light to the blind, heals the broken in heart, brings life and immortality to light among those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and renders the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the promises. If the blessings of those who are ready to perish be worthy of acceptance, then may you be blessed; if there be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, then may the angels of God rejoice even in your labours, and the Father of mercies himself look down with approbation upon you. Above all other considerations, let this be supreme; if by engaging in these acts of benevolence, you are induced to read your Bibles with more earnestness for yourselves, you may become Christians indeed; and, however low your situation in this life, the treasures of that better world, will be your rich and eternal repayment?

And is it not a recommedation to men of all classes, that this system will soon earry the tidings of salvation into the most distant lands? When the demands at home shall have been satisfied by the contributions of the poor, the subscriptions of the more opulent to the Parent Society, and all the Auxiliaries, may be wholly converted into foreign channels. Thus will the lower orders, by their exertions at home, greatly contribute to the increase of the supply abroad; and, in this view, may even they be considered as elevating on high the standard of Christanity, as becoming heralds of salvation to the ends of the earth.'

They will share in the services and in the triumphs of those who, by the blessing of the Almighty, shall be made the instruments of showing his glory' to the millions of their fellow-creatures, that sit in utter darkness, or that hitherto have only caught glimpses of the light of Revelation, like interrupted flashes distantly shooting across a gloomy sky. They will march, if we may so speak, in the retinue of Him who shall come forth conquering and to conquer.' They will add wings, as it were, to that angel of mercy, who shall fly into all lands, bearing the everlasting Gospel. Their hearts will be gladdened by the gratitude of those whom, under God, they shall have assisted to save: and they will receive yet a far ampler reward in that place, where THEY THAT BE WISE SHALL SHINE AS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FIRMAMENT, AND THEY THAT TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AS THE STARS FOR EVER AND EVER.'

Resolutions recommended for Adoption at Meetings assembled for the Formation of Bible Associations.

At a Meeting of several Friends to the British and Foreign Bible Society, in the Chair,

Resolved,

1. That we form ourselves into an association for the purpose of contributing toward the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, particularly among the poor of this neighbourhood, and that it be denominated the Bible Association of

2. That every member of this association subscribe not less than one penny a week.

3. That for every fifteen or twenty members, the committee shall appoint a gratuitous collector, or that office may be filled by the subscribers in rotation, each for a certain period,) to receive the contributions; who shall pay the same to the treasurer on the first day of every month,

4. That the business of the association be under the management of a treasurer, a secretary, and a committee consisting of other members; and that the treasurer, secretary, and three-fourths of the other members who have most frequently attended the committee, shall be eligible for the ensuing year. 5. That the committee shall meet once every month, or oftener, on some day to be fixed by themselves, and that shall from a quorum.

6. That the committee divide this neighbourhood into districts, and appoint a sub-committee for each district, for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions from the inhabitants thereof.

7. That the committee shall make it their business to inquire, by the appointment of sub-committees, whether any families or individuals, residing within its sphere, are in want of Bibles or Testaments, and unable to procure them; in which case it shall be the duty of the committee to furnish them therewith at reduced prices, or gratis, according to their circumstances.

8. That the whole of the funds of this association, whether arising from subscrip tions, donations, or the sale of Bibles or Testaments, at prime cost, or reduced

prices, shall, from time to time, be expended in the purchase of Bibles and Testaments, to be sold or given among the poor of this neighbourhood, as before directed, until they shall be adequately supplied with the Holy Scriptures; in which case, the amount of future subscriptions and donations shall be remitted to the Auxiliary Bible Society, at or the Branch Bible Society at

at

in aid of its benevolent designs.

9. That application be made by the committee, to the committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society at or to the Branch Bible Society for permission to lay out the funds of this association, in purchasing at the depository of the said society, Bibles and Testaments at the cost prices.

10. That a general meeting of the subscribers be held at

the

in each year, when the accounts, (as audited by the committee,) shall be presented, the proceedings of the past year reported, and a treasurer, secretary, and

pointed.

11. That

be treasurer,

members of the committee for the year ensuing.

committee-men ap

secretary, and

12. That subscriptions and donations be now entered into, and that they be also received by the treasurer, secretary, and the members of the committee.

