knowledge in France, by the means of a confiderable number of bibles, to be printed at their expence, and to be fent over for distribution amongst thofe in that country who had no accefs to the facred volume. Before this plan, however, was carried into execution, the breaking out of the prefent war rendered it altogether impracticable; in confequence of which, the Society determined upon affording to the indigent Roman Catholics of this kingdom, the advantages which were originally intended for their poor fellow-finners in France. Mr. William Hall of this city, being informed of their design; and defiring to co-operate with them in a measure so well calculated to be useful, wrote to Mr. Pierce, the fecretary of that fociety, a letter, with a copy of which we are at liberty to present our readers.

Dr. Sir, Dublin, Feb. 10, 1803. I have the pleafure to inform you, that the Gofpel is fpreading in this land of darknefs, and Miffionaries are conftantly employed by the Dublin and Ulster Evangelical Societies, by whofe means the glad tidings are spread through most parts of the country. Very pleafing effects have been produced, and the divine power accompanies, and renders the means effectual. We have alfo a Religious Tract Society, by which the word of Truth is extenfively difperfed, and pleasing accounts have been received of its utility amongst the Roman Catholics. The field for usefulness is large, and the means comparatively fmall. I am of opinion 10,000 bibles might be ufefully distributed in this country, through the channels above mentioned, which are different from thofe in which Dr. Coke is particularly engaged.

gaged. If the fociety to which you are fecretary, fhould find themfelves difpofed to fend any of their bibles for this purpose, I will take care they are properly bound, and distributed in such a manner as will appear beft calculated to anfwer the defign of the donors. I am, Sir,

Your faithful friend,

WM. HALL.

The above letter was read by Mr. Pierce at a meeting of the fociety held August 25, 1803, five members being prefent, and John Gill, Efq. in the chair: after which the fociety RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY as follows:

That the remaining thoufand bibles in the hands of the fecretary, be fent to Mr. William Hall of Dublin, in order to be difpofed of (gratis) by the Dublin and Ulfter Evangelical Societies, and Religious Tract Society, engaged in promoting religious knowledge among the poor Catholics in Ireland:

That the balance in the hands of the treasurer, after paying expences of packing, freight, and fhipping, &c. of the aforefaid bibles, be remitted to Mr. William Hall of Dublin, towards binding the faid bibles :

That Mr. William Hall of Dublin be defired to tranfmit an account of his difpofal of the bibles; it would also be particularly acceptable to hear of any good being done, if any fuch circumftances fhould fall within Mr. Hall's knowledge, or be received by him, he be defired to make fuch communication to the fecretary, that the gentlemen may be informed thereof by letter addreffed to each :

That the thanks of the meeting be given to John Gill, Efq. for taking the chair, and conducting the business of the meeting. C. PIERCE, Sec.

To the above we have only to add, that the bibles have fince been fent over according to the resolution above stated; that many of them have already been diftributed, and are ftill diftributing; and that it is our hope and prayer that HE whose word those books contain, will blefs the means thus adopted for the diffemination of them, by opening the eyes of thofe into whofe hands they may fall, to discover that great Saviour and great falvation which the word brings nigh to all that hear or to all that read. A.

To CORRESPONDENTS.

We fuppofe our friend near Sligo has, long fince, received by poft our answer to his kind letter, dated March 19th, 1804.

BERAUS is informed, that where we found his letter, there he may find our anfwer: and we hope it will fatisfactorily account to him for our declining to infert either of them in our publication.

We fhall thankfully receive communications from fuch as defire to unite their efforts with ours in maintaining the cause of the Gospel and we fhall confider ourselves particularly indebted to any who fhall convey to us articles of domeftic religious intelligence, connected not merely with what is commonly called religion, but with that religion which acknowledges Divine Truth as its only basis.

ERRATA.-No. 3.

Page 98, line 2, for fignified read fignifies

-Jefus

James

Revelation

is

SOLD

BY

25,

―enilghtened — enlightened

DUBLIN

Printed by Robert Mapper z

H. COLBERT, 136, CAPEL-STREET ; AND BY J. JOHNSTONE, 20, CROWE-STREET.

As the falvation of finners, the true end of the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift into the world, obliged Him to expiate fin, and deftroy the dominion of Satan: fo the performing of thefe great works required, in His person, an infinite dignity and power. For as it was not poffible He fhould give them eternal life, without doing away their guilt, and fatisfying the justice of the Father, and delivering them from the hold of devils; fo it was alike impoffible that he fhould perfect thefe things, without an infinite. merit, and a Divine ftrength; that is to fay, without being GOD; none but VERY GOD being capable of poffeffing an infinite, either dignity,

K

or

or power. As then the ftreams conduct us to their fpring; the houfe to the foundation that fuftaineth it; branches to their stock and root: fo the falvation, which is of the Lord Jefus, leadeth us to the acts by which He obtained it; and thence to the quality, that was neceffary in his perfon, for the execution of those acts. Salva

tion is the fruit of this tree of life; the fatisfaction of his cross is the branch, that bore this noble fruit; and his almighty, most holy, and divine perfon is the ftock, or root, that fhot forth this beautiful and bleffed branch. Wonder not, believing brethren, that JESUS fhould give life and eternity to us, poor finners, that have deferved death, and the curse of God: for he purchafed remiffion of our fins by his blood, and by the fweet favour of his facrifice, perfectly appeafed the wrath of God, which withstood our entering his heavenly kingdom. Neither account it any more strange, that this JESUS, fo infirm, clothed with frail flesh, fubject to all our fufferings, fhould be able to offer fo great and fo precious a facrifice to God: for how weak and defpicable foever was that form, under which he appeared here below; he is nevertheless, in reality, the true Son of God; his Wifdom, his Word, and his Power; the perfect expreffion of his perfon; his living and effential image; the fovereign Lord, and Creator of the univerfe.

For understanding aright how the Lord Jefus is the image of GOD, we must observe at the entrance, that the word image is of great extent, fignifying generally every thing that represents another whence, as things are varioufly reprefented, it comes to pafs, that there is great variety and difference of images. Some are perfect, having in them an entire, exact, and ade

quate