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No. 5 Vol. V.
Christian Eloquence.
REV. MR. SUMMERFIELD’S ADDRESS,
Delivered before the Protestant Bible Society of
Paris, 16th of April, f
My Lord,—-It is with unaffected humility
that 1 rise to address you upon a subject
which has now become too vast for human
description, and far removed above the
eulogy of human praise. The Bible cause
has attained such a glorious lustre, that it
is like a mirror polished by the band of
heaven, and the breath of the earthborn
worm who attempts to point out its beau*
ties, rather sullies than correctly delineates
them. Still, humiliating as this considera
tion is, and strange as the paradox may ap
pear, we approach it with a degree of con
I fidence, for the very reason that it is the Bible
cause , firmly persuaded, that although no
tongue is adequate to the description, ye’
it cannot suffer in the weakest hands : for
the testimony concerning it is so supremely
excellent, as to dignify any kind of lan
guage in which it may be conveyed.
1 have the honour my Lord, to represent,
upon this occasion, the American Bible So
ciety, by whom 1 have been delegated to
congratulate the Sister Society of France
on hep past success, and to assure her, that
the place which she holds in the sympathies
and affections of her elder sister in the.
♦west, is second to none 1 I would, that an
other, and a worthier Representative had
been chosen, or that my head were frosted
with the winters of three score and ten,
that weight of years might have combined
with the warmth and zeal of youth, to ex
press the ardency of her affection and es
teem; but since by the grace of God, 1 am
what I am, l dared not suffer any considera
tion of the weakness of the creature, to in
t erfere with the promise of Him, who’ 4 out
o. f weakness can make strong, and call
ft >rth things that are not,as though they
w ere.”
The statement which has been read has
bruefly sketched the leading outlines of the
Janl Report of the American Bible Society ;
and yet, exalted as must be the views of all
wb o'heard it, concerning her great success,
I ai n proud to say, that were your Lordship
to i ‘isit our happy shore, you would find
cam te to exclaim with the Queen of the
Soul h, when beholding the glory of Solo
mon. , — 44 the half was not told me !” Truly
my 1 iord, “ the word of God has free course
amon g us,” — 44 it runs,” —it outstrips the
wind- — 44 and it is glorified!” Opposition,
whicl ) for a time showed its hideous shape,
and P roteus-like, assumed another and an
other form, has now quit the field—or, if
object ors still remaio, they are like the
scattered fragments of a broken enemy
hanging on tbe careless outskirts of the vic
torious army by whom they have been
conquered for the mere purpose of teasing,
by c owardly and fruitless annoyance, those
whom they cannot overcome: —every an
niversary is with us a jubilee—we then in
dent another and another to the thousand
triumphs with which the monument of its
far sipread fame is covered !
There wa a phrase, my Lord, in the
statement I allude to, with respect to Amer
ica, to which I would offer a brief remark.
You have beeft pleased to style it a free
Country; —it is so; but, my Lord, tbe liber
ty which reigns there, is not peculiar to
America : it i the privilege of kingdoms as
well as republicks , and the British and For
eign Bible Society, 44 which is the mother
©f us all,” has demonstrated, that the more
the people are acquainted with tbe sacred
ness of the relation in which they stand
44 to the powers which be, and which are
ordained of God,” —and the firmer are the
pillars of that authority under which they
are governed,—this relation can only be
truly made known by that very gospel
which is the sole object of the Bible Socie
ty to disseminate. The Bible, my Lord,
the Bible I repeat it, is suited to every po
litical meridian; to the towering spirit of
the high-minded republican it holds up uo
sceptre, but the sceptre of that monarch
whose 4 kingdom is not of this world
while to the subjects of royalty it proclaims
the first law of the throne, 44 render unto
Caesar the things that are Cmsar’s.” In
the camp it softens the rage of war by tbe
sweet command of peace, 44 love your ene
mies;” while in the cabinet it mollifies the
asperity of national pride by that injunction
of eternal justice, 4 ‘ do unto all men as ye
would that they should do unto yon.”
