lent Societies whose object is, to humanize and christianize the ignorant and barbarous tribes. Let it not for a moment be imagined that the perpetrators of the horrid deed were civilized men. While other parts of Christendom are alive with benevolent exertions, Savannah-if the report be true-is subject to the reign of barbarism; and by an infamous bull against instructing the blacks, has outraged every principle of humanity, and out done even Algerine slave holders.

OBITUARY OF WILLIAM AMOS.

Departed this life, in Harford County, in this state, (Maryland,) on the 26th day of the 2d month, 1814, in the 97th year of his age, William Amos, a much revered member of the Society of Friends, and seventy-six years a minister thereof.

It was in the early part of his life, while exercising the functions of an officer in the militia, that it was revealed to him that the kingdom of Christ was a "peaceful kingdom," therefore conferring not with flesh and blood he was obedient to the heavenly vision-resigned his commission-and uniting himself in religious fellowship with the Society of Friends, hath ever since continued his exertions, successfully we believe, both by precepts and example, to turn men to righteousness. His own life was indeed an exemplification of meekness, piety, resignation, benevolence and charity.

He was a great promoter of peace and justice, and was frequently called on by his fellow citizens to perform the Christian duty of mediator, and he had the satisfaction to find that his exertions to restore harmony were very generally crowned with success. In the year 1806, as many of his descendants as could be conveniently notified, were convened, at his particular request, in Friends Meeting-House in Lom bard-street, Baltimore, to the num

ber of about one hundred and forty

Died in Boston, Rev. Francis Jackson, pastor of a church at Darien, Georgia, aged 29, son of major D. Jackson of Watertown.

Mrs. Mary, wife of Mr. Benjamin Greene, aged 40.

In Medford, Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, aged 78.

In Gloucester, Samuel Calder, Esq. aged 55, Surveyor of the district of Gloucester, and a Selectman of that town; formerly of Nantucket.

In Providence, William Goddard, Esq. aged 78; he was the first editor of the Providence Gazette, which he established in 1762.

In Jefferson County, Ken. Rev. Wm. Kellar.

In Lexington, Ken. Rev. R. Fenley, president of the University in Georgia.

In Pendleton District, S. C. John Gilleland, aged 116.

In New-Orleans, Hon. C. C. Claibourne, late Governor of Loui siana.

In Dublin, N. H. Rev. Edward Sprague.

No. 2.

Vol. VI.

mour.

We have perused this sermon with no ordinary pleasure. The subject itself, we conceive, is among those of the highest importance, which, at the present day, claim the interest of Christians. We look upon Bible Societies as con stituting one of the noblest institutions, which have ever been designed. It is a scheme, which comprises facilities and means of spreading the knowledge and influence of christianity to an unlimited extent. It is built on the broad basis of universal benevolence, and is so constituted, that, in any of its operations, it cannot possibly promote any other end, than the best good and happiness of men. We were glad to find, in the discourse before us so able a defence of this admirable institution. The author's views of the subject are those of an enlightened and liberal mind. His sentiments are expressed in a tone of christian charity and benevolent feeling, which commands our respect and wins our asVol. VI.-No. 2.

5

sent. His earnestness is not the misguided enthusiasm of sectarian zeal; it is the generous ardour of a mind embracing in its scope the eternal interests of men, considered as beings of a common origin and a common destinỳ, enlightened by reason and conscience, and equally the creatures of God, and the objects of his re gard and mercy.

His discourse is divided into two parts. The first is occupied in considering some of the most important circumstances relating to the history of the Bible, and the signal providence of God in preserving it during the many ages since it has been written, notwithstanding the threatening dangers to which it has been exposed, and from which it would seem nothing could rescue it but the arm of God. The second part is devoted to remarks on the importance and benefits of Bible Societies.

It is the fate of most of the productions of human wisdom, industry, and learning, that

they soon pass away and are forgotten.

They serve to excite a momentary attention, and perhaps to touch the spring of slumbering thought, and draw forth a transient gleam of feeling and sentiment; but they hardly fix an impression on the tablets of the memory; the stream of oblivion passes silently over them; their name and their influence are alike forgotten, and they are, as if they never had been. A few have been more fortunate they have survived the rude shocks, and escaped the withering touches of time, they yet stand forth in their native majesty, venerable by the weight of years they sustain, and imposing by their real greatness. We look to them for instruction, and resort to them for amusement. We are astonished to hear the voice of wisdom speak in accents so profound, and filled with wonder at the force of intellect and the inspiration of genius, which we find in them. We are alternately charmed by the music of poetry, dazzled by the flashes of eloquence, and made thoughtful and serious, wise and profound, in the groves of philosophy. But the effects of all these are transient and unsatisfying. They may relieve. the thirst of an ardent mind, they may employ the vacant thoughts of the indolent, and give a momentary pleasure to the votaries of taste, refinement and knowledge; but is not this all? Will they give consolation and strength to the soul, which is sinking under afflictions and distress; the

anguish of despair? Will they speak peace to the troubled spirit, carry us beyond ourselves, and waft us on the wings of hope to the regions of brighter day? They want this power-they are the productions of men-they want the stamp of divinity, and the seal of inspiration. One book only there is, in which these are found; and this is the Bible, the holy word of God.

