with little variation, the state of the different local societies of which the national institution is composed. Three thousand copies of the Malay New Testament with Arabic characters, have been forwarded to the auxiliary at Batavia, the East-India Bible Society; and 1000 guilders have been offered as an inducement to the formation of a branch at Chinsurahı. That auxiliary has been further solicited to avail itself of all opportunities to dispense the Chinese Testament in the colonies connected with the United Netherlands government, and the Arabic Malay in the large and important island of Sumatra. The sum of 4,000 guilders (about 3001.) has been placed at the disposal of the Baptist Missionaries at Serampore, to be employed in the translation of the Scriptures into the dialects of India; supplies of the Dutch Scriptures have been furnished to the settlers of that nation at Paramaribo and the Cape; and an intention is expressed of entering into an amicable connexion with the South-African Bible Society, with a view to afford it the kindest and most effectual co-operation. In Switzerland, the Bible Societies continue to prosecute their object. The income of the Basle Society has doubled. The Monthly Extracts of Correspondence, which are issued by this Society in a German translation, to the number of 10,000 copies, have proved, it is said, a blessing to thousands who either have read them, or listened to the reading of them. "These papers," says the Rev. T. Blumhardt," find their way to the lowest classes of the people; and, for the purpose of rendering them still more efficient, not merely have reading circles been formed, but also in many places they are read regularly every month from the pulpit, and a collection for the cause is afterwards made." From the presses at Basle there have issued during the past year French and German Bibles 9,987; 2,204 New Testaments; and 705 Psalters of the Protestant versions; besides which 1,402 Testaments of the version of Van Ess have been distributed among the Roman Catholics. The Society of Bern has distributed since its formation 6,997 Bibles and 8,670 Testaments. "Many thanks," say the Bern Committee, 66 were returned from the cottages of the poor, and from the schools in the canton, which we have supplied with the Scriptures. Indeed we could specify many schools, in which it may be said that a new life has been kindled ; and the most affecting instances of gratitude have been witnessed." The societies of Lausanne and Neufchatel have printed an edition of 10,000 copies of the revised version of Ostervald. Through the judicious exertions of the Geneva Committee, the poor Waldenses have been refreshed by a supply of Bibles, for which freedomofentrance into Piedmont had been procured. The Reports of the Bible Societies in the Protestant States of Germany afford the most convincing and gratifying proofs of the progressive advances made by the common cause in the estimation of all classes ofpersons, civil and religious, and of that increasing demand for the Scriptures, which invariably arises from their distribution. The following extract from a letter received from the professors and tutors of the theological seminary of Urach, affords testimony to the effect produced by a set of the Society's versions presented to that institution. "At the first anniversary of their auxiliary, the pupils of theseminary, forty-five in number, appeared in a body,and announced that they had determined to take theirshare in promoting its object by offering a quarterly contribution of one louis d'or, a sum which their limited means could ill afford. These youthful coadjutors not only continued to fulfil their engagement, but proved their willing compliance by repeated donations." The Frankfort Committee has issued, during the last year, upwards of 8,000 Bibles and Testaments of the Protestant and Catholic versions. On the anniversary of the Reformation, the parochial clergy in many places distributed copies, with suitable exhortations to the perusal of them. The consequence of these measures has been most beneficial." Even our most impoverished congregations" (says the vice-president of the Eisenach Society) "have testified their attachment to the cause bycheerful, though necessarilysmall, contributions." The Saxon Bible Society has distributed, in the course of last year, 3,464 Bibles, and 176 Testaments, and has since issued 1500 copies of an impression from standing types. A peasant living in a very poor part of the country, presented to the Osnaburgh Society 50 dollars (about 87.) accompanied by the following note: "Because I, Casper Herrman Westerfeldt, have been married to Maria Heinkers, and God has blessed our industry, I wish to give these fifty dollars to the Bible Society for us both."-The Hambro-Altona Society has completed the revised edition of Luther's Bible. This Society has issued, since its first formation, 7,964 Bibles, and 1,006 Testaments. In Prussia, the cause of the institution continues to enjoy the patronage of his majesty the King, who by the marked attention with which he regards the various Bible Associationswhich solicit his notice, and by the readiness with which he facilitates their operations by public privileges and immunities, evince a lively interest in their prosperity. His majesty has been pleased to present to the British and Foreign Bible Society, as a particular and appropriate token of his esteem, a gold medal, com memorating the anniversary of the Reformation, accompanied by portraits of Martin Luther and several of his great and learned coadjutors, copied after the original paintings of a celebrated German artist. From the last Report of the Central Society at Berlin, it appears, that since its first establishment, it has brought into circulation 85,000 Bibles, and 23,241 New Testaments, without including those circulated by its forty auxiliaries, which amount in the last year to 10,810 Bibles, and 9,783 Testaments. The Cologne Auxiliary, though precluded, by its position in the centre of a Roman Catholic town, from receiving general support, has circulated no less than 18,219 Bibles and Testaments, and 1,003 Psalters, among Protestants and Catholics, in prisons, hospitals, and poor-houses, and among the military. In a parish where a sermon had been preached in behalf of the institution," a violent enemy to the circulation of the Scriptures became convinced of his error: he came with tears in his eyes, and requested us to accept a considerable donation for the purpose of promoting the very object which he had so strenuously opposed."