Tbe report of the Protestant Bible So
ciety affords a pleasing testimony, (if testi
mony were yet needed,) that the Bible So
ciety is the cause of God! I shall return to
tbe land from whence i came, with a heart
warmed with what I have seen and heard
to-day, and there, in a language with which
! am more familiar, communicate the glad
news, that in France —notwithstanding the
torrent of infidelity which has been poured
forth within the last thirty years, and which
threatened to deluge the land—a spark still
survived which 44 many waters could not
quench,”—and that now there are more
than 44 seven thousand men who have not
bowed the knee to the image of Baal!” 1
•hall tell them, my Lord, that in France
there are men who not affected by the gid
dy pinnacle upon which high descent and
noble birth have placed them, have laid
fjieir wealth at the foot of the cross, coun-
THE MISSIONARY.
ing it their greatest honour to “ bear the
burden and heat” of this glorious day, in.
which the Sun of Righteousness is shining
in His strength; in a word, my Lord, I shall
tell them, that in France there are kindred
souls to those which dwell in trans-Atlan
tick bosoms, and that many a heart is tuned
Jo full accordance with the angel’s mes
sage, 44 Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will to m‘en!”
Mention has been made in your report of
the decease of our lamented Boudinot, the
late President of thp American Bible Soci
ety. You have sympathized with us in.our
loss.—Although time has lent its mellowing
hand to alleviate our grief, yet still we
mourn f He was, in a sense, one of you—
he became one of t — but God has put in
his claim against ns both, and taken him to
himself! He has been removed to a brigh
ter scene, to a higher mount than Pisgah’s
top, from whence he may behold the pro
gress of that cause which was the pabulum
of the last years of his life, and kept him
above the power of death ! But 1 dare not
trust myself to enlarge on this tender
theme: you will meet him, my Lord, after
you have ceased,from your work and la
hour of love, as he has done from his ! /,
too, look forward to that scene; till then
I have no expectation of seeing your Lord
ship more, nor this august assembly over
which you so worthily preside; but there
we shall meet again! Oh, that we may all
be found faithful at that day, and counted
worthy to be crowned with glory, and hon
our, and immortality, and eternal life!
Then- shall we join the song of the redeem
ed, 44 unto Him that loved us, and washed
us from our sins in his own blood, and made
us kings and priests unto God and His Fa
ther, to Hina be glory and dominion for
ever and ever, Amen.”
SPEECH OF A SOUTH AMERICAN,
Before the American Bible Society.
Tbe following resolution was passed:
41 Resolved , That the Society learn with
lively satisfaction, that the prospect of in
trouncing the scriptures into various parts
of South America, becomes more and more
flattering; and that the Society will do ev
ery thiDg in their power to supply the wants
and gratify the wishes of that portion of our
.continent on this interesting subject.”
Rev. Dr. Milnor then introduced to the
Society Signor Vincente Recafuerte, a
South American, and a native of Peru, who
made the following remarks :
Conscious as 1 am, of the impossibility of
expressing properly my thoughts in the
English language, I would excuse myseif
from occupying a single moment of the time
of this meeting; but the love of my coun
try, superiour to any self-consideration, im
pels me to break silence, and ask yoor in
dulgence.
Born in -South America, near the equator,
under the Spanish yoke, and inquisitorial
fanaticism, how gratifying it is for me to
meet here so many good Christians, tbe
glory of America, and consolation of human
ity. My joy can he better understood than
described. Where cao there be an ema
tion more pure and exalted than that which
I experience ai this moment, seeing myself
surrounded for the first time in my life, by
so mauy worthy supporters of religion, who
in spite of the apparent diversity in dress,
and worship, are all clothed with the Spirit
of the true God, enlightened with the wis
dom of the Bible, and united by the broth
erly love of the Gospel. From this very
difference of opinious and sects results a
harmony as admirable in the moral order
as it is in the planetary system; and in the
same manner as the different stars at differ
ent distances, in submission to the same law
of attraction, are revolving without interfe
ring, never altering the calmness of tbe
sky; in the same manner, Christians, sub
jected to the will of God, as revealed in the
Bible, meet each other with cheerfulness;
animated by the benevolent spirit of tbe
Gospel, they love their fellow creatures,
give up their passions, seek the road to
heaven by a perfect self-denial of their own
concerns, and serve the true God of charity,
extending by their good actions the sphere
of human happiness. This picture of vir
tue and religious tolerance is only to be
found here, in Englaod, and among the na
tions which enjoy the benefit of free insti
tutions, manifesting in the purest light, the
perfect concord and union between Chris
tian morality, political liberty, and genuine
principles of legislation.
