as a duty, but as a high privilege, to forth to the battle, not regarding avow my unshaken allegiance to this those who differed from them in this noble institution. In making that country as enemies; those were not avowal, I am sure I utter the feelings the enemies against whom they marof all í now address. We are met shalled their array. No; the enethis day to declare, that, as we have mies they fought, were ignorance, given in former times our sanction to and vice, and iniquity, under whatthe principles of this Society, SO ever shape, in whatever land; whenothing has since occurred to shake ther under the smiling aspect of an our confidence in those principles, or over-elaborate civilization, or the to withdraw our dependance upon more obtrusive and disgusting vices those by whom those principles are of heathenish atrocities. These were carried into effect. Allusions have the enemies whom they pursued : been made to circumstances which and they went forth to the contest in might seem calculated in no small the spirit that animated every heart degree to counteract the operations in that selected band of three hunof the Society. We have, indeed, dred, who, on a memorable occasion, had difficulties to encounter; at the in a state of weariness and hunger, same time I must say, that those came to Jordan's bank, faint, yet difficulties have been fewer in num- pursuing. The time of faintness is, ber than those other Institutions I trust, past; but the time of purhave been called to experience. suing remains. So long as there are There have, indeed, been days of territories to be explored; so long as darkness; but surely if, in the time sin and vice are to be subdued, -80 of the infancy of this Society, when long the pursuit must be continued its powers were yet immature and and wax hotter from day to day. We unknown, we were not induced to know that it is destined, that the abandon its cause, the present is not sacred volume which we circulate the period we should choose for re shall one day be the law of the habitlinquishing our support. Now, then, able globe. "We know that all the in every part of the habitable globe, events and circumstances of this state its labours are extended and its suc of things are forming, and collecting, cess recognised, -when we hear of and concentrating together, to one fourteen millions of copies having great object-the establishment of been circulated throughout the world, one magnificent dominion, under eight hundred thousand being issued that great Potentate to whom the during the last year,—when we hear eternal promise has been given, “I of seven thousand kindred Societies, will give thee the heathen for thine -when every sun lights up some me inheritance, and the uttermost parts morial of our triumphs, and every of the earth for thy possession.” At moon repeats the history of our suc what period that glorious consumcess, this is not the period, of all mation may arrive, it is not for us to others, when we are to be dismayed say. This rests in the mind and will and tremble for this Society; this is of Him with whom “ a thousand not the period when we are to doubt years are as one day:" although, in its success, to relinquish its banners, the present aspect of things, one or despair of its final triumphs. There might perceive somewhat of approxhave been days, when the great, the imation to that grand consummation learned, and the wise, set themselves in the general movements throughin array against this Society, as yet out the globe, in the jostling and unconfirmed in its strength, and un hurrying together of great events, in tried in the exertion of its latent the varying positions and diversifyenergie's. But, if assailants were not ing phases of the great states of this wanting, neither were there wanting world ; in all these things we see champions in our cause; and those some preparation for that great period. who then conducted the Society, The Rev. M PRITCHARD, Missionsome of whom still continue among ary to Tahiti, one of the South Sea us, though others have been removed Islands, who proposed the fourth to their reward, went forth to the Resolution :-said, Having spent battle, not trusting to human armour about seventeen years in the South nor arrayed in the panoply of mortal Seas, he could bear testimony to the arms,--but they sought and they great blessings conferred by this Sofound their victorious weapons in ciety on that part of the world. For the armoury of God. They went many years, grants of paper were made by the Society to the mission occasion the man could not be prearies, who were thus enabled to put vailed upon to put down his book, into the hands of the natives portions even for that time, but said, 'I have of Scripture as fast as they could better food here; I want to hasten translate them; and those small por home, and feed on this spiritual tions had proved exceedingly benefi food.' One evening, Mrs. Buzacott, cial, and had issued in the conversion the wife of the missionary at Raraof many to the Lord. He could not tonga, was passing through the settlefully describe to the Meeting the joyment, and called in at a cottage, produced in the hearts of the South where she found several persons asSea islanders, when it was announced sembled, sitting talking in the dark. to them that the whole of the sacred Upon inquiring the reason of this, volume was completed, or the intense she was told, that, as they had but anxiety with which they waited the little oil, they were in the habit of arrival of the three thousand volumes lighting their lamp just to read a sent by this Society. One volume chapter of the Bible at family prayer, belonging to the lamented Mr. Wil- and then blowing it out, to sit a little liams, which he (Mr. P.) had in his in the dark. He had been frequently possession, was eagerly solicited by solicited by the natives, when any one and another, and perused with English ship arrived in the harbour, the greatest delight. A small box of to go on board to see if their Bibles Bibles was sent to Tahiti, with the were there. And not only were they luggage of the Rev. Mr. Nott, who anxious to possess the sacred volume, remained ill at Sidney; the natives but also to understand its contents. became aware of its arrival, and fre- Hence, soon after daylight, it was quently entreated him (Mr. P.) to let their habit to assemble in classes them have the Bibles, which he could with Queen Pomare and her