After the invention of printing, the Jews carefully printed several Hebrew Bibles in folio and quarto, and lexicons and concordances. Cardinal Hugo in 1240 had divided the scriptures into chapters. But in 1445 Mordecai Nathan, a rabbi, refined upon him and divided the chapters into verses, but they were never marked in any printed Hebrew copy until 1661. Most of the Hebrew manuscript, extant were written between 1000 and 1457. One very fine copy of the Pentateuch is on 40 skins written in 153 columns, about 22 inches deep and 5 broad, each column containing 63 lines. These skins are connected together and rolled up.

Some new sects have from time to time appeared among the Jews, but the Pharisees have ever formed the bulk of the nation. A few Caroites, who reject the traditions, and are Jewish Protestants, remain. A colony of these are on the Crimea. The Sadducees, as a sect are nearly extinct. But there are many real Sadducees, that is, Infidels, among the Jews; men who reject all belief in revelation and moral accountability, and any Saviour. A party has recently sprung up in Germany who despise both the Talmud and the Old Testament. They are little better than Deists. The New Testament is read extensively.

LEARNING AND LEARNED MEN.

The Jews have never been a literary people. Rabbinical knowledge is all that has been esteemed by them of any value, and from this they have feared the study of the Greek and Roman classics would wean their youth. In the twelfth century, however, a constellation of learned men appeared in Europe who were an honor to the nation. The chief of these, were Nathan Ben Jechiel, Abram Ben Ezra, a commentator on the Old Testament; Moses Maimonides, master of many eastern languages, a distinguished physician and an able defenderof the Mosaic institution; Isaac Jarki, called by the Jews, Prince of Commentators, and the family of the Kimskis, distinguished for Hebrew learning. In a knowledge of the Scriptures, the Jewish Rabbis always

America; but little, however, was ever effected by it. This was followed by the institution of the New-York Missionary Society, in 1796.-The Connecticut, in 1798.-The Massachusetts, in 1799—and the New-Jersey, in 1801-all valuable institutions; but their efforts have been chiefly directed to the relief of the destitute in the New Settlements The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church have also for some years had annual collections for missions.

Soon after the opening of the present century, that spirit again burst forth, and will continue, it is hoped, to burn until the kingdoms of this world are all become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. That great institution, HE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, was formed in 1810. A generous legacy of 30,000 dollars was received from a lady; others threw their gifts into the Lord's treasury, and five beloved missionaries, Judson, Hall, Newell, Nott and Rice, were ordained and sent with their wives to India.* Much perplexity attended them on their arrival. The government ordered them to return Mr. Newell in endeav ouring to plant himself in the isle of France, was called to see his lovely wife close her eyes in death. Messrs. Judson and Rice unexpectedly avowed a change on the subject of baptism, and withdrew from the services of the Board. After many trials, Newell, Hall and Nott, commenced labour at Bombay.

June 21, 1815, a new mission was fitted out for the East. Four missionaries were sent to Ceylon. Nor were the board unmindful of the wants of the heathen on their own continent. They sent Mr. Kingsbury in 1817, to the Cherokee country, by whom a foundation was laid for extensive establishments both among the Cherokees and Choctaws. In 1820, a large and valuable mission was sent to the Sandwich Islands, in the Pacific ocean. The religion and morals there were not dissimilar to those of the Society Islanders; though, through a wonderful providence, just before the arrival of the Missionaries, they had renounced all their idol gods. The next year,

*The beloved Samuel J. Mills was devoted to the same mission, but was detained at home by providence, and became a great instrument in exciting the American churches to the formation of some of the noblest institutions of the age. He died on a passage from Africa, June 16, 1818, aged 34, whither he had been in the service of the Colonization Society which lay near his heart.

the attention of the board was directed to the countries about the Mediterranean Sea, particularly Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and two missionaries were sent out to explore and establish a mission.

