than in labouring in his cause. Much has this day been said on the subject of the late unfortunate dissensions, but I feel desirous to add a few observations. One gentleman has very accurately stated the allégations as divided under four principal heads:The Apocrypha-the foreign versions-the foreign agents-and the application of the funds of the Society. With respect to the Apocrypha, I am bound to say, that the Committee, with the most anxious labour, went to the bottom of that question, but the discussions, though painful and tedious, were conducted in a general spirit of Christian charity, each party giving to the other the fullest credit for good intention. Indeed, the difference of opinion was only as to what would be the best mode of dealing with the question. The result was, that the question was set at rest for ever. I shall add nothing to what has already been said to-day upon the subject of the Foreign versions: for, in all cases, they were published under the inspection of persons the best qualified for the task, which is a sufficient answer to that head of objection. We now come to the Foreign correspondents. Really it is surprising to what lengths some persons have gone in this business. I will just read a few words from an Edinburgh paper relative to this charge. [Here his Lordship read an extract, which in substance accused the Society of engaging infidels to circulate the Scriptures abroad.] Then from this it appears that infidels in all parts of the world are the agents of the Bible Society! Now, I will venture to say, that the assertion is the grossest absurdity ever put forth, for it resolves itself into this-that all the infidels of Europe are anxious to circulate the Holy Scriptures. Oh, no! the kingdom of Satan is not so divided against itself. Really, if we did not know that men of ability and learning have beeu imposed upon by such an allegation, we should think it impossible that party spirit could carry any person to such a length. But let us look at the mischief it does. This charge, and others like it, are copied and circulated in Catholic vicinities, where perhaps they are in their place, for we have the authority of the Pope to prove, that the Society for the circulating the Scriptures ought to be put down; and these charges give strength to the objections of the Catholics. Next is the charge about the expenditure of the funds the payment of the Secretaries and Agents. The pamphlet I hold in my hand says it is strange that no gentlemen can be found to serve the Society without a salary of three hundred pounds per annum. On that point I can speak with great confidence. I believe that no one who knows any thing of the Bible Society is ignorant of the fact that the first Secretary was Dr. Owen; and afterwards were associated with him, Mr. Hughes, a Minister of the Baptist persuasion; and the Rev. D. Steinkopff, a Minister of the Lutheran Church. At the outset of the Society the labours of the Secretaries were not very considerable, but as it got on beyond all expectation, in a few years, ment. the duties of the office called for a much greater portion of the time and talent of the Secretaries; and I have heard that Dr. Owen sacrificed by his attendance on the Bible Society a living of 1,2001. a-year; but he always refused to receive any salary, and he died in the prime of life, leaving his family in very indifferent circumstances. On the death of Dr. Owen, it was resolved that 3001, per annum should be given to each of the Secretaries, and after nineteen years' service the two survivors, with the Rev. Mr. Brandam, were prevailed on to accept that very moderate remuneration. With respect to the agents abroad, it is not to be expected that, besides the sacrifice of men's whole time and talents, they should go into banishment in foreign countries, without any remuneration. Dr. Pinkerton, a man of great ability, piety, candour, and benevolence, received for his labours abroad 4001. a-year. Mr. Leeves was stationed at Constantinople in the dangerous service of there distributing the Holy Scriptures, in doing which he had displayed great discretion and judg He was allowed 3001. per annum. Another small allowance was made to Mr. Barker, at Aleppo, which when we consider the danger of plague and earthquake to which he is constantly exposed, must be admitted to be but reasonable. Another agent who has travelled a great deal in America in the cause of the Society, and who is now engaged in an expedition of great danger and difficulty which will occupy several years, also received a moderate remuneration. Leander Von Ess, who by his own personal exertions has circulated an immense number of the Holy Scriptures on the Continent, receives only 3001. a-year for his expenses, including carriage of books, package, and postage, and other incidental charges occasioned by the circulation of the Scriptures. Having said these few words by way of explanation, I think you will agree with me that the charge of extravagant expenditure is entirely without foundation. But full details will be speedily laid before the public. I have only entered into this slight sketch, to enforce upon your minds the necessity for increased exertion, for it cannot be denied that the Society has lost some support. It has suffered a diminution of its patronage and of its funds; though to what extent cannot yet be ascertained. It therefore is incumbent on all its well-wishers to act with increased liberality, and to give a greater portion of their time, their talents, and their earnest prayers for the promotion of its prosperity and success." TITHES. THERE was a meeting of the Citizens of London in Common Hall, yesterday (the 19th inst.), to petition against the Corn Laws. Mr. Henry Hunt was the only person among them who said any thing to the purpose or that was calculated to lead to the necessary relief from the present state of things. After a variety of observations he came to the following points: In coming to speak of the expenditure of the country, he could only recur to the old topic. Let them begin at the head-begin with the King, and go down through all the Royal Family, retrenching, in every instance, the salaries at present allowed. They might take the Crown lands, which were, in fact, the property of the country. These lands had continued the revenue of the Crown for a considerable time, until George III. finding that the Ministers occasionally used them for their own purposes, asked how it was that certain dukes and lords should be permitted to touch his