This truth is extremely important for a
South American, ‘conscious of tbe noble
struggle in which his country is engaged to
expel from those shores the monsters of
despotism, and to extinguish for ever that
mooastick superstition; the enemy to eve
ry useful reform; that lever which shakes
the earth, fixing in heaven its point of sup
port ; which in the name and in behalf of
Religion, sacrificed to its avarice the inoo
ceol race of Peruvian Yncas, condemned to
the stake the unfortunate Guatimozio, tbe
last of the Mexican emperours, and etUab
lished in unhappy America tbe sanguinary
worship of inquisitorial fanaticism. It is
not enough to know that there is a perfect
union between morality aud legislation, its
application to the new governments of
America is indispensable. To you, noble
promoters of virtue, benefactors of man-
nf ail j-. Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to creature.— Jesus Christ. ~ ~~
dl P° ,ltlona nd habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion are indi.ipen.able rapport Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, JULY 14, 1823.
kind, directors of tbe institution of the Bi
ble Society, to you belongs the fulfilment of
that honourable task. Turn your eye to
wards the rising nations of the South, and
you will there observe a people w.orthy of
your sympathies aud of your protection;
they are fighting gloriously for indepen
dence and liberty, but alas, liberty is not to
be obtained without virtue, and virtue is
not to be found hut in the principles of the
Bible and of the Gospel; those sacred books
without note or comment are the true ele
ments of social order. To promote virtue
through the Gospel, is to fix on a solid basis
the political liberty of America; it is to
sow for future generations the incorruptible
seeds of peace and happiness; it is in fine
to attain the great object of this institution
as new as it is admirable.
In the rapture of my patriotick exulta
tion, for the morality and liberty of my
country, I would wish you would send on
the wings of Cherubims, thousands and
thousands of Bibles and New Testaments,
to South America ; that you could immedi
ately establish, in Lima, an auxiliary Bible
Society. I am convinced that it would pros
per; the inhabitants of those happy cli
mates are good, benevolent, of mild dispo
sitions, and sensible enough to comprehend,
in a short time, the great utility of this in
stitution. The Spanish policy, guided by
short sighted bigotry, has deprived them
till now, of the consolation of perusing those
admirable maxims. Very few of the cler
gy ever had an opportunity of reading the
Bible throughout; but when they well
know the good effect of the Bible, they
will undoubtedly form several establish
ments under the auspices of the parent So
ciety. Perhaps a great many patriots, and
enlightened ministers, giving up their ante
riour prejudices, will recommend these
sacred bonks, and giving the Bible to the
people, they will repeat what the Lord
said In Joshua.
4 ’ This book of the law shall not depart
out of (hv mouth; but thon shalt meditate
therem day and night, that thou mayest ob
serve to do according to all that is written
therein, for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
sucre?!*.
Yes, the new nations of America will en
joy the triumph of their independence, and
“he facility of their liberty, if they would
organize their new institutions, following
the spirit of toleration, of equality, and self
denial, so much recommended in the Gos
pel; this Holy Book must be the tie which
shonld unite all the nations of this vast
continent; its equality is the true dog
ma of legitimacy of divine origin; its
generosity must he the Holy Alliance
suitable to independent America. An
alliance of virtues, and not of self interest;
an alliancerTor abolishing slavery, and not
to restrain the noble flight of liberty; an
alliance for promoting human happiness
through moral civilization and not to root it
out with a hundred thousand soldiers, forc
ing conviction at the point of the bayonet;
an alliance which shall make fear and dread
fall upon the hypocrites and ambitious
chiefs of nations; an alliance which shall
extirpate tbe seeds of war, insure universal
peace, and form, from the myriads of the
inhabitants of she earth a numerous and
Christian family, as enlightened, as good,
and as benevolent, as she members of this
meeting. This same meeting is only a
sketch, a miniature, of the large evangeli
cal Society, that in future ages, shall cover
the surface of the globe; the world, re
generated by the diviifb light of the Gospel,
will bless the memory of the promoters of
this admirable institution. These virtuous
Christians will hear from heaven the hymns
and songs of praise, directed to the throne
of Jehovah, by all the inhabitants of this
redeemed land; and their celestial joy can
only be increased by the prospect of human
happiness in perfect harmony with the will
of God.
