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human family is so obviously and certainly the duty of evangelized communities, that no arguments are needed to enforce it. Let any Christian man, or woman, or child deliberately repeat the Saviour's golden rule, and think of its bearing on this subject, and there is but one way in which the question of personal duty towards the destitute can be answered.

2. From its reflex influence, it is immensely desirable that the largest number possible should be induced to coöperate in this good work. If the means requisite for supplying the whole unevangelized world with the Bible could be furnished by a few princely donations, it would not be half so great a blessing as to have each individual among us intelligently and conscientiously contribute to this object as God hath enabled him. The sympathies awakened, the prayers called forth in all this host, and the higher regard each one would cherish for this priceless volume, after considering and effectually feeling for the wretchedness of those destitute of it, would be a rich remuneration for the most generous outlay.

3. This religious charity adapts itself to the integral conception and various capacity of every class of contributors. In this respect it has peculiar and easily appreciated advantages over most other objects. To support a missionary or to educate one, or to send back to Liberia an expatriated African, and provide him the means of beginning life hopefully there, each requires a pretty large sum, and may discourage one of small means. But there is scarce a child so poor but can give a Testament, or the one-sixteenth of a dollar to procure one, for a destitute child or man. While thus adapting itself to the humblest capability of doing good, at the same time it lifts its appeal to the man of large resources, and presents before him the blessedness he may diffuse through a whole village or city by supplying to each family a Bible or a New Testament. Or it may show him how certain classes of German or Dutch or Swedish or Norwegian immigrants may be reached by this divine and life-giving Word; and he, while now balancing the problem whether he shall invest his gains in certain stock, which promises a large pecuniary return, or shall cast this portion of his bread upon the waters to find it after many days, may leap up to contemplate, with a heaven-inspired joy, how much good his large offering may at once confer upon an extensive community!

But how shall this appeal for requisite contributions be carried round and applied to all that should feel its power? Our reliance is twofold:

1st. On the faithful and laborious men employed by the Society as soliciting agents, whose service is a hard, and to many would seem an unwelcome one; but these beloved brethren have been induced to undertake it rather than the heathen should perish without the Scriptures.

2d. We rely on the pastors and the churches of this favored land, in many cases, to do this work of annual collecting for this object, without waiting for the visit of an agent. Or, in case they have not done this, and the agent comes with his appeal, that they promptly cooperate with him, and help him to finish his work in the most expeditious and successful manner.

May we venture a suggestion or two in reference to the collection of funds, either with or without agents? Will not the pastors, or the Church Committee on Benevolence, or whoever has the management of this part of the business, be induced to consider whether once a year it may not be practicable and desirable to present this Bible cause so thoroughly and faithfully to the whole congregation, that not one man, woman, or child, unsupported by charity, shall fail of being called on to contribute something more or less, according as God hath prospered them-to give the Bible to those in perishing need of it? If the pastor would preach a sermon on this subject, setting forth clearly, and bringing home to the heart and conscience powerfully the claims of this object of benevolence; and then, by any wise system which he and

his deacons, or his committee, or the church might devise and adopt, this appeal could be minutely and faithfully presented to every individual, would not these several advantages be secured? 1st, Much more help would be secured, at a time when it is urgently needed. 2d, The several benefactions would greatly bless the donors; in watering others, their own souls would be watered. 3d. The Bible, the Testament, whether in the family or the Sabbath-school, would be more adequately prized, and used with a more becoming sense of its value. 4th. Many more prayers would be offered, in fervent sincerity, for a blessing to accompany these offerings.

Brethren, is not the experiment worth trying? If it is, will you promptly carry out these suggestions? We have no doubt that our agents would all most heartily welcome such a disposition, wherever it might be witnessed. If you can do and will do the work promptly and efficiently, without their help, they will be thankful, for there is not one of them but has a larger field than he can possibly cultivate. But we solemnly entreat you not to offer the excuse that you will do the work without them, and then, as hundreds have, leave it undone!

Some system of benevolent contributions seems absolutely indispensable and we most admire the combination of order with a cheerful adaptation to circumstances, so that every claim shall be met in the best time and manner.

