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The BISHOP of BANGOR (the late Dr. WARREN) gave the Bible Society in 1804, soon after its establishment, "the benefit of his recommendation; and instructed the Rural Deans throughout his diocese to distribute its plans and solicit benefactions in its favour."

Owen's Hist. of the Bible Society, Vol. I. p. 160.

Extract of a LETTER from the BISHOP of DURHAM to LORD TEIGNMOUTH, dated May 1, 1810.

"The British and Foreign Bible Society has my warmest wishes for a continuance of success in the important work in which it is engaged;-wishes which were formed on the fullest conviction that its meritorious exertions have contributed, and will contribute, to make known the holy scriptures in the most unenlightened regions of the earth, and to convey to millions what they otherwise would not have enjoyed-the inestimable blessing of the Gospel."

In another Letter, dated May 5th, 1812, he apologized for his nonattendance at the Anniversary on account of indisposition, and sent a second donation of 50%. This Prelate has also subscribed liberally to the Cavendishsquare Bible Association, of which he is the President or Patron.

Copy of a CIRCULAR LETTER addressed by the BISHOP of BRISTOL to the CLERGY of his Diocese.

"REV. SIR,

January 9, 1810.

66 Having been requested by the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society to recommend the formation of an Auxiliary Society in the City of Bristol, similar to those which have been established in several great towns throughout the kingdom; I beg leave to state, that such a measure has my hearty approbation, and that it will afford me the greatest pleasure to see it carried into execution.

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"The late BISHOP of SODOR and MAN, in 1811, co-operated with the Society in distributing the Manks Testament throughout his diocese." Owen's Hist. of the Bible Society, Vol. II. p. 55.

Extract of a LETTER from the BISHOP of NORWICH to the Rev. Mr. COBBOLD, respecting the Formation of the Suffolk Auxiliary Society, dated Dec. 1811. "It will be impossible for me to make my appearance in person at the meeting to be holden at Ipswich on the 10th of this month (December). May I request the favour of you to take the chair in my stead? I can with truth add, that I shall have a particular satisfaction in being represented by a Clergyman, whose steady and judicious attachment to our excellent ecclesiastical establishment renders him a peculiarly proper person to promote the success of an institution, so inseparably connected with the best interests of this establishment. "I am, Dear Sir, sincerely yours,

"H. NORWICH.”

The BISHOP of SALISBURY has, on several occasions, borne his public testimony to the merits of this institution, in the most decided terms.

The BISHOP of KILDARE, at the Annual Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in May 1812, after having stated the want and ac

ceptability of the Scriptures, according to the authorised version, not only among the Protestants, but also among very many of the Roman Catholics in Ireland, and spoken in terms of high commendation of the exertions made by the Hibernian Bible Society of Dublin to meet the exigency, asserted that the ignorance which prevailed in that country on the subject of religion was not to be conceived, and that the doctrines of the Reformation were utterly unknown in many parts of it.

The BISHOP of MEATH, at the same meeting, concurred with the BISHOP of KILDARE, in representing the state of Ireland as deeply needing the benefit which it was in the power of the society to impart. The Bishop remarked, that only the skirts of that cloud, charged with fertilizing showers, to which the noble President had compared this benevolent society, had yet extended to Ireland. His Lordship expressed the warmest satisfaction at witnessing so numerous a meeting, united thus cordially and ardently on an object of so much importance; and assured them that he should endeavour to impart a similar impression to the Clergy of that diocese which constituted the sphere of his labours.

Extract from the SPEECH of the BISHOP of CLOYNE, March 18, 1813.

“As an old member of the Parent Society, I rejoice in the sight of this numerous and respectable meeting, convened for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary. I am proud of the healthy and vigorous offspring which is rising on every side around that parent; and I do think its signal and honest merits have fixed, and are fixing themselves every day, upon the firm and broad basis of decided public opinion. That there should be learned and respectable men, and such men I am afraid are to be found, who object to our principle, and are alarmed at our progress, is to me matter of pure and simple astonishment! Will any one of this assembly stand forward and tell us, that to give a Bible to a poor man, who is unable to purchase one, is unbecoming a Christian assembly? Will any one stand forward and tell us, that to be at the expense and difficulty of translating the Bible into a foreign language, and to send it into a country where the name of the Bible has hardly ever been heard, is likely to produce very dangerous consequences? No, Gentlemen: I know proofs to the contrary; and I agree with the noble Lord who spoke last but one, that in Ireland the limits of this institution are spreading everywhere: I see and converse every day, in my own neighbourhood, with men who have been beyond measure benefitted by the exertions of the society. Go on, then, Gentlemen, in the name of GOD; spread the Word of GOD, without the opinions of man, throughout every part of the world; translate it into every language, and send it into every country. And if this be a crime, it is one of a very singular nature; for our Saviour set the example, the Apostles followed it, and God himself has commanded and sanctioned it. I proceed, therefore, to move, that a society be formed, to be called 'The North-West London Auxiliary Bible Society.""