The sub-committees should inquire of the poor, first, whether they possess copies of the Scriptures, and in what condition; secondly, if not, and yet are desirous of possessing them, whether they have the means, in whole, or in part, at once, or by degrees, of purchasing copies; thirdly, if any, and how many, of the family can read; and enter such information in separate columns.

The plan of selling the Scriptures to the poor has been tried, and has been found to possess several important advantages, (where practicable,) over gratuitous distri bution. When purchased, even at a low rate, they are generally held in higher estimation, and more carefully preserved, than when given. The expediency of extending this mode of supply as widely as possible, is forcibly urged by the consideration, that, if sold at an average but of one half of the cost price, and the money so recei ved invested in the purchase of more books, and this repeated till the whole fund and stock be exhausted, the number of copies thus circulated will be nearly double that which could have been gratuitously circulated by the expenditure of the original sum. This average of one-half may be obtained by carrying the price, according to the circumstances of the parties, from one-fourth to three-fourths of the cost price, or even from one-eighth to seven-eighths. If the parties cannot pay immedi❤ ately, they may be allowed to discharge the small debt by weekly instalments; which will enable a very large proportion of the poor to purchase the Scriptures, and render it unnecessary to give them excepting to a very few.

The effect which the adoption of this system will have in accelerating the supply at home, and in enabling the society to enlarge its exertions abroad, must be obvious to every considerate person.

BLACKHEATH AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

This Society held its general meeting last May. It appeared from the report, that the Committee had ascertained that at least 5000 families in this populous distriet were without a bible; that great eagerness was every where evinced to obtain the word of God; that actual application for it had been made by between two and three thousand; that the state of the parent Society's stock of bibles, as well as of their own funds, had not as yet enabled them to distribute more than one thousand bibles and testaments; and that of these very few had been given away, the money received in return for them amounting, on the average, to nearly two shillings for each. The amount of subscriptions and donations is now about 10007; and ten Bible Associations are already formed within the district. Her royal highness the Princess of Wales was declared Patroness; and lord Hood, lord Eardley, admiral Sir J. Colpoys, rear-admiral Taylor, and the Rev. J. Mathew, (successour of Dr. Burnaby to the living of Greenwich,) were added to the list of Vice-Presidents. Among other favourable circumstances connected with the growth of this Auxiliary

Society, is the great number of military and naval men, of rank and influence, who are its supporters and friends.

LIVERPOOL BIBLE SOCIETY.

At the anniversary meeting of this Society, in May, a very interesting Report was made by the Committee of their proceedings during the past year. They had taken peculiar pains to furnish copies of the scriptures to such of the numerous foreign seamen who crowd their port, as were able to read them, and also to the pri soner, the sick, the needy, and the distressed, at home. The eagerness to possess the sacred volume is stated to have been general and strongly marked; and where there is "an unaffected wish to read, it is scarcely possible that they should not profit by the word of God." An examination had been instituted, for the purpose of ascertaining how many families of the poor were in want of bibles. The exami nation had as yet extended only to 4386 families; but of these only 1544 were possessed either of bible or testament. "Enough therefore," the Committee observe, "yet remains to stimulate the zeal and exhaust the resources of the Society: much of ignorance remains to be instructed; much of religious indifference to be roused into action; much of vice and licentiousness to be subdued; much of poverty and affliction to be comforted." "It is a peculiar feature," they add, "in the character of this country, that in times of general distraction, when the irritated feeling which a protracted war excites has been exasperated into the fiercest rage, the spirit of merey should yet preside over the shock of angry passions, and the best gift of God to man should be presented with affectionate zeal to the very enemies who seek our ruin."

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD BIBLE SOCIETY.

The second anniversary of this Society was held on the 22d of June. An able Report was read by the Chairman, by which it appeared, that, notwithstanding the extraordinary pressure of the times, by which this district was also peculiarly affect ed, the receipts of the past year had far exceeded their most sanguine expectations; and five Branch Societies had been formed, viz. at Warrington, Knutsford, Bowden, Bacup and Bury. From Warrington about 1007. had been received; from Knutsford, 80l.; from Bowden, 150%; from Bacup, 667.; and from Bury, 370l. The se cond year's income of the Society amounted to 2,070l. 158.; the whole of which was sent to the parent institution, in addition to about 4007. the balance of last year's account. The inability of the parent Society to furnish bibles to supply the demands which pressed on them from all quarters, prevented so large a distribution as might otherwise have been effected. The number circulated was 2677 bibles, and 3052 testaments.