husnot consent to, Mr. Nott having spe- band and other members of the Royal cially ordered that his boxes should family, to read the Bible. They were not be opened until he arrived. They, also constantly coming to the mishowever, after waiting some time, sionaries with passages marked, to went to the store where the box was ask for explanation and instruction. deposited; and, while some of their Great exertions were now being party engaged the storekeeper in made by the Roman Catholic priests. conversation, others broke open the In one island, the missionaries had box and took the Bibles, at the same just formed a station, and had not time writing down the name of each yet been enabled to give the Scripparty who had a copy, and stating tures to the people, when the priests their willingness to pay any sum for arrived, and almost forcibly ejected them which the missionaries thought the missionaries from the island. But proper to demand. One man who in another island, where the people had obtained a copy, having to pass had received and felt the power of one of the missionaries' houses on the word of God, the priests had met his way home, could not in the joy of with a very different reception, and his heart, forbear calling in to show had made but few converts. The his treasure. The missionary was speaker, in conclusion, dilated on the just about to dine, and invited his success of the Gospel in several of visitor to put down his book, and par- the islands of the South Seas, where take of his dinner ; but, much as a the people had been led to forsake native was pleased in general with a their idols, and to worship the true good dinner free of expense, on this God in spirit and in truth. LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONGST THE JEWS. The Twenty-fourth Anniversary Meeting of the subscribers and friends of this Institution was held on Friday the 6th of May, in the Great Room, Exeter Hall, which was well filled. On each side of the platform were ranged the Hebrew boys and girls belonging to the schools of the Society, who sang several hymns in Hebrew and in English, accompanied by the organ. The chair was taken by Sir T. Baring, the President. The Rev. W. AYERst read the Report, which, after noticing the establishment of the new bishopric at Jerusalem, the Episcopal patronage enjoyed by the Society, the munificence of the King of Prussia, the selfdenial and zeal of Dr. M'Caul, to whom, by desire of the King of Prussia, and with hearty concurrence of the heads of the Church, the bishopric in Jerusalem was tendered, gave the following satisfactory account of the financial state of the Society. The aggregate amount of contributions received during the past year is £24,699. 8s. 9d. being an increase of £1,760. 9s. 7d. above the receipts of the preceding year. This, the largest sum ever received in one year, is a gratifying proof of the increased interest which is felt by the Church of Christ, in the Jews. This amount has been contributed in the following proportions :-General Purposes of the Society, including the Jerusalem Mission and Scripture Funds, £22,841. 13s. 8d.; Hebrew Church at Jerusalem, £1,313. 10s. 2d.; Hospital at Jerusalem, £189. 8ś. 8d.; Jewish Converts' Relief Fund, Jerusalem, £51. ls. Operative Institution, Jerusalem, £51. School of Industry, Jerusalem, £55.; Temporal Fund £197. 15s. 3d.total, £24,699.8s. 9d. Al though there is a diminution of £307. 14s. 7d. under the head of Jerusalem Church Account, of £433. 15s. 10d. under the head of Temporal Relief, the increase of the General fund actually amounts to £2,502. Upon the contributions of Auxiliary Societies, there is an increase of £2,255. 19s. 2d. From the Irish Auxiliary the sum of £2.200. has been recived during the past year; an increase of £301. 10s. over the remittances of the preceding year. After defraying the expenses of the year the Committee have in hand, for general purposes to carry on the work of the Society, the sum of £8000. vested in Exchequer bills, and £1788. 19s. 2d. cash. On account of the Hebrew Church at Jerusalem, they have £1543. Os. 10d.; and on account of the different funds for Temporal Relief, £500. in Exchequer bills, and £364. 11s. cash; making a total balance of £8500. in Exchequer bills, and €3696. 11s. in the hands of the Treasurer. CHEVALIER BUNSEN, Envoy of the King of Prussia, having been called upon by the Chairman, came forward to address the Meeting, and was loudly applauded. He said, Mr. President, I came this morning to this house rather to be present at, than to speak before this great assembly. But since that time, mention has been made in the kindest and most affectionate way of the King my sovereign, who has sent me to this Christian country, and a resolution has been proposed, seconded, and adopted, with so warm a manifestation of good-will and Christian affection for that monarch, that I feel I should be wanting in my duty, if I did not attempt to thank you in the name of the King. You (turning towards the Chairman) were present when the Committee of this Society presented an Address to the King of Prussia on the subject to which those who have preceded me have directed your attention. I wish I were permitted—not to repeat the words in which the King of Prussia expressed to you his answer to your address“I wish, I say, that I were able to give utterance to the sentiments which he has very often expressed to me, and which I have frequently heard him express to others on the same subject. But one thing I will say, that the King feels and knows that he has much to thank you for, because there is no individual, there is no Society existing, which has been, to use the King's words, so pre-eminently instrumental as yours in carrying into effect a plan, not of the King's, but a great Christian plan, founded on no selfish, no political, no exclusive basis, and to be carried out by the instrumentality of the Church of England. I say, it will be a glory to your Society to have contributed, as it has done, to this great work; to have been more instrumental in effecting it than in any individual or corporation in the world. It is true that the first thanks of the King of Prussia are due to those enlightened prelates who received the proposals which I had the honour to lay before them, in a truly Christian and Protestant spirit and, in their consideration and adoption of them, brought to bear upon the subject that wisdom and that experience