-At Halle, the twelve presses of the Canstein Institution, are constantly kept in full employment, notwithstanding the various cheapeditions of the Bible published in Germany. -The Silesian Bible Society, at Breslau, has issued 15,937 copies: these supplies have increased been followed by an demand, particularly among the Catholics. The Sixth Report of the Buntzlan Society exhibits most gratifying proofs of the increasing demand for the Scriptures among the Roman Catholics; among whom 8,140 copies of Gosner's version of the New Testament and 1,360 copies of Van Ess's version have been distributed. Denmark presents an almost unbroken chain of effective auxiliaries acting in their several districts under the sanction of his majesty the King, and the united patronage of the bishops and the nobility, supported by the strenuous co-opera tion of the clergy at large. The bishops of Zealand and Fuehnen have distinguished themselves by their vigorous exertions in their respective dioceses: "I can inform you," writes the Rev. Dr. Moller, the secretary of the Danish Bible Society, "that the sacred cause of the Bible gains more and more friends in Denmark, and that every month produces new associations in its favour. The sale of the Scriptures likewise increases, notwithstanding the depression of trade; and our monthly issues of Bibles and Testaments have amount ed on an average to about 1,000 copies. Most of the clergy make it a point to read the Testament with the higher classes in the schools, and with those young persons who receive instruction preparatory to their confirmation. Our country is so well supplied with schools, that no child above six years of age needs remain uninstructed. This accounts for the rapid disposal of our New Testaments, of which a new stereotype edition is now in progress; yet the supplies have hitherto fallen short of the demand." The Danish Society's foreign operations are very interesting. "The converted Greenlanders," writes the secretary, "a simple hearted and docile race, are already in possession of a translation of the New Testament, but know only so much of the Old as may be gleaned from a History of the Bible by Fabricius. Our Committee have therefore resolved to translate and print several of the most important books of the Old Testament for their use. Bishop Fabricius, superintendent of the Greenland mission, although in his 78th year, has cheerfully undertaken the translation into that difficult language, of which he is completely master." The Society is also preparing a translation of the Gospel of St. Matthew into the language spoken in the Faroe islands. The Swedish Bible Society, unwearied in dispensing the light of Revelation, through the medium of its auxiliaries, to the remotest corners of the Swedish dominions, had issued, according to the last returns, nearly 170,000 copies of the Scrip tures from its presses at Stockholm. His excellency Count Rosenblad, on opening the sixth annual meeting of the Society, remarked as follows: "During the past year the Swedish Bible Society has had renewed reason to offer up heartfelt thanks to the Most High. The prosecution of its ultimate design, that the meanest cottage in the kingdom should not be destitute of that holy word which points to Him who is the way, the truth, and the life, has been carried on with success. The Committee have been supported by their auxiliaries in the country, and have witnessed with delight the beneficial results of the exertions of the Ladies' Association instituted in this capital. The warm and affectionate zeal of its worthy president and members, affords a hopeful prospect for the future, and exhibits a praiseworthy example to that sex to whose generous care are confided the tender plants in the church of Christ." One single auxiliary has discovered, on a fresh survey of its district, that 13,900 families were destitute of the Scriptures, of which 4,385 were unable to pay the full price of a copy, and 4,403 incapable of contributing any part of it. The Ladies' Association at Stockholm has discovered even in that city, ignorance not only of the nature of the Bible and of the consolations it affords, but even of the existence of a Society whose design is the gratuitous distribution of the word of God among the poor. The Norwegian Bible Society's revised edition of 6,000 copies of the New Testament has left the press, and is circulating in every part of the kingdom. This is the first edition ever printed in Norway, and the disposal of it goes on so rapidly that another will be soon required. The king, who laid the foundation of the institution, by his liberal donation, has been pleased to permit the Committee to enrol his name as the patron; and the crown prince has likewise joined the Society. From the Report of the Finnish Bible Society, it appears that 3000 Bibles, of the Finnish version, had been printed from the standing types; and two editions of the New Testament, of 5600 copies each, were published during the year then closing. A quarto edition of the Finnish Bible was on the point of leaving the press; and plates for a stereotype edition of the New Testament had considerably advanced. The Russian Bible Society has adapted itself with prodigious energy and effect to the vast dimensions of a field, comprehending all the European and Asiatic provinces of the Russian empire. The ultimate publication of the Scriptures in more than thirty languages, the circulation of them, the correspondence of the Committee with the different auxiliary societies, scattered over all Russia, from the shores of the White and the Baltic Seas to those of the Euxine and the Caspian, and from the frontiers of Germany to the confines of China, are the objects which occupy the exertions of the Committee. Already translations of the word of God are