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Showing the amounts received for the last three years, from several of the contributing States, Territories, and Districts, by the American and Foreign Bible Society, together with the number of recognized Auxiliaries, Life Members, and Life Directors in each:

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, ENDING APRIL,

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$34,339 88 $32,635 06 $33,570 74 3122 239 240

Several small sums have also been received, during the time above specified, from

other States, formerly connected with us in Bible operations. But as these have generally withdrawn, and cominenced organizations of their own for this purpose, to which their contributions are now chiefly made, and as we have no soliciting agents within their bounds, it might seem unfair to present their contributions side by side with those which we have here given.

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR OUR BIBLE SOCIETY GREATLY NEEDED NOW.

WE fear that an erroneous impression extensively prevails, in regard to the present wants of our Bible cause. Many of the good and true friends of this object are seemingly taking it for granted that supplies will come from some quarter, so as to enable the Board to make its usual appropriations to the foreign fields, which are entirely dependent on our aid. Such friends ought to know that three quarters of the financial year is gone, and less than one fourth of these appropriations have been made, and our treasury is empty! Never was there a time when more urgent appeals for aid to supply the nations with the Word of Life were pressed on us. Will you not all help us now to meet these demands? In common with other Societies, we have felt the pressure of the money market for the last few months. Do not let us begin our retrenchment with ROBBING GOD!

FOREIGN OPERATIONS.

During the last quarter, there have been appropriated towards the supply of the foreign field, the following sums:

October. For the Karen Scriptures,.....

tribution of the Scriptures in Orissa,.....

November. For Rev. Dr. Sutton, to aid in the publication and dis

$1000

1000

December. To Rev. Mr. Oncken, for Bible distribution in Germany, 1680 Contrasting this with the twenty-three thousand dollars of foreign appropriation made the last year, and the certainty that a larger rather than a smaller sum would be required for the present, (as is fully explained in the address of the late Secretary, Rev. S. S. Cutting, in the Periodical Paper for October,) may indicate the necessity of more generous and prompt contributions, if we would not let the drafts on us for the supply of God's holy Word be dishonored.

ANOTHER REVOLUTION IN FRANCE.

JUST as this number is going to press, the public are astounded by another bloody revolution or usurpation in France. "Bibles or bayonets must rule." That fickle, irreligious, and thoroughly demoralized people have refused the former. The Jesuits have recently enforced the exclusion from public circulation of any other version than that of De Sacy. When they feel themselves strong enough, they will doubtless, like the Pope at Rome, forbid that also. Put out the light of divine revelation, seems to be the universal dictate of this mother of abominations.

What, then, can be expected, after the light is thus extinguished, but that usurpation and perjury the most shameless, in high places and in low, will universally prevail! We do not think this is the end of the movement. It seems only to have prepared the way for and rendered necessary a more thorough reform. Nearly all Europe is seething in the great caldron; ebullitions will rapidly follow each other, till the God of heaven sets up his own kingdom in the hearts of men, and thus prepares them for self-government. The Bible is the efficient instrument. May it have free course, and be glorified!

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

LETTER FROM REV. J. G. ONCKEN TO THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

Hamburg, October 21st, 1851. MY DEAR BROTHER:-A prolonged absence from home has prevented me from addressing you since July 9th. Since then I have received Mr. Ward's letter, dated August 2d, conveying the resolution of the Board of August 1st, by which one thousand dollars were appropriated for Bible operations in Germany, and two hundred dollars to defray the traveling expenses of the colporteurs, who were to attend the Convention in this city. I beg to present my warmest acknowledgments to the Board for these renewed proofs of their deep interest in the Lord's cause in Germany. Almost all the brethren engaged by your Board as colporteurs were present at the above conference, and took part in its deliberations. Many of them were at the same time messengers from the churches, and admitted as such to the conference; and the remainder were requested, by a resolution passed by the assembled brethren, to share in the transactions of our sittings. After the close of the conference, I had long and interesting interviews with these brethren at my own house, when many important practical points were discussed, which, when acted on, will greatly facilitate their labors. One desirable result that has already followed is, that since their return to the various stations, they have kept and sent in their journals with much greater regularity; and having appointed my daughter to translate them, you may expect to be supplied with these interesting papers more frequently than hitherto. Before separating, the brethren agreed all to meet at a throne of grace, at six o'clock on every Monday morning, to implore the Divine blessing on their work.

It was more especially during our conference that we deeply felt how much we owe to your Society; and we cordially unite in offering to the Board, and through them to all our brethren in the United States, our warmest gratitude for their continuation of the good done to our unhappy country.

