THE NECESSITY OF CIRCULATING

THE BIBLE.*

Ar the anniversary meetings of this Society, I am informed, an address is expected from the chair. While, on the one hand, I do not wish to depart from established usage, so, on the other, I am desirous to appropriate as little of the time devoted to the exercises of this evening as will barely satisfy the claims of official duty.

The distinguished and eloquent individuals who are expected to advocate the Bible cause, on this interesting occasion, preclude, not only the necessity, but the propriety, of my entering upon the merits of this hallowed and infinitely momentous theme. I shall, therefore, for the few moments which I presume to occupy, merely approach the threshold, and take a hasty glance at the outworks committing your introduction into the interior of the celestial temple to abler and more experienced guides.

The oracles of the one living and true God-composed at different and distant periods, by divers men inspired for the purpose—were, during a period of fifteen hundred years, entrusted exclusively to the Israelites, and for

* An Address delivered at the third Anniversary meeting of the Bible Society of Davidson County, Tennessee, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, Nov. 14, 1826.

their sole benefit. When, in the fulness of time, the predicted Messiah appeared and put an end to the Mosaic economy and to the whole Jewish ritual, he broke down the partition wall which had hitherto surrounded the favoured nation, and commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel of peace and mercy and reconciliation to every kindred, tongue and people upon the earth. This constituted a new and glorious era in the history of our world. The apostles obeyed the command of their Master. They traversed the most distant and inhospitable regions: and literally planted the standard of the cross in almost every country of the known world. Their success, though astonishingly great, and altogether unparalleled, considering their natural qualifications and means, was but partial and temporary. For, although multitudes in Asia, Europe and Africa, believed-although flourishing churches were everywhere formed-although within three centuries after the crucifixion, idolatry disappeared from the Roman Empire, and Christianity became the established faith of the civilized world-yet it soon appeared that human policy and imperial smiles added nothing to the purity, the lustre and the stability of that spiritual kingdom which it was our Saviour's purpose to erect. Ages of ignorance, darkness, superstition, tyranny and crime succeeded the impious union of the ecclesiastical and the civil powers. The Bible was studiously withheld from the people. It was locked up, in an unknown tongue, in the cell and the cloister. It was inaccessible to the multitude. It was criminal for them to seek it—it was a capital offence to read it. The

terrors of the stake, the rack, the inquisition, were all employed to extinguish the light of revelation. And, had it been possible for the gates of hell to prevail against the truth-the truth had long since been obliterated from the face of the earth. It was not possible. All this antichristian influence, degeneracy, and abomination had been foretold. Its occurrence, therefore, added another series to the manifold existing evidences of the divine original of our holy religion. The word of Jehovah had been pledged that the gospel of his Son should prevail-and finally triumph over all opposition.

The dawn of this distant day of victory and triumph at length appeared, when the glorious work of the Reformation was achieved: and many fondly imagined that the universal reign of the Prince of peace was about to be established on the ruins of the Papal hierarchy. But Protestant Christendom soon exhibited symptoms, not to be mistaken, that the ancient leaven of uncharitableness, malice, pride and ambition was still fermenting within her bosom, and producing the same bitter fruits. Numerous opposing and rival sects speedily arose-and the world has been deluged with volumes of subtle speculations and rancorous controversy. Only the dawn of the bright day of Messiah's triumph, therefore, has as yet become visible. The gospel has ever since, indeed, been gaining ground-though with various fortune, at different periods. The clergy continued to preach, and to perform their arduous functions agreeably to the tenets and rules of their respective churches. But there existed no system of harmonious co-operation-no

bond of union-no mutual understanding-no kindly feeling among the brethren of different names. One was of Paul-another of Apollos-a third of Cephas-(1 Cor. i. 12.) They forgot that they were all of Christ. They would have no fellowship with each other. They were like a house divided against itself;-and hence were feeble and powerless against the common enemy. They consumed their time and spent their strength in domestic broils and contests-instead of generously marshalling their forces under the one great captain, and courageously taking the field, determined, in the name of Jehovah, to conquer, or to die at their post.

It might have been expected that Protestants, who professed the greatest reverence for the Bible, would have spared no means or pains to extend the knowledge and the blessings of it among the people. Especially, after the invention of the arts of printing and of manufacturing paper had rendered the work as easy as it was simple and obvious.

Eighteen centuries however had rolled away since "peace on earth and good will toward men" (Luke, ii. 14) had been proclaimed by the angelic hosts who celebrated Messiah's advent, before it ever occurred to Christian men, as reasonable and feasible, to distribute the entire unadulterated records of one faith to the ignorant and the perishing. It was reserved for our own age and century to make this grand discovery-and to put into operation this simple but all-powerful machinery.

Until the year 1804, an association for the sole purpose of distributing the Bible, without note or comment,

Towards the close of

to all the people, was unheard of. that memorable year was duly organized the British and Foreign Bible Society. It was immediately greeted with the approbation and good wishes of thousands of Christians of all denominations. It bore, as it were, a neutral flag-a flag of peace-of catholicism—of charity and love. It was Christian in its entire character, tendency and bearing. It exhibited the insignia of no party, and favoured the views and dogmas of no selfish, ambitious, bigoted or exclusive sect. It opened a field of active philanthropic enterprise, boundless in extent and in duration. It was designed and calculated to concentrate the energies of the Christian world to one grand and good work. It was the first step towards a better understanding among brethren of the same family-towards a better temper and spirit-towards nobler and more generous efforts in promoting the common cause of human happiness throughout the world.

Can it be credited that such a project should have been opposed at the beginning of this liberal and enlightened nineteenth century? Yes verily, it was opposed-opposed most fiercely and perseveringly; opposed too by men who ought to have known better-and from whom a different course might have been anticipated. But, in thus encountering opposition, it merely shared the usual fortune of all great, beneficent and useful plans and institutions. Every man, acquainted with the history of our world, knows that every enterprise undertaken for the welfare of mankind has been opposed. And this opposition is generally proportioned to the excellence of