lands? "Why," said the Minister, "how do you think we can secure their votes otherwise?" "Oh," replied the King, (who whatever Peter Pindar and others might say of him, was a man sharp enough), " then take the lands to yourselves altogether, but give me something certain." And in consequence they did so, giving him £800,000 a year in lieu of them. Were he (Mr. Hunt) a Minister, he would sell all those lands for the advantage of the community. He would also take all the tithes (laughter and cheers)-leaving the clergy, of course, a sufficient and decent subsistance. He would (with all respect to the gentlemen behind him) take all Corporation lands, for it was very apparent that they were not always scrupulously managed. The story of the bequest of a penny loaf annually given at Devizes to every inhabitant and passenger, which was suspended by the Corporation of that City for seven years, in order, as they said, to make it a sevenpenny loaf, and then entirely forgotten, was a sufficient illustration of this assertion. In conclusion, he was confident no real good would emanate to this country without a thorough alteration in the whole system, and he hope to see the day when the stone figure to which he pointed (Mr. Pitt) would be removed from Guildhall, and taken into the public strects and Macadamized. On this, the Times newspaper observes: Tithes were also the subject of attack. We are sorry for this. We would leave the injustice of plundering the church to the landed interest only. The fact is, that the agricultural party cannot meet, without indicating their hankering after this property. They think they have it in their grasp. What right a body of merchants and traders have to join in the iniquity, we know not. They can gain nothing by it; and we are sure the poor man will be a loser, For our own parts we hope the distress of the country will not induce the belief that a remedy may be found by depriving its inhabitants of religious instruction, and of abolishing an intelligent, learned, and respectable clergy, for only greater distress could ensue from such a course. Seize lay-impropriations if you please, for they may be founded in such iniquity as no prescription can render sacred." Plundering the Church indeed! What is a Church, but a congregation of the people, a congregation of those whom the Times would call plunderers? To apply the property of the church to the relief of other burthens, the people would but apply a choice of their own means, and not plunder any one. Cease to ordain plunderers to holy orders, and there will be no individuals to suffer by an application of church property to better purposes. No, no, Mr. Editor of The Times,' the inhabitants of this country will not lose their religious instruction through the right application of the church property. There will be tricksters enough left to give them that instruction for what they can extract from the purse through the will. Your judgment in this matter is either interested or defective. Sooner or later, this church property must be broken up to lessen other taxes; and corporation property will share the same fate. It has been unjustly obtained, unjustly accumulated and mischievously applied. I was glad to see Mr. Hunt speaking out on this important matter, and when or wherever he, or any other person, does so speak out, as to let it be clearly seen what and what only is meant, my apR. C. probation and support shall never be wanting. LINES ON CONTEMPLATING THE STATUE OF THE VENUS DE MEDICIS. BY THE REV. ROBERT TAYLOR. (Originally published in the Morning Post.) WHEN grieved, tormented, irritated, vexed, By soft transition,-softer feelings rise. Attest Love's triumphs o'er a world in arins. The LOVE DIVINE, the Sov'REIGN GRACE, is here. Martyrs had never bled, nor heroes fought: No wars, no wrongs, the priest-gulled world had known ; Nor aught of violence-save Love alone, All feel Love's gentle influence! Love's soft book 465 CRITERIONS OF TRUTH IN SPECULATIVE QUES- MANY persons have been desirous of obtaining a compendious view of the opinions of celebrated men in all ages subsequent to the Christian era, respecting the truth of Revealed Religion. The exercise of our own judgment, where we possess any, in matters of religion, is the best mode of arriving at just conclusions: but as people, out of the laziness of their nature, prefer rather to pin their faith on authority than to seek diligently for truth, a careful investigation and statement of the opinions of great men is admitted to be the next best way of obtaining a right opinion of one's own. Christianity is to be tried by three distinct several tests. Its truth or falsehood is to be sought for in the solution of the three following questions. 1. Is the scheme of Christianity consistent with Nature, or, in other words, does it agree with, instead of forming any sort of contradiction to, the ordinary course of natural phenomena, which are the subjects of our positive sensations, and therefore the only true foundations of our knowledge? All sensible men are more or less judges of this question; but natural philosophers may be said to be more eminently qualified to decide on it, from their closer attention to nature, and from their more constant and regular exercise of the reasoning powers of the mind on the subject of natural objects, and from their more extensive knowledge of the universe. The lazy Infidel has the satisfaction on this question to have the greatest astronomers, chemists, naturalists, mathematicians, and above all, the metaphysicians, on his side-and that, too, all over Christendom. In France, Des Cartes, D'Alembert, Diderot, Baillie, La Lande, La Place, and I might name fifty more, all great astronomers and mathematicians, were decidedly Infidels; not to mention Buffon and nearly all the naturalists; Rousseau, the very child of Nature; and nearly the whole of the medical faculty. In England, Newton, Hobbes, Locke, Bacon, Hume, and nearly the whole of the more intelligent of the medical profession. Among Spaniards, Spinosa. In Prussia, the intelligent King Frederick the Second. I need not multiply examples. 2. Is Christianity capable of historical proof? that is, Will the history of mythology in general bear us out in an attempt to separate Christianity in particular from the numerous other religions mutually contradicting each other; so that we may pronounce Christianity exclusively true and the rest false? Here the indolent unbeliever may have recourse to the authority of the ingenious, 171 VIV. No 15. |