The zeal and success of the Board roused to action the friends of Christ in New-York and its vicinity; and in 1818, they formed a society, denominated the United Foreign Missionary Society. Two large establishments were made by them among the Osage Indians. Missionaries were also sent by them to the Indians in New-York, in the Michigan Territory and in Ohio, and to the coloured people in Hayti. But, in the summer of 1826, an union was formed between this society and the American Board, and these stations were transferred to the care of the Board.

Since its institution the American Board has been blessed with a constantly increasing patronage from the American churches; and though it has been called to weep over the early extinction of many of the bright lights which it has planted in regions of darkness, yet it has had the happiness to find others, burning with equal brightness, to place in their stead, and to behold all dispelling, to an amazing extent, the thick darkness of paganism.

In Bombay, Newell, Nichols, Frost and Hall, have successively fallen before the King of Terrors. But through the labours of these men and their companions, the New TestaOment and some part of the Old have been faithfully translated and printed in the vernacular tongue of 12 millions of people, 7 and 100,000 Christian publications have been put into circulation, and many children have been taught to read and know something of the true God and of Jesus Christ. A chapel I has been erected at Bombay. This mission "has struck its roots deep in the native soil."

On Ceylon, God has remarkably poured out his Spirit, and the mission church contains not less than ninety native members who give great evidence of sound piety. Some have become preachers of the gospel.

At the American stations Brainard, Eliot and Mayhew, (named after the distinguished friends of the heathens in former times) some of the natives have exhibited bright examples of piety and benevolence. The children, in numerous schools, have shewn much intelligence and industry.

The success of the Sandwich Island mission has been similar to that of the London mission to Otaheite without its

delay and awful trials. These isles truly "waited for his law.” And when it was published they submissively received it. Near 20,000 people have been brought under the instruction of native teachers who have been taught by the missionaries. 12,000 are now able to read the word of God. Immense churches have been erected which are thronged with worshippers. The Spirit has been poured out upon various places, and above 2000 have erected the family altar. Nine chiefs of great influence have publicly professed the religion of Christ. Whole villages once given to drunkenness, theft and murder, have become sober and honest. The Sabbath is, generally, sacredly observed. A written language has been formed, and a million and an half of pages of tracts have been printed and circulated among the inhabitants.

The Palestine mission has been deprived by death of two beloved missionaries, Parsons and Fisk; but no small degree of evangelical light has shone upon that part of benighted Asia. Within four years nearly three millions and an half of pages of important religious matter have been issued from the press at Malta. 4,000 copies of the Bible have been distributed. Much religious conversation has been held. A few schools have been organized, and no small preparation has been made for future extensive usefulness.

An exploring tour has been made under the patronage of the Board through South America, which has presented to public view the wants and miseries of that vast region, the progress of civil liberty, and much reason to hope that religious toleration will soon be every where enjoyed.

In 1816, the Board established a school at Cornwall, Ct. for the instruction of heathen youth who had found their way to the United States, that they might be christianized and sent back, a rich blessing to their countrymen. About 40 have there been collected together speaking the various languages of earth. and some have learned it is believed, the language of heaven. There, lived and died Henry Obookiah, a most interesting Sandwich Islander. It has answered the purposes for which it was established, but it has recently been relinquished because the heathen youth can better be instructed in their own country at the missionary stations.

The American Board have now 41 stations, 41 preachers, 159 assistants, 25 churches with 200 native members, and 200 schools with 30,000 scholars.

On the 20th of May, 1823, the PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL MIS

SIONARY SOCIETY IN THE UNITED STATES, was formed at Philadelphia. Auxiliary Societies have been established and preparations made for active co-operation with other societies in bringing men to the knowledge of salvation.

As the people of God in America have looked abroad they have felt a new spirit arising in their breasts toward their own country. In May, 1826, THE AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY -SOCIETY, was formed at New-York. It designs to concentrate the operations of all the domestic missionary societies in the United States.

Amid the benevolent efforts of Christians toward the Pagan nations, the children of Israel scattered among every nation have not been forgotten. Mr. Wolf, a converted Jew, has made the most laudable efforts in Europe and Asia, to search out and convert his brethren, and large societies have been formed in Great Britain and America which have sent among them missionaries and tracts, and instituted schools for their children.