The labors of your colporteurs are of far greater importance than is generally supposed. They are not merely vendors of the Word of God-this, indeed, alone would be important enough to employ forthwith as many more as already occupy the field-but these brethren are at the same time actively engaged in other ways in spreading the truth. Some of them—yes, the greater part—are zealous preachers, tract-distributors, and teachers in Sabbath-schools; and the rich blessing with which God crowns their labors, is abundant evidence of his gracious approval. All we need is more men to labor in the field, which is constantly enlarging.

My apprehension with regard to a renewal of religious persecutions was, alas! too well founded. Brother Fasching, who has labored nearly a year at Breslau, and among the Silisian mountains, has now arrived here, to consult with me what measures to adopt as to his proceedings in future, as he is constantly subjected to annoyances from the authorities at Breslau. My fear is, that he will have to abandon his post there, and ultimately even to emigrate, in order to evade a service of eighteen years in the Austrian army. Throughout Prussia, our colporteurs are greatly impeded, by the interference both of civil and ecclesiastical authorities; while, on the other hand, the colporteurs of the State Church party, and those connected with the Innere Mission," (home mission,) are in every way protected and aided by government. Well, we do not envy a community that can exist only so long as Cæsar lends his aid; and in the midst of wrongs, and in spite of every effort made to crush the truth as it is in Jesus, we smile at our foes, knowing that no weapon formed against Zion shall prosper. As to the future, we have to expect nothing less than that the most stringent measures will be adopted against us. May we in the meanwhile

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stretch every nerve in the Redeemer's cause! More than one half of the ninety thousand Gospels, Epistles to the Romans, and Psalms, have been circulated, and the greater part of the Austrian military quartered here supplied with them. The edition of fifteen thousand copies of the Danish Testament will leave the press in six weeks at most.

I am now in great want of an immediate remittance, having had no further opportunity to draw on your treasurer than for an additional amount of one hundred and eighty dollars, which was paid here during my absence by P. H. Kruse, September 15th or 16th, 1851, and for which my assistant, Mr. Braun, gave him a receipt, without any further draft on the treasurer. Please to pay the above amount, when presented. I have already advanced nearly four thousand marks; so that I require a remittance of at least fifteen hundred dollars, although two thousand would not be too much to meet the current expenses. Upwards of eleven thousand marks have been received during the past nine months, which have been paid out on account of the Society. I am also greatly in want of an edition of five thousand copies of the School Bible, the plates of which belong to the Edinburgh Bible Society. The Board made a grant of this edition last year; but when I was in Scotland last autumn, the Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society authorized me to issue seven thousand five hundred copies of that Bible, which induced me to give up your edition of five thousand copies to that Society. Now, however, the Committee cannot meet the demand, and I beseech your Board to permit me now to print this edition of five thousand copies, at their expense, which will be three hundred and eighty pounds. This Bible begins now to be introduced into the schools; a glorious triumph over the spurious Scriptures, with the Apocryphal books, as they are circulated by the German societies.

I trust you will not keep me long in suspense, either as to the remittance of a bill, or as regards a favorable reply to my application for the edition of School Bibles. The journals, &c., sent some time ago, have, I trust, come to hand. My daughter has again several ready for transmission, which will be sent by the first opportunity. With affectionate regards to yourself and the esteemed Board, I am, Yours in the best of bonds,

J. G. ONCKEN.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. J. GODDARD TO THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

Ningpo, China, August 16th, 1851.

DEAR BROTHER:-My former communications announced the publication of Genesis, (edition, four thousand,) and I think also of Exodus, (edition, three thousand,) which was completed in December last. Since then I have not published any portion of Scripture, but have nearly completed the preparation of Matthew, Luke, and John's Gospels. There being so much similarity in the several Gospels, I desired to prepare them all, and compare them together; also to have free consultation with brother Dean, before publishing any one of them. We hope, however, soon to have all the Gospels ready for publication, and then go on with the remainder of the New Testament. The work of translation into Chinese is encumbered with difficulties of which little idea can be formed, except by experience. I sometimes fear friends in America may think the work progresses very slowly; but now is not the time to send out hasty, crude translations; we already have a supply of such; now is the time for the slow, patient, discouraging work of perfecting a translation of the sacred oracles into this difficult language. The attempt to get a version for universal usage in China, by means of a committee of delegates, proves an entire failure. Aside from the discussions and divisions relative to the word for God, very few are satisfied to use the translation of the New Testament which has been prepared by that com

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