Beside these we observe Reports from the Wallingford, York, Bradford, Staffordshire, &c. Auxiliary Bible Societies. But our limits oblige us to omit any further notice of these, for the purpose of admitting into our pages an account of the

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. This institution was first formed in the year 1698. In 1701, a charter was obtain ed, by which all the then subscribers, with many others, were incorporated by the name of "the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Most of the original members, however, continued as a voluntary society to prosecute their benevolent designs at home, which designs were afterwards extended to other quarters of the world, under the name of " the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge." Their objects were, 1. The promoting and assisting of charity schools, not only in England and Wales, but in Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the British dominions, and in Russia, Germany, Prussia, and many other countries: 2. The dispersion of the Bible, the Liturgy, and other pious books and tracts, both at home and abroad, not only in English, but in the Welsh, Manks, Gaelick, Portuguese, French, Danish, and German languages. 3. The support of religious missions, both at the Scilly islands and in the East Indies, promoting the establishment of schools and erecting churches in India, and printing the Scriptures, Liturgy, and other religious books in some of the native languages of India, together with an edi tion of the New Testament and other books in Arabick. 4. Gratuitously supplying, from time to time, the religious wants of the navy and army, and of the poor in hospitals, prisons, workhouses, almshouses, &c. These designs have been car

ried on by means of the annual subscriptions of its members, of legacies, and of occasional donations, and having lately enlarged their gratuitous undertakings, they humbly trust "that the same gracious Providence which, for so many years, has enabled them to carry on their designs for promoting Christian knowledge, and edifying the body of Christ, will still furnish the means whereby those objects may be pursued with increased activity and vigour." Among the instrumental means of success, "the Society looks with peculiar hope and satisfaction to the zealous aid and co-operation of the diocesan and district committees; which have recently, under the direction of our prelates, in many places, been established; and which continue to spread rapidly into almost all parts of the kingdom."

It is impossible to contemplate the designs of this Society without admiration:it posseses the means of accomplishing these designs: and we view it as comprising, within its pale, all the English, and many of the Irish bishops, two or three thousand of the elergy, besides a multitude of noblemen and gentlemen of great weight and influence in the state.

PRAYER BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY.

It will be observed that we have commenced this our first number of the Quarterly Theological Magazine, with the republication of part of the Homilies. As our proposals have announced, we intend regularly to give one of them in each number of our work. The total neglect into which they have fallen in this country, must be cause of sincere regret to every member of the Church. In the short account we shall give of this Society, it will be seen how ardent our fellow-believers in Great Britain appear to be in the circulation of these invaluable testimonials of the piety and godly care of the Church in earlier times, and how important they conceive a perusal of them to be, in attaining a knowledge of its doctrines.

To give our readers a correct view of the intentions of this society with respect to the Homilies, we make the following extracts from "Reasons for establishing, at the present time, a Prayer-book aud Homily Society, for the sole purpose of distributing, gratis, and circulating at reduced prices, the Prayer-book and Homilies of the united Church of England and Ireland among the people of the British empire, and particularly in his Majesty's army and navy, and in our colonies and dependencies."

"Notwithstanding the endeavours of the two great and excellent societies, for promoting Christian Knowledge, and for the Distribution of the Holy Scriptures, it has appeared to several persons, anxious to promote the prosperity of the Church of England, and the interests of true religion, that there is still room for increased exertion. There are still some objects, which, either from the constitution of one of those societies are necessarily and upon principle excluded, or from the variety of claims upon the benevolent attention of the other, have been hitherto only partially accomplished. Among these, that of more widely circulating the Prayer-book, and the Homilies of the Church of England, both in separate sermons and in the entire volume, has appeared peculiarly important."

"To the Homilies perhaps, more than to any other compositions, the establishment of Protestantism in the hearts of the people of England, may, under Providence, be ascribed. So highly important were they thought by the Fathers of our Church, that originally a copy of them was deposited in every established place of worship, for the perusal and instruction of the people. And in our own times ample testimony has been borne to their excellence and utility by bishop Horsley, by the present bishop of Lincoln, and by Dr. Hey, the Norrisian Professor of Divinity. Yet from the multifarious nature of the benevolent designs pursued by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, the Homilies have never been included in the list of its publications."

