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Alfred. What do I hear? Didst thou disdain a foe
That asked for mercy?

Sigbert. I did, for thinking of the wrongs,

Many and deep, this head had borne, I said,
When tigers spare their prey, then, not till then,
Will I spare thee; and instant through his heart
Plung'd this my sword.

Alfred. Thou art no friend of mine!

I now disown thee! Never from this hour

Approach thy king, but let the murderer's scorn
Light on thee, and reward this evil deed!

(To be concluded in the next.)

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GILBERT WEST ESQ. TO DR. DOD

DRIDGE.

Does

I AM glad to find that Christianity begins to be so well understood, and taught by so many men of parts and learning in all seets; the fruits of which appear in a candor and charity unknown to all the ages of the church, except the primitive, I had almost said the apostolic age. not this give you a prospect of the completion of the famous prophecy, that speaks of the lion and the lamb lying down together in the kingdom of the Messiah. Lions there have been, hitherto, in all churches; but too many, fierce, greedy, and bloodthirsty lions, though often dis'guised like lambs: and some lambs there have been simple enough to think it expedient for the flock to assume the habits and terrors of lions. But I hope they now begin to undeceive themselves, and to consider Christianity as intending to bring back the world to that state of innocence which it enjoyed before the fall, when in one and No. S, Vol. IV.

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To attain this happy state, all Christians should unite their endeavors; and instead of looking out for and insisting upon points of difference and distinction, seek for those only in which they do or may agree. They may at least sow the seeds of peace and unity, though they should not live to reap the fruits of it in this world.

Blessed are the peace-makers, says the Prince of peace, for they shall be called the children of God; an appellation infinitely more honourable than that of pastor, bishop, arch-bishop, patriarch, cardinal or pope, and attended with a recompense infinitely surpassing the richest

revenues of the highest ecclesiastical dignity. That you and all sincere Christians may deserve this character, and attain its reward, is the sincere and

hearty wish of, sir, your most affectionate humble servant.

N. B Gilbert West Esq. appears to have been of the Church of England. J. K.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

NATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY.

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From the most correct information that has lately been received, it has become evident that the demand for Bibles in the remote and frontier settlements of our country, is far beyond the resources of the several bible societies now existing in the United States

An institution, founded on a more extended plan, that will concentrate and direct the efforts of our numerous and increasing Bible Associations, seems at present to be the general wish of the friends of revealed truth. Such an institution has a powerful claim to the liberal support of the Christian public This plan, which originated with the New Jersey Bible Society, has within the last year en gaged the attention of the Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society.

Their resolutions, inserted below, contain the result of their deliberations on this important subject. A bright er day appears now to have dawned on our western hemisphere.

That the present effort may be rendered an efficient means of salvation to many thousands of destitute poor in our own, and more distant lands, should be the wish and prayer of every sincere Christian.

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And may the blessing of him who is "able to do for us abundantly more than we can either ask or think," give it complete success-unto whom be glory in the church, by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages-world without end."

Resolutions of the Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society.

1st. Resolved, That it is highly desirable to obtain, upon as large a scale as possible, a cooperation of the efforts of the Christian community throughout the United States, for the efficient distribution of the holy scriptures.

2d That as a mean for the attainment of this end, it will be expedient to have a convention. of delegates from such Bible Societies, as shall be disposed to concur in this measure, to on the day of

meet at

next, for the purpose of con sidering whether such a cooperation may be effected in a better manner, than by the correspondence of the different societies as now established; and if so, that they prepare the draft of a plan for such cooperation to be

submitted to the different societies for their decision.

3d. That the Secretary transmit the above resolutions to the President of the New Jersey Bible Society, as expressive of the opinion of this Board on the measures therein contained, and at the same time signifying the wish of this Board, that he would exercise his own discretion in bringing the subject before the public.

In pursuance of the foregoing resolutions requesting me to designate the

time and place at which the proposed meeting of delegates from the different Bible Societies in the United States shall take place; after mature deliberation, and consulting with judicious friends on this important subject, I am decidedly of opinion that the most suitable place for the pro posed. meeting, is the city of New York-and the most convenient time the second Wednesday of May nextand I do appoint and recommend the said meeting to be held at that time and place.

to which I am now confined, it will afford me the highest satisfaction to attend at that time, and contribute all in my power toward the establishment and organization of a society, which, with the blessing of God, I have not the least doubt will in time, in point of usefulness, be second only to the parent institution (the British and Foreign Bible Society)-will shed an unfading lustre on our Christian community, and will prove a blessing to our country and the world.

