dom, in the holy confederacy for extending the empire of religion and civilization. This auspicious era has now arrived. The last week has witnessed an august assemblage of the fathers of the American Churches, of every denomination, convened in this metropolis from all parts of the country, not to brandish the sword of religious controversy, but to unite with one heart, in laying the foundation of the majestick superstructure of the American Bible Society: Athens boasted of her temple of Minerva; but our city is more truly consecrated, by being the seat of this hallowed edifice. It is not a mosque, containing, or reputed to contain, the remains of the Arabian prophet, but a fabrick reared and devoted to the living God by the united efforts of the American Churches. Fellow citizens will you coldly receive this honour, or will you not rather show yourselves worthy of this sacred distinction? I am persuaded, that your munificence and zeal in this holy cause will be recorded as an animating example to the nation. For to whom should it be reserved to electrify this western continent, but to the London of America ?Our country has long stood forth the rival of England in commerce and in arms; let her not be left behind in the glorious career of evangelizing the world.

Extract from the Speech of Peter A. Jay, Esq. before the American Bible Society.

The nations of Europe are now awake and active; they have sent forth the gospel into all lands, and its sound unto the ends of the earth. Their exertions are strenuous and unremitted. They eagerly emulate each other in the glorious strife. And shall we alone be idle? Blest as we are with opulence and ease, shall we be less grateful to

Him who gives them, than nations wasted with war?

Surely, Sir, we shall not refuse to run the race which is set before us, nor to contribute towards the cause of mankind. What charity

can be greater, to what can there be stronger motives?

How many are there who thirst for military glory; and what sacrifices would they not make to ob tain it! We have long been spectators of the great tragedy which has been acted on the theatre of Europe, and our imaginations have become inflamed. We have beheld mighty hosts encountering each other; desperate battles fought, and victories

won.

We think of the triumphant march, the blood stained banner, the captured artillery, and all the pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war, till many among us would willingly face danger and death itself, to acquire a renown equal to that of some favourite hero. Yet the laurel of the conqueror grows only in a soil which is moistened with blood. It is stained with the tears of the widow, and it thrives in the midst of desolationNor is it durable: amid all the annals of destruction, how few are the names which we remember and pronounce! But is there glory which is pure and enduring, and which de~ serves to be sought? Yes, the love of fame is a noble passion, given us not to be extinguished, but to be used aright. There is a glory which a wise man will covet, which a good man will aspire to, which will follow him from this world to the next, and there, in the presence of an assembled universe of angels, and of just men made perfect, place a crown upon his brows that fadeth not away.

It is the peculiar province of the clergy, to teach how to acquire this heavenly crown; but I may be permitted to say, that an irrevocable decree has gone forth, an inviolabie

promise has been made, that they who turn many to righteousness, shall shine like stars for ever and

ever.

But how shall those who are doomed to business and labour, turn many to righteousness. Such is the constitution of human society, that all cannot be missionaries, all cannot apply themselves to the spiritual concerns of others. This Society enables all to contribute to the spiritual improvement of all. The Bible is the best of missionaries.It will reach where no preacher can penetrate; it will preach where he cannot be heard; it will reprove, alarm, advise, console in solitude, when no passion interferes to drown its voice. Of these missionaries thousands may be sent abroad, and where the seed is abundantly sown, we may reasonably hope for au abundant harvest.

Though the diffusion of the scripfures is the great end of our Institution, yet another blessing will also spring from it. Too long have Christians been divided. Sect has been opposed to sect; angry controversies have agitated the church; misrepresentations have been made and believed; and good men, who ought to have loved each other, have been kept asunder by prejudices, which were the offspring of igno

rance.

In this society, the most discor

dant sects will meet together, engaged in a common cause; prejudices will abate; asperities will be softened; and when it is found, as undoubtedly it will be found, that the same love of God and of man animates all real Christians, whatever may be their outward rites, or forms of ecclesiastical discipline, that most of them agree in fundamental doctrines, and that their differences principally relate to points of little practical importance, there must be an increase of brotherly love, and of a truly catholick spirit.

Sir, I pretend not to see more clearly than others through the dim veil of prophecy, but if the predic tions which foretel a millenial period of happiness on earth, are ever to be literally fulfilled, it can only be by the accomplishment of another prophecy, that "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea." Let us then be blessed instruments in the diffusion of this knowledge, that having contributed to the triumph of the Redeemer's cause, we may be permitted to partake it. Then we shall be entitled to address the Christian Church in the exalting strains :

The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay; Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away; But fixed his word, his saving power remains, Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns.

Christian Friends and Brethren,

THE General Association of Massachusetts again take the liberty of addressing the churches and people in connexion with them. It demands our grateful recollection, that the year past has been a season of peace, of general health and prosperity, and, as we would hope and

believe, of moral and religious improvement.

The tremendous events of war among the nations, which long excited our astonishment, have passed away; passed away, we would devoutly hope, to return no more. Still, events, not less interesting, but infinitely more delightful, crowd

themselves upon our attention.The great Missionary interest, só cheering to benevolent minds, seems to be extending its influence to all the villages and countries of the Christian world. The growing zeal and opulent means of Bible Societies give hopeful promise, that the word of God, at no distant period, may be read in all the languages of mankind. That the next generations of the world, and the great mass of the people, even in Christian nations, will become more enlightened and humanized, may be sanguinely anticipated from the multiplied and extending means of education, and the increasing attention to intellectual and moral culture. Nor do we hesitate to acknowledge, that from recent declarations, by some of the mighty Potentates of the world, we have been powerfully excited to hope, that those, who have been oppressors may ere long become the ministers of God for great good to his people. You perceive, that we refer to the "Holy League" formed by three of the powerful empires of Europe, Russia, Austria and Prussia-in which they recognize the Gospel of Jesus, as the basis of their alliance, and embrace each other as brethren. They, also, offer to receive all other powers, who wish solemnly to profess the sacred principles which dictated that holy alliance." Nearly simultaneous with this great event, Peace societies were established in the capital of Massachusetts, and New-York, and (probably) in Great Britain, and all this without any previous concert or