"To the dignitaries and ministers of the Church generally, as well as to that vast body of the laity who are cordially attached to her, a Society whose views tend to unite all parties within her extensive pale, in one great, simple and orthodox deign of a strictly definite nature, may justly hope to be acceptable.-It may justly hope to establish itself in their hearts and affections, and to engage their zealous assistance; because it directly tends to unite under the banners of the Church, (for the evident and unequivocal promotion of genuine religion,) the zeal and exertions of all her members."

"Finally, an humble confidence is entertained, that by the combined exertions of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, of the British and Foreign Bible

Society, of the Naval and Military Bible Society, of the National Society for the Education of the Poor, and of the proposed Prayer-book and Homily Society, and other institutions of a similar nature; the ancient fabrick of the Church will be cemented by mutual charity and brotherly love, and immovably fixed in the hearts of the people."

The following extract from a circular letter written by the Secretary of the Society, will give some further information of its views.The eightieth canon, promulgated more than forty years after the first publication of the Homilies, requires, that if any parishes be yet unfurnished with the Bible of the largest volume, or with the books of Homilies allowed by authority, the churchwardens shall, within convenient time, provide the same at the charge of the parish.' On the first publi cation of the Homilies, a royal visitation was undertaken by a committee of divines and laymen, who divided the kingdom into six circuits, and distributed a copy to every parish. The volume was thus deposited in every parish church, and like the bible, was publickly offered to the general perusal of the people.

"Most of the copies, thus placed in churches, have long since fallen into decay; nor is there any suitable edition now, to be procured by such persons as wish to replace them, and thus to comply with the injunction of the canon, and to perpetuate the laudable practice of our ancestors. It is one great wish of the present Society to supply this defect. It is therefore proposed to publish a very handsome folio edition of the Homilies, in one volume, on a large type, which will be sold at what it may cost the Society, to such clergy men and church-wardens as may wish to renew the practice enjoined by the canon, and enforced by the example of their predecessors. It is estimated that each copy of this work will cost the Society one guinea, well bound in rough calf. Those persons, who may be inclined to avail themselves of this offer, are requested to forward their names to the secretary, the Rev. H. Budd, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, London; appointing payment to be made in town, on the delivery of the work. The volume will be put to press, as soon as a sufficient number of names are received to satisfy the Committee that it will be acceptable to the publick. The Society will feel its exertions rewarded, if it shall be the means of opening this volume before the eyes of thousands of the poor throughout the empire, in these times of dangerous errours and turbulent principles. The population of the empire is very rapidly becoming a reading population; and if they are not amply supplied with wholesome truth, too many are lying on the watch to poison them with pernicious errours. To make the Homilies, therefore, more generally known, both in the entire volume, and by the distribution of them as single sermons, at a cheap rate, will be wisely to avail ourselves of our present enlarged means of instruction, in support of those principles which form the basis of our established Church."

LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

The London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, held their an niversary meeting at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on Thursday the 21st of May. The meeting was respectably attended; the Lord Bishop of Meath in the chair. The Report of the proceedings of the Society, during the past year, having been read and approved, his lordship examined three of the youths under the care of the Rev. Mr. Frey, with a view to the ministry, and expressed the highest satisfaction with their progress in their studies.

The Rev. C. F. Frey stated, in an impressive manner, the actual situation of the Jews. He showed that, in addition to the enmity to God and Christ, which renders mankind in general indifferent to religion, the Jews are induced by their pride, and the influence of their priests, to believe that all who are born of Israel will go to heaven, however they may live; and hence they refuse to believe in the despised Jesus of Nazareth. This evening, he observed, had produced proofs of the happy effects arising from the exertions of the Society; and he had the satisfaction to state, that forty-two Jews have been baptized, and that there are now sixty-two children wholly maintained and educated under its patronage.

Plans of proposed buildings, including an episcopal chapel, schools, asylum, &c. having been laid on the table; the Rev. Dr. Randolph declared, that the great object of the institution was one in which he felt a lively interest; that he was satisfied with the views of its conductors, and rejoiced in the plan of erecting an episcopal chapel, in conjunction with the present Jews' chapel, and engaged to support the Society to the utmost of his power.