reflects that many younger Ministers, like Timothy and Titus, may, in course of time, look up to him, as their Instructor and Father in Christ!

2. The Author, in common with many others, has viewed with the liveliest interest the great augmentation of Protestant Missionaries in the countries of the Mediterranean. It is nearly ten years since he was appointed to this sphere. Shortly before that period, there had been one English Missionary, who, after a brief residence in Malta, died of a pulmonary complaint; and also one German Missionary, who, in a very little time, withdrew from his undertaking, and retired to his native country. Subsequently, the number of Missionaries and Bible Society Agents, who have been actively engaged in the Mediterranean, has amounted to about twenty-two, of whom several have families: the greater part of these remain in their Stations; two or three only having retired, and others having been removed by death. They represent not fewer than Seven Protestant Societies.

As might be expected from undertakings in their nascent state, the various Missionaries have acted, so far as the Author has had opportunity to know, generally in a spirit of harmony and good-will: not ignorant, indeed, of various differences of opinion, which subsist among themselves and among the various Denominations or Societies to which they belong; but, with a wise forbearance, losing sight of these minor considerations in the magnitude of their respective engagements; or merging them in the fulness of that Christian Affection, which usually abounds in the earlier periods of enterprise.

It is not, perhaps, much to be feared, but that

this harmonious state may yet, for many years, continue to subsist. But there is an Enemy, who views it with bitter malice, and is on the watch to mar it in the first moment that he shall be permitted. All the questions, which in ancient or modern times have distracted the Church, the great Author of Confusion would gladly bring before the Missionaries and their respective friends-bring them, too, in such a manner, as might stir up many malignant and disquieting passions. Divided opinions on matters of Church Government, and various public measures-disputes about doctrines of baptisms, and laying on of hands-excessive attachment to human names and human creeds-discussions, even to strife, concerning essential points; such as Regeneration, Justification, and Sanctification-literary contentions concerning Versions of the Scriptures and other books-angry partialities relating to interpretations of the unaccomplished prophetic writings-and, in brief, (as the number of individuals or families, and, consequently, their amount of property, increases,) murmurings at neglect or mismanagement, in the daily or yearly ministrations: all these, together with CORRUPT LIVING, may possibly enter! Once entered, it is not according to humannature that they should speedily retire. The consequences of strife, heresy, and party-spirit are too truly depicted in one expression of St. Paul-Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

It is in the contemplation of such possible evils, that the mind sees an appointed counteracting principle, in the critical and devout study of the Holy Scriptures. It seems to have been peculiarly im

pressed on the Apostle's view, that this was the most effectual remedy: he follows up, therefore, his denunciation of foolish and unlearned questions, with this practical charge to his beloved Timothy:But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim. iii. 14-17.)

3. It may be noticed, as one remaining advantage of a sound knowledge of the Scriptures, that not only will it rescue Missionaries from that scorn, which has by many been thrown on Protestants, on the ground of the abuse of private judgment; but it may also become the powerful means of extensively recommending the grand principles of the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for our salvation, and the universal right of mankind to the free reading of them.

Those Christian Churches which have been governed according to the principles of intolerance, are accustomed to look on Protestantism as the profession of an undefinable, fickle, and half-unbelieving mass of people, split into numerous factions, and capable of carrying their schisms to an unlimited length. All this they regard as inevitably arising from allowing individuals to think for themselves. We reply, that wherever such evils exist among Protestants, they spring from the abuse of

that liberty. Our answer, however, entails upon us another consideration, commensurate at least with the magnitude of the alleged abuse: it is this-" In what way, then, may private judgment be safely used?" We scruple not to answer-" In the Critical and Devout Study of Holy Scripture." We have no other standard than Scripture, by which to guide ourselves and others. Rome, it is true, has decided for a living judge; who, to be finally authoritative, must, of necessity, be accounted infallible : but with this fiction we can have nothing to do it is unfounded in Revelation; and, upon long experience, it has failed of success. But, if Protestants unite in regarding the Bible as their common standard, they must study the Bible-they must live in the spirit of the Bible. Thus may they expect, notwithstanding the great infirmities of human judgment and human temper, not merely that their Missions in the Mediterranean shall be preserved free from every cause of reasonable reproach; but, that they will be distinguished by their exemplary spirit of union, and be rendered effective instruments of converting multitudes to the knowledge and love of the Gospel.

THE BIBLE SOCIETY:

ITS PRINCIPLES, OPERATIONS, AND EXTENSION.

THE Bible Society being a kind of central standard, by which the opinions and measures of many Societies and individuals are, and long will continue to be, influenced, it may be useful to delineate somewhat in detail the several principles on which the Bible Society is established. In proportion as each is developed and distinctly marked, different persons will, according to the gifts bestowed upon them, take up that department which he can best cultivate. That Noble Institution, worthy of all praise and of all aid, will, when its various component parts shall each of them be efficiently supported, stretch forth its munificent hands, scattering over the face of the habitable globe a larger measure of blessings than has ever yet been known by mankind.

Not with any desire to excite needless offence, but from the necessity which exists for correcting or repelling such offences, we purpose, at each succeeding step of the following argument, to state those principles, which operate to counteract or to retard the work of the Bible Society.

1. The first and most essential principle is, THE

DIVINE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

If it were not the fact that the Bible was written by men moved by the Holy Ghost, we should have