which could alone ensure success in the prosecution of the plan. But if I have to thank, in the King's name, those prelates, have I not to thank those at the head of this Society who have exerted themselves most strenuously in this great work? Allow me to make mention, as this is the first opportunity I have had of publicly stating it, that the members of your Committee enabled me to do what I have done, when I was allowed to lay the plan of the King of Prussia before your So vereign ; and here I may say that I was assisted by the excellent prelate now at Mount Zion, and by my noble friend (Lord Ashley) who has so eloquently addressed you, and by the Rev. Gentleman (thé 'Rev. Dr. Marsh) who has just sat down. I therefore, speak only very imperfect ly the King's sentiments when I say I thank you individually and collec tively for the affectionate way in which you have this day spoken of the King my master. But I think we are not met here together to thank each other. I am sure I may say that the prominent feeling of our hearts is this that we ought to unite in humble thanksgiving to Him who has brought us and will keep us together. Without retracing the steps so clearly pointed out by my noble friend, by which we have arrived at our present position, I may, perhaps, be permitted to observe, that when I look back upon what has so recently been happily effected, I cannot but recollect that this day twelve months I received these words from the mouth of the King of Prussia, 'Go to England, and in my name offer the hand of brotherhood and of brotherly co-operation to the Church of England over the tomb of our common Saviour.' Who is there among us that twelve months ago but thought that he would be offering up his earnest prayer, rather than his deep thanks, for what has been so providentially accomplished for the cause of true Christianity. Of all the circumstances to which I feel myself in my heart obliged to look back with thankfulness, I will mention only two, and those two because they are not known to you, nor to myself till a few days ago. I hold in my hand a letter, dated Mount Zion, Easter Monday, and addressed to me by the Bishop of Jerusalem. (The Chevalier then read copious extracts from the letter, in which the bishop spoke in the most encouraging terms of his mission. Chevalier Bunsen then pro ceeded.) Now it appears to me, that we have here such accounts as not only justify our expectations and our hopes, but certainly must make us thankful beyond expression for the excess of mercy that has been shown us. Allow me to make mention of another circumstance regarding my native country, and which has just reached me. The King of Prussia, for whom you have manifested so much affection and regard, ordered that on the Sundays between Easter and Whitsunday, a collection should be made in the Protestant churches of that kingdom in behalf of the schools and hospitals belonging to the bishopric of Jerusalem on Mount Zion. This appeal of the King to his Prussian subjects has been responded to in a way which I am sure will as much gratify you as it does the King. When my last communication left Berlin, the whole amount of the collection was not known to the Government; but so much was known, that from the Baltic to the Rhine, this collection had met with the greatest sympathy, both from the rich and the poor, though the sum gathered had been more indebted to the widows' and the orphans' mite, than to the contributions of the rich and the mighty, and the whole produced about Ten Thousand Pounds; which will be placed at the disposal of the Bishop of Jerusalem, in assisting him to erect the schools and hospital for the benefit of Germans and Englishmen, and for carrying out that plan which, as I said at the beginning, your Society has been so pre-eminently instrumental in forwarding. I wish only to add,-we should not forget that the moment in which we live, and the moment in which we are assembled here is of awful importance. They will be responsible to God who oppose a plan that has nothing of politics or exclusiveness in itself; but we also shall be responsible to mankind in history and before the Almighty for the part we take in the same; and I feel that so much has been done for us, that we must be satisfied that all that is required of us is active co-operation, and above all, ardent prayer and heartfelt thanksgiving to Him, to whom alone be glory for ever. ERRATUM. Page 191, line 3, after “ statements," read “ even if there were a disposition so to do, and where they are taken up just to occupy the mind for the time.” THE CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN, AND DISTRICT VISITORS' AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS' MAGAZINE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. JULY, 1842. SHORT LECTURES ON THE COLLECTS. FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS. SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. Faith and love are most eminent among the graces of the Christian character. They are the matter of our prayer in this Collect, being blended together almost inseparably. We will consider them distinctly, in order to our apprehending the full force of the petition, which we here offer in the name of Jesus. 1. First, in the fulness of faith we make mention of those “ good things ” which God hath“ prepared for those that love him.” What are the “good things,” concerning the existence and preparation of which, we here express such a confident belief ? Doubtless, they are the blessings of the heavenly world, which are inconceivably great, and which properly form an object of faith. According as it is written, “ For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah lxiv. 4.) The glory of that future world will chiefly consist, in the admission of the saints to the immediate presence of the Lord. “And they shall see his face,” is the description given by St. John. (Rev. xxii. 4.) They will behold, and intimately converse with, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But what it is to see the face of God, surpasses our highest powers of imagination. All we know is, that it will be a sight so full of glory and blessedness, that we shall never look off again; and if in eternity we are enabled to review the joys of this life, they will seem so small and poor, that we shall wonder how our souls could ever have had a moment's satisfaction in them. They will JULY, 1842. 2 K |