Extract from the CHARGE of the BISHOP of ST. DAVID's, in 1813.

"The unexampled success of the British and Foreign Bible Society is very interesting to us, as Christians and Protestants. Auxiliary Societies continue to multiply throughout the united kingdom. A great accession has been very lately made to it, both of numbers and credit, by the establishment of an Auxiliary Society at Oxford. Its only object, the promotion of Christian knowledge, it has in common with the old national society. The old society pursues this end by various means: the new society by one only; but that is one in which all Christians can concur.

"The Bible Society undertakes to distribute the Bible: it confines itself

to the Bible; but it neither obstructs nor discourages the circulation of the Common-Prayer Book (for every member of the society is at liberty to give the Prayer Book with the Bible): but if the society had refused to sell the Bible without the Prayer Book, it would certainly have obstructed the circulation of the Bible. The Society is constituted on this simple and comprehensive principle, that it may not exclude the aid of any persons professing to be Christians. Indeed, no contribution for the distribution of the Bible can be unacceptable, whether it come from a Churchman or Dissenter, from a Christian, Jew, Mahometan, or Heathen."

In a book, entitled "The Bible, and the Bible alone, the Religion of Protestants," his Lordship again speaks highly in commendation of the Bible Society.

Extract of a LETTER from the late BISHOP of LLANDAFF to LORD TEIGNMOUTH, dated Oct. 12, 1814.

"Allow me to congratulate your Lordship on the flourishing state of the society: it portends, I trust, the commencement of a new epoch in the his-> tory of human kind, when the Christian religion shall be universally received, rightly understood, and conscientiously practised."

Extract of a LETTER from the BISHOP of CHICHESTER to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, dated Aug. 14, 1815.

"I confess myself extremely gratified with the contents of the Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and might have conceived (had I not heard and known the contrary) that no well-wisher to an extensive dissemination of the Gospel could fail of being so."

The BISHOP of GLOUCESTER, at the 12th Anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in 1816, spoke as follows:

66

Opposition has been revived, but it has been ably and decisively defeated. Indeed, facts begin now to speak. We find many examples of the practical results of disseminating the pure Word of God. The circulation of the Prayer Book has not been lessened; it has, on the contrary greatly increased, during the whole period since the formation of this society-a sufficient evidence that the Established Church is more firmly seated in the affections of the country. The other tendency which the friends of our society thought to be the most probable, begins to appear. The effects of the Bible are becoming daily more and more visible. And what are these effects? The drunkard becomes sober, the profligate chaste, the swearer fears an oath. May the GoD of the Bible grant that this tendency may increase year by year! May the time come, when the Word of God shall be in every heart an incorruptible seed, which shall bloom and blossom here, and bring forth fruit to everlasting life!"

The sentiments of the late venerable Dr. PORTEUS, BISHOP of LONDON, are thus delivered to the world, in great part as recorded by the Bishop himself, in his Life, written by his relative Dr. Hodgson, Dean of Chester, and Rector of St. George's, Hanover Square.

"A limitation thus absolute and unequivocal," viz. that the sole and exclusive object of the Society should be the circulation of the Scriptures, and the Scriptures only, without note or comment "removed from the Bishop's mind all doubt and hesitation. He saw instantly that a design of such magnitude, which aimed at nothing less than the dispersion of the Bible over every accessible part of the world, could only be accomplished by the

association of men of all religious persuasions. He looked forward to great results from such a combination of effort. He entertained the hope, that it might operate as a bond of union between contending parties; and that by bringing them together in one point of vast moment, about which there could hardly be a diversity of opinion, it might gradually allay that bitterness of dispute, and put an end to those unhappy divisions, which have so long tarnished the credit of the Christian world. Whilst, therefore, we remained firmly attached to the original society (for promoting Christian Knowledge), whose exertions, as far as its limited sphere allowed, no one ever held in higher estimation, he gave at the same time the sanction of his name without scruple to the new one: and the more he considered its object, and the longer experience he had of the spirit and principles on which it was conducted, the more deeply he was convinced that it merited all the support which the Church of England could give it.