The history of its preserva tion, therefore, is a subject of no small interest, and Mr. Warner has made it as perspicuous and complete, as the nature of his subject and his narrow limits would allow. We give the following extract from this part of the sermon, as a specimen of the author's style and manner. It is an argument, in connexion with others, to show, that none of the books, which were deemed sacred at the time of the Babylonish captivity were lost amidst the series of disasters, which immediately preceded this event.

"Most of the inspired writers, both of the old Testament and new, frequently refer to the books of Moses, and those at least of the earlier prophets, as documents well known to exist, and of undoubted authenticity.. at the times in which they wrote. And it is probable, that the notoriety of those documents was the reason, why none of these frequent allusions to them have assumed the shape of explicit attestations to that effect. There was no occasion to attest what every body knew, and nobody thought of disputing. The uniform silence, too, of all the inspired writers, from the first to the last, as to any loss of the implies a clear and strong presumpsacred books, or of any part of them, tion that there had been no such.

But we wish to draw the attention of our readers more particularly to Bible Societies. This institution originated in England, in the year 1803. It is impossible to contemplate its present immense scale of opcrations, and reflect on the unparalleled rapidity with which it has grown up to such greatness, without astonishment, and the conviction forcibly impressed, that it has received the gracious protection, aid, and blessing of the Almighty. The institution of the British and Foreign Bible Society has well been denominated "a grand epoch in the history of religion," and we agree entirely with Mr. Warner in the opinion, that the age in which we live may with great propriety be called the "age of Bible Societies"

The following is an animated picture of the character and operative effects of these societies, and it is drawn in colours so just, and exhibits in so creditable a light the feelings and habits of thinking of the author, as they are shown in many parts of his sermon, we will not withhold it from our readers.

"Bible Societies, it is true, are not the only distinction of the present age; but in the peculiar principles of their organization, and in the pre-eшinently happy and beneficent effects of their operation, they present, beyond comparison, the noblest feature and finest practical expression, of the religious and moral spirit by which the age is characterized. No other institutions have been so decidedly conducive to that melioration of sentiment and feeling in the religious world, that enlightened and just and tolerant catholicism, which has already done so much, and in its further progress promises so much more, for the success of great and extensive plans of Christian benevolence. The great and fundamental principles upon which these societies have almost uniformly been organized, and to the peculiar merit of which they have unexampled patronage and success been chiefly indebted for the rapid and

of their exertions, is that of distributing the Bible alone without note or comment." "Here then is the first peculiar and distinctive excellence of most liberal and enlightened principle, these institutions; formed upon this they open the widest possible field for the united resources, and co-operative exertions, of christian philanthropy in every part of the world.”

"I cannot therefore but regard these benevolent institutions as the

purest and most perfect now existing in the Christian world. They are, conceive, of all others the most Promilder and more lovely form, of the testant-the best exemplification, in a genuine spirit of the Reformation. There are no others founded upon so full and just a recognition of the principles of religious liberty; and none, of course, that present a range so wide and elevated, and unimpeded, to the most aspiring and comprehensive aims and efforts of religious char ity."-pages 26, 27.

"The living teacher-I speak it not to disparage the importance of his office-is, in some respects always more or less a sectarian: zealous, it is admitted, to make good Christians of his disciples, but apt to be a little more zealous to make them good christian Churchmen, or good christian Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, or United Brethren, &c.; where as, upon the great evangelical principle of Bible Societies, all these denom

inations meét and unite-the sectarian no longer makes any part of the Christian-and the Bible, without comment and without appendage, is sent abroad with a purity and disinterestedness of christian charity altogether singular, I believe, and unprecedented, since the apostolic age, to make men Christians, and for no other purpose."-page 30.

These are not the sentiments of a narrow mind labouring to establish its own peculiar tenets; they are the result of enlarged thought on human nature, and the grand scheme of christianity as adapted to the wants and conditions of men, and they flow from a christian benevolence, expansive as it is disinterested.

The questions have been often asked, why will you send the Bible, a book of so difficult interpretation even by the most wise and learned, among rude and barbarous tribes, who cannot possibly understand its mysteries, or comprehend its designs? Will not these peo'ple look with distrust on many parts, whose objects are less obvious, and entertain doubts at least respecting their divine origin and authenticity?

To these questions we answer; that although we should admit the consequences appre

maintain, that incalculable benefits must necessarily arise to every nation and tribe of men, among whom the scriptures can have a free circulation. Were it practicable we should desire, to be sure, to have the mighty fabric of the christian dispensation clearly understood, and properly estimated, by every mind among them, in the majesty and beauty of all its parts. But this is not within the compass of our hopes. Christianity in its scope and doctrines was not designed for savages. It is too large a grasp for the mind, which has not been expanded by calculation, and has not yet escaped from the contractile powers of ignorance and prejudice. A certain degree of intellectual culture is necessary before its truths can be communicated to the understanding. The hus bandman will look in vain for a harvest, if he scatters his grain on the soil, which has not been prepared for its rcception.

The trees, which

shoot up, and flourish, and produce abundantly under the fostering hand of the gardener, would be stinted and barren in the wilderness.