ELIAS BOUDINOT,
Pres. of NJ. Bib. Soc.

Should it please a merciful God to raise me from the bed of sickness, Burlington, Jan. 31, 1816.

Extracts from the correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, since the publication of the Eleventh Report.

EUROPE.

Letter of thanks from Mr. Ion Vidalin, sheriff of South Mulè Syssel, in Iceland, in the name f the inhibitants of that district, for the copies of the Icelandic Scriptures sent thither in the summer of 1814 * (Translation) THAT religion is the fundamental pillar of the state, on which the real welfare of the whole body politic, and of every private citizen, must rest, is a truth which has been acknowledged by the ablest politicians in all ages of the world. To be sensible of the val. ue of true and genuine religion; to venerate its pure and primitive principles; and to endeavor to make all men acquainted with them, must always diffuse among mankind, light, life, and happiness; must promote the true dig nity of man, the noblest use of life, and employments, which may be appreciated in time, but can be rewarded only in eternity. Among these employments is to be reckoned the vig: orous prosecution of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the sole object of which is to promote the circulation of the Holy Scriptures among all nations; whose worthy interpreter and

representative, the Rev. E. Henderson, has brought over to us, poor Icelanders, the fruits of its noble exertions in a new and useful edition of the fundamental books of our religion, the most Sacred Bible, and New Testament of our Savior Jesus Christ, in our vernacular language. Of these books a considerable number has been sent over

by the ships of last season, proving a rich supply amidst the great scarcity which was previously becoming more and more afflictive; and the copies have already been distributed with great pains, owing to the zeal and diligence of the Rev. E Henderson, the interpreter of the noble Society. As a proof of his zeal for the illumination of mankind, he has also visited the eastern coasts of Iceland, and favored us with a personal visit in South Mulè Syssel.

Therefore, in the name, and on the behalf, of all the ir.habitants of the aforementioned Syssel, under my jurisdiction, I, the undersigned, return my respectful and warmest thanks to the noble British and Foreign Bible Socie ty, and its representative, the Rev E. Henderson, for their mutual exertions to promote our illumination; and all

* Officially communicated through the Hon. Conferenceraad Thorarinson, Deputy Governor of the northern and eastern quarters of the Island, and his Lordship Bishop Vidalin.

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we,the inhabitants of South Mulè Syssel, do express our most cordial wishes, that heaven would regard, and eternity remunerate, the benevolent exertions of the honored Society. And may our dear friend, the Rev. E. Henderson, be abundantly blessed! May his exertions prosper and be acknowledged by the present, and by every future generation; and may his labors be crowned in eternity!

On behalf of the whole population of South Mule Syssel, I have the honor to be, most respectfully,

ION VIDALIN,

The constituted sheriff of
South Mule Syssel in Iceland.

Eskeford in Iceland,
Dec. 31, 1814.

From the Third Report of the Finnish Bible Society. Abo, March 28, 1815. Through the goodness of Divine Providence, and under a Christian Sovereign's mild government, the Finnish Bible Society has arrived at the conclusion of another year, during which, in the progress of its wellmeant endeavors for diffusing a more general knowledge of the Holy Scriptures among the inhabitants of Finland, it has had reason to entertain the consolatory hope, that the Father of lights, who has begun so good a work among us, will perfect it till the day of Christ.

And although it is much to be wished that the Society could have attained the object of the institution sooner, and engaged more actively in the work of distributing the word of God than has hitherto been possible; the Committee are nevertheless convinced that the short Report now presented to the public, will prove satisfaçtory to all the members of the Society, and confirm them in the joyful assurance that the Lord is with us, and that his blessing rests upon the work of our hands.

The Society's principal endeavor has hitherto been to complete the octavo edition of the Finnish Bible on standing types. It is with peculiar pleasure that the Committee can state

that, in consequence of the very great liberality of his Imperial Majesty and the British and Foreign Bible Society, as also the voluntary subscrip tions of all classes of their fellow subjects, there is every reason to believe, that the funds of the Society are al ready equal to the expenses of this edition. The New Testament is already printed off, first in St. Petersburg, and now here in Abo; 24 sheets of the Old Testament are composed, and partly printed off, in, St. Petersburg.

