translation and Circulation of the Scriptures.

ABRIDGED STATEMENT,

&c. &.c.

THE Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society are ten in number. They contain little else besides matters of fact, stated with correctness and plainness. But to the mind that is guided by Christian principle, and animated by Christian feeling, these facts exhibit an object of contemplation, pleasing and captivating. They exhibit a system of the most disinterested benevolence, simple in its origin, pure in its spirit, unlimited in its operations, extending, without the arts or aids of human policy, its benign influence over the habitable world, and every where bearing upon it, the lineaments of that wisdom that is from above, pure and peaceable, and gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and of good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy ;' possessed of an annual and increasing revenue, unknown for magnitude in the history of benevolence, and supported not less by the mite of the poor widow'

A poor widow almost worn out with affliction, and who had seen and enjoyed better days,' hearing we were in the neighbourhood, waited our arrival with tears of joy; we went up to her room, at the top of a miserable house, when the woman said, 'This is my dwelling, and blessed be God for it; for I assure you, my dear sirs, although I have but little to supply my

and the humble cottager, than by the munificent gifts of the great and the affluent.

But amply as the perusal of these reports would repay the reader of piety, of judgment, and of feeling, there are few who will take even that trouble, and there are many, who have them not within their reach. We would therefore solicit the attention of such to the following abstract of leading particulars.

The Society has printed and circulated, or aided the printing and circulation of the Scriptures, either in part or in whole, in 55 different languages or dialects.

It has printed in Great Britain, editions of the Scriptures, or portions of them, in the following languages; viz.

It has contributed to promote on the continent of Europe, editions of the Scriptures or portions of them in the follow

ing languages or dialects.

bodily wants, yet I humbly hope, I do know what it is to feast upon the word of God in the night season.' She had a Bible, but in a very imperfect condition, and requested to have another. She thanked us for our visit, put a penny in our hauds, and with holy fervor, exclaimed, May the Lord bless the widow's mite.-Second Report of Southwark Auxiliary Bible Society.

Under its patronage there are printing, or are preparing for the press, in India, editions of the Scriptures, in the following oriental languages or dialects:

25. Jagalai, or Original Turcoman.

To promote the general object of the Institution, it has granted, from its original establishment to the tenth annual meeting, May 1814, in money, and in value of Bibles and Testaments.

It has issued from its commencement to the 30th of June, 1814, BIBLES and TESTAMENTS as follows:

N. B. In addition to the above, the Society has expended L.1740, for the distribution by Societies, and confidential agents in various parts of the continent, Bibles and Testaments, in the French, German, Swedish, and Danish languages, the exact number of which cannot be ascertained.

It has encouraged by pecuniary aid, or by its example, the establishment of the following Bible Societies in Foreign parts, and by donations, has aided them in printing editions of the Scriptures in various languages and dialects.

NO. XI.

Pam.

VOL. VI.

S