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correspondence. This is laying the axe to the root of the tree. Should Peace societies be extensively established, heroes and conquerors will no more be allowed to wade to thrones through the blood of their people; the silver trumpet of the Gospel will not be drowned in the clangour of war, nor the soldiers of the cross be driven from their pious labours by the legions of tyrants.— In connexion with these things, when we recollect the prophecies and promises of Divine Revelation, our faith almost rises to assurance, that the day makes haste, when wars shall cease, and all shall know the Lord. Should Peace societies be extended, they will be so many handmaids, or rather guardian angels of other benevolent institutions. Their establishment seems to be the commencement of a new era of hope and benevolence. One of the great purposes of the Gospel was, to produce peace on earth and good will to man. It has been devoutly expected, that in the process of ages, this would be the glorious result; hence ministers of the gospel, and other saints, have prayed, that "wars might cease, and the lion and lamb lie down together;" but this consummation, so devoutly to be wished, has never been permanently and extensively accomplished.

But rulers and people are beginning to believe, that carrying de solation and murder over a country is not the most reasonable method to ensure peace or prosperity; no means seems so likely to produce universal peace, as the influence of such societies.

I UNITE Cordially with thee, in hailing the many extraordinary symptoms of an awakened attention

to the highests interest of cur species in various parts of the world. On the subject of war, a number not

of our fold, have associated for the purpose of disseminating Tracts, asserting its inconsistency with Christianity, and it began its labours by re-printing the "Solemn Review," of which several thousand copies are already circulated. I hope its author will be encouraged to persevere in his purpose of a quarterly publication, and would willingly subscribe for ten copies of jt, if the means of conveying them in a private channel should present."

The above extract is given to establish the fact, which we have for sometime believed to be true,

that a Peace society did really exist in Great Britain; and to remove all apprehensions of danger from the exertions of the friends of peace in this country.

If we take into view the Holy League or Imperial Peace society, the accession of Sweden and Holland to that League, with what has been done in Great Britain and in the U. States within one year; may we not indulge a hope that the renown of war has passed the meridian, and that the time is at hand, when those who shall choose to fight, will be influenced by some other motive, than love of military fame.

Ordained, at Middletown, (Con.) July 24, Rev. Chauncey A. Goodrich. The parts were performed in the usual order, by Rev. Mr. Ripley of Meriden; Rev. Mr. Goodrich of Berlin.-Sermon from Heb. 13, 17-Rev. Dr. Lyman, East-Haddam ; Rev. Mr. Selden of Chatham; Rev. Mr. Smith of Durham, and Rev. Mr. Merwin of New-Haven.

In North-Yarmouth, July 30th, Mr. Otis Briggs, over a Baptist Church in that place. Sermon, by Rev. T. Baldwin, D. D. of Boston, from Eph. iv. 17.

In Portland, July 31st, Mr. T. B. Ripley, over the Baptist Church, in that town. Introductory prayer and sermon by Dr. Baldwin.

Rev. Willard Preston, has been installed pastor of the Pacifick Congregational Church and society in Providence.

At St. John's church, in Providence, Aug. 1, Rev. G. T. Chapman was admitted to the order of

Deacon, by Rev. Dr. Griswold, Bishop of the Eastern Diocese. Sermon by the Bishop.

In New-York, Rev. J. T. Hull, and Rev. T. C. Brownell, Deacons, were admitted to the order of Priests, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hobart.

In Easthampton, Aug. 14, Rev. Asa Brooks, as a Missionary to the county of Randolph, Virginia, for one year, by the New-Hampshire Missionary society.-Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Packard of Shelburne.

At Beverly, Aug. 14, Rev. N. W. Williams, as pastor of the Baptist church in that place. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Grafton, Newton; sermon by Rev. Dr. Baldwin; consecrating prayer, by Rev. Mr. Bachelor of Haverhill; charge, by Rev. Mr. Bolles, of Salem; right hand, by Rev. Mr. Chaplin of Danvers; concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Collier, of Charlestown.

VI. We should be excited to persevere in the good work of distributing the scriptures, from the consideration, that, after the first efforts, we are prone to relax in our exertions to do good.

The reason is, we often act from the influence of feeling, rather than of principle. We require some powerful excitement to call forth our active powers; and as this, in the nature of things, cannot be of long duration, when it ceases, or becomes weakened, we remit our efforts. How often have we seen good objects at first supported with a zeal, which seemed to promise the happiest results? But this zeal has suddenly abated; and the most flattering prospects have been disappointed.

That this may not be verified in us, with respect to the distribution of the Bible, let us attend to the many arguments, which prove it to be our duty; let us fix it in our minds, that it is an object deserving our assiduous care; and, having begun a good Vol. IV. No. 10.

work, let nothing hinder us from persevering in this way of well doing...

VII. A further encouraging motive to the unwearied discharge of this duty, is the wonderful union which prevails, in advancing this interesting object.

Under a painful conviction of the contentions, which, in every age of the Christian Church, have been excited respecting the doctrines of that gospel, which proclaims "peace on earth and good will toward men," it is refreshing to find one cause, which so nearly relates to our common salvation, in which we can, for the most part, so har moniously unite. This glorious object combines the exertions of all the various sects, into which christianity is divided. As if none dare show a backwardness in diffusing these means of light, even members of the Roman Catholick church, whose usual policy has been to conceal the scriptures from the common pee