advancing in many new dialects; and proposals of co-operation, and solicitations for assistance, pour in upon the Committee from all quarters. We cannot find space to enumerate the many works undertaken by the Russian Bible Society. The most important is the translation of the Scriptures into the vernacular Russ. On the 12th of December, the birth-day of the Emperor Alexander, Prince Galitzin presented his majesty with the first copy of the Modern Russ New Testament. "Blessed for ever be God," writes Dr. Pinkerton, "who has enabled us to behold this work of infinite value to the many millions of Russians completed. The first edition consists of 5,000 copies, and is now in the hands of the bookbinder; a second, of 20,000, is nearly half printed off; and a third edition of 5,000 is printing in Moscow. The Gospels and Acts, and the first Epistles of this version, have hitherto been in greater demand than we have as yet been able to furnish." Dr. Pinkerton has undertaken the superintendence of thefollowing works :-The Tartar-Turkish Bible, the printing of which has been entrusted to the missionaries at Astrachan; the New Testament in the Mandjur-Chinese; a Persian version of the Old Testament, the first sheets of which have been examined and approved by Professor Lee; a Servian version of the Scriptures; and a Tartar Old Testament, according to the manuscript found by Doctor Pinkerton in the Crimea, with such alterations as the missionaries at Astrachan may deem necessary. The Committee close this part of their Report, with quoting the emphatic prayer with which the pious Metropolitan of Moscow concluded his address, at the anniversary of the Moscow Society: "O thou hypostatical Word of the Father! thou hast thyself said, that without thee we can do nothing. Come, therefore, Infinite Goodness, and dwell in us. Then shall the good seed of thy word, sown in our hearts, grow by thy power; and by thy grace bring forth fruit to the sanctificatiou and salvation of our souls." In Spain and Portugal, and their dependencies, the Committee have not been without the means and opportunities of doing something towards awakening a desire for the holy Scriptures, and of gratifying it where it has been found to exist. The distribution at Madeira proceeds, under encouraging prospects. Schools, founded on the British system, increase, and the Scriptures are introduced into them. A very pleasing commencement has been made in the island of St. Michael, one of the Azores, containing a population of nearly 100,000 souls: 50 copies of the Portuguese Testament were distributed by a pious captain who visited that island; and among the willing and thankful receivers were some persons of the first station in the island, and seven priests and friars; to the latter of whom it was an unknown book, the most learned among them having seen it only in Latin. "At my first attempt to distribute them," says a correspondent, "none were seemingly inclined to receive them; but, before I left the island, I had repeated applications for copies, and could have distributed double the number to great advantage: I was, at the same time, very cautious in disposing of them, to see that the parties could read, and that they were truly desirous to have them for their own use." The connexions of the Society with Italy, from the circumstances of that country, have not experienced any improvement. The obstacles thrown in the way of its measures by the existing governments have hitherto proved for the most part insurmountable. The fathers of the Armenian convent of St. Lazaro, at Venice, have however sent out, at the Society's expense, very copious supplies of Bibles and Testaments, printed in their establishment, to the poor of that nation in different parts of Asia. Very gratifying testimonies have been received of the seasonableness and acceptableness of this gift. In adverting to the progress of the biblical cause among the Catholics, the Committee observe that some of the operations of the Society in this department have been alluded to under the head of the particular countries to which they relate; but that it would be impossible, without taking a general and unrestrained survey of the great moral contest in which the prevailing prejudices of a large part of the Roman Catholic body have involved this institution, to form CHRIST. OBSERV. APP. an adequate conception of its nature and extent, or to appreciate duly the courage and perseverance of those who have stood foremost in advocating its cause against the hostility which those prejudices have opposed to it. The demand for the Scriptures among the Catholics has been greater, and the opportunities of gratifying it have been more frequent and more promising, in the last than in any previous year of the institution; but on the other hand, the counteraction of the adversaries of a free dissemination of the sacred volume, has been more systematic and determined. The intrepid Leander Van Ess has resolved to dedicate all his remaining strength entirely in this service. The success of the Society in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean and its islands, has been checked by the intestine commotions which distract the Turkish empire. Meanwhile, the Malta Society has not been inactive in its peculiar and extensive sphere, having distributed the Italian, Greek, Armenian, Syriac, and Arabic, Scriptures, and the Ethiopic Psalters, besides various European versions, to the shipping in its harbour. The translation of the New Testament into modern Greek, as well as its revision by the Archbishop of Mount Sinai, have been nearly accomplished; and measures are taking for publishing the first edition of this work. The translation of the Albanian New Testament has also been finished, and is under a course of revision. The Turkish New Testament has undergone a revision by Professor Kieffer, of Paris, and the revision and printing of the whole of this version of the Bible are in progress. The copies of Armenian and Arabic Scriptures entrusted to the care of confidential friends at Constantinople, are still disseminated, as opportunities offer, through the regions of the Levant. The Ionian Society goes on with 5 R |