"It is now," he observes in a passage which strongly marks his sentiments; "it is now well known and firmly established, and has completely triumphed over all the attempts made to destroy it. None of those secret dark designs, none of those plots and conspiracies to subvert the Establishment, and devour both the shepherds and their flocks, which were so confidently predicted, by a certain set of men, as the inevitable effect of this society, have yet been discovered in it. It is, in fact, much better employed. It goes on quietly and steadily in the prosecution of its great object, and pays no sort of regard to the sneers and cavils of its intemperate opponents."

In another passage, written at a still later date, he says, “That he cannot but add, in justice to this society, which has been so much opposed, misrepresented, and traduced, that all the important works in which it has been engaged, have been carried on with the utmost harmony and unanimity; without any difference of opinion; without the slightest symptom of any hostile or treacherous design against the Church; and without any other idea upon their minds, but that of extending as widely as possible the knowledge of the Christian Scriptures. The BISHOPS of DURHAM and SALISBURY attended seveveral of their meetings; and were delighted with the decorum, calmness, and good temper, with which their proceedings were conducted. In short, all the apprehensions to which this society has given rise, are now found to be but vain terrors; and all the prophecies of the mischief and evil that would result from it, are falsified by facts. It is rising uniformly in reputation and credit; gaining new accessions of strength and revenue; and attaching to itself, more and more, the approbation and support of every real friend to the Church and to religion."

APPENDIX, No. IV.

SPECIMENS OF THE TYPES OF THE SOCIETY'S BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS.

ENGLISH SMALL-PICA BIBLE, Octavo.

(Cost the Society, 10s. 6d.)

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace; that
bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto
Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isai. lii. 7.

WELSH BIBLE, Octavo. 128.

k Ps. xciii. 1.

& xcvii. 1.
Rev. xi. 15.
& xix. 6.

......

TESTAMENT, Octavo, in sheep, 3s. 6d.
DITTO..
in calf, 4s 6d.
LONG PRIMER BIBLE, with References,
(Super-Royal Paper) Octavo. 34s.
Say among the heathen that the

LORD reigneth: the world also shall
be established that it shall not be
1 ver. 13. Ps. moved: 'he shall judge the people
xxvii. 4:* righteously. Psalm xcvi. 10.

9.

DITTO, without References, Demy Paper. 9s. 6d.

BREVIER BIBLE, Octavo. 7s. 2d.

And thou, Solomon my son, know thon
the God of thy father, and serve him with
a perfect heart, and with a willing mind:
for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and
understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be
found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he
will cast thee off for ever. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9.
DITTO, with References in the Margins. 11s. 10d.

MINION BIBLE, Octavo.

(Cost the Society, 6s.)

Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the LORD, and he
will have mercy upon him; and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isai. lv. 7.

POCKET MINION BIBLE, Twenty-fours.
(58. 7d.)

Search the Scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which
testify of me. John v. 39.

TESTAMENT, in sheep, 1s. 6d.
DITTO..
in calf, 28. 1d.

.......

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PICA TESTAMENT, Octavo.
(Cost Society, in sheep, 38. 3d.)

Let us not be weary in well
doing; for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not. Gal. vi. 9.
DITTO, in calf, 4s. 3d.

LONG PRIMER TESTAMENT, Octavo.
(In sheep, 28. 2d.)

And they were all amazed, and mar-
velled, saying one to another, Behold,
are not all these which speak Galileans?
And how hear we every man in our
own tongue, wherein we were born?
Acts ii. 7, 8.

DITTO, in calf, 38. 2d.

BREVIER TESTAMENT, 12mo.
(In sheep, 18. 6d.)

All Scripture is given by inspi-
ration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for cor-
rection, for instruction in right-
eousness. 2 Tim. iii. 16.

DITTO, in calf, 2s. 3d.

BREVIER WELSH TESTAMENT, 12mo.
(sheep, Is. 8d.)

Yr holl ysgrythyr sydd wedi ei
rhoddi gan ysprydoliaeth Duw,
ac sydd fuddiol i athrawiaethu, i
argyhoeddi, i gerydda, i hyfforddi
mewd cyfiawnder: 2 Tim. iii. 16.
DITTO, in calf, 28. 5d.

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