In the Report for the last year it was observed, that beside the 7501. which the British and Foreign Bible Society had presented to the Society in Finland, for printing the Finnish Bibles on standing types, they had most generously presented them with 200% for distributing Swedish Bibles a mong the Swedish inhabitants of Finland. With this money, 1350 Bibles have been procured from Stockholm, of which 250 copies have been distributed gratis, and the remainder have mostly been sold at cost prices. The money received for these Bibles is designed as a separate fund for the purpose of procuring a fresh supply, as needed, for this class of our fellow subjects.*

The Rev. J. Paterson, who forwarded the above communication, adds:

"From the above Report it appears, that our Finnish friends are very ac tive; and, considering the poverty of the country, they have come forward with great liberality. The subscrip tions amount to three times the sum any of us expected. No part of the Report affords me more pleasure than that concerning the Swedish Bibles. Never were 2001. better employed by your Society. They have made a good use of the talent you entrusted them with. It has awakened a desire in the people to have the Scriptures in their own, the Swedish language; and, poor as they are, they cheerfully pay for them; so that I hope, ere long, every Swedish family in Finland will, by means of this small fund, be furnished with a copy of the Bible.

* Since the Report was drawn up, 600 additional copies have been ordered from different parts of Finland.

"We have begun the distribution of the Finnish Testament in the Government of St. Petersburg. I expected the edition would have lasted us for several years; but the demand is so great, that we cannot get the Testaments bound quickly enough, and the whole edition is already nearly exhausted. When a quantity arrives in a village, all the inhabitants assemble, and can scarcely be restrained from carrying off the Testaments by force. They have been famishing for want of the word of life, and now they are almost insatiable.

"We have recently received 300 rubles, which have been subscribed by the Ingermanland Russian Regiment, besides 130 rubles from their Colonel, for which they require one Russian and one Polish Bible. This gift is peculiarly valuable, as coming from Russian soldiers. The Roman Catholic Metropolitan has published two pastoral letters to his flock, recom mending the reading of the Scriptures among them generally, and ordering the Clergy to promote the circulation of the Society's editions. This is an important document. Our Committee ordered it to be published in the Gazettes, that it might be as generally known as possible. A copy of it will be sent you by our friend Pinkerton, as soon as he can get it translated for you. I hope it will have its effect on the Roman Catholics with you, and in Germany. We have also received from his Imperial Majesty freedom to send all letters and packages free of expense, by post, so that we can now send our Bibles to the remetest parts of the Russian Empire with the great est facility."

From the Rev. R. Pinkerton. St. Pe

tersburg, June, 5, 1815.

I think I have mentioned in former letters, that the Bishop of Samogitia had translated the New Testament into that language, that the manuscript was sent hither last year, and received the approbation of his Eminence Sesterinsevitch, the Catholic Metropolitan, and that the Kt. Rev. Translator

had resolved to print 1000 copies of it in Wilna, at his own expense. After our Committee had corresponded with the Bishop in regard to the state of the Samogitians," who were brought over to the Christian religion only in the 15th century, and have never yet had a version of the Scriptures in their language, it was this day resolved to print an additional 4000 copies, at the expense of the Russian Bible Society.

Among the multitude of interesting communications and liberal subscriptions laid before the Committee this day, from different distant parts of Russia, none afforded us so much pleasure as the following most interesting observations, respecting the establishment of an Auxiliary Bible Society in the seaport town of Theodosia, in the Crimea. The communication was written by the Governor of that city, his Excellency Bronefsky, and is accompanied with a list of from 30 to 40 subscribers, of whom six are subjects of the Sultan of Constantinople, and a petition for instructions towards the establishment of a Branch of the Bible Society in that ancient city, formerly called by the Turks Kafa.

"The Theodosian Auxiliary Branch, having implored the blessing of the Most High, will use all possible exertions to promote the object of the Russian Bible Society. The dissemination of the word of God among Christians alone, composes of itself an important part of this Society's undertaking an undertaking which requires unwearied efforts, and liberal contributions, on the part of its members.

"As the town of Theodosia is inhabited chiefly by foreigners of different religious persuasions, it will be necessary to inform them, that the spirit and rules of the Russian Bible Society do not prevent it from sending the Holy Scriptures to their friends beyond the borders of Russia. The Bible Society has limited the object of its undertaking to the distribution of the Holy Scriptures in different languages, without note or comment. The object, in its simplicity, is exalted, and worthy of the spirit of the Gospel.

The British and Foreign Bible Society has granted to the Russian Bible Society 250%. in aid of printing and circulating the Samogitian Scriptures.

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