RELIGIOUS.
From the Christian Herald.
THE PULPIT AND THE PRESS.
How wonderful are the works and ways
of God in his moral government of this fal
len world I How rich the display of his
wisdom and goodness which strike the eye
on every hand, and challenge our warmest
returns of gratitude and praise! To the
indulgence of these reflections, i beg leave
to invite the readers of the Christian Her
ald, as a suitable exercise to commence the
present volume, and immediately precede
the demotions of the closet. To the seri
ous contemplative mind—to the heart sus
ceptible of the impressions of Divine truth,
and glowing with love to God and man, no
subject can be more interesting. It is cal
culated to awaken a spirit of humbling,
grateful, animating reflection, which, in its
wide range, will take in present enjoyment,
remembrance of past mercies, and antici
pation of future blessings.
Tbe government of God is as benevolent
as his nature—unchangeable as bis being,
and unlimited as his works. It is the uni
ted display of all his perfections, in the
production of their proper fruits. It is
that sensible medium by which the Divine
character is diffused and acted out. In a
word, it is the visible portraiture of the in
visible God, drawn by his own hand, and
corresponding in all its parts, with the most
perfect exactness to its infinite original.
In meditating upon the infinite goodness
ofGod to man, as displayed in the fruits of
Divine benevolence, my attention is arres
ted, and my mind absorbed, in viewing tbe
means of knowledge which hi 9 wisdom has
appointed, and his goodness bestowed; to
enlighten the ignorance, counteract the de
pravity, and insure the happiness of miser
able man. Among these, the Pulpit asxd
the Press standpre-eminent. These are,
confessedly, the’ grand means of diffusing
the light of Divine trnth—of extending the
knowledge of gospel s Ivation, and recover
ing a sinful world from the ruins of aposta
cy. Without them all other means would
be totally inadequate, weak and inefficient;
and the beoevolent heart be left to sigh in
vain, over the perishing heathen. The
kingdom of God is a kingdom of means, and
those which he hath chosen and appointed
are the wisest and best; and those only by
which he will effect the purpose ofhq
grace. That a preached gospel is a Di
vine institution, is a truth attested by God’s
word and providence, and sealed by the
witnessing agency of his Spirit. Long and
ineffectually were the means of human in
vention tried, by ancient heathen philoso
phers and moralists, to meliorate the state
of the world, and recover sinful man to vir
tue and moral goodness.—And how slow
and circumscribed too, wa* the march of
all their means—with no other vehicle of
knowledge but manuscript communications
to diffuse their false lip St. Few only could
read, and few of them possess books. Bui
10, the kindness of God our Saviour ha 9 ap
peared. A preached gospel was instituted
—the invaluable, divine art of printing die
covered, and has become a common bles
sing through the civilized world.—“ For
after (hat, in the wisdom ofGod, the world
by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God
by the foolishness of preaching to save
them (hat believe.” Preaching the gospel
is a divine institution— printing it is no less
so, as it is a necessary accompaniment, an
essential part of the same plan, and indis
pensably requisite to give effect to the
ame end. The one was instituted by God’s
word —the other as clearly appointed by
his providence. TJfiey are kindred offices..
The Pulpit and the Press are inseparably
connected, and as it were identified in each
other. The pre# is as necessary to the
pulpit, as agriculture and the arts are to
commerce. The Christian minister and
the Christian printer march hand in hand—
mutually support and strengthen each oth
er—are follow labourers in the same ser
vice, for the accomplishment of the
same great and important end. Whatever
may be said in commendation of a preached
gospel, (and it cannot be too highly valued)
necessarily connects with it the services of
the press. Whence our precious Bibles?
Whence all the religious and instructive
books, with which the gogpej world is so
abundantly stored? Whence the means of
knowledge to onr Colleges and Theologi
cal Seminaries?—Whence the religious
tracts, those 44 winged messengers” that
make their way to the hearts of the igno
rant and vicious, and bring the wandering
sinner home to his God? Whence those
weekly and monthly vehicles of religious
intelligence and practical piety which flow
through our country in every direction, to
instruct and gladden the heart of tbe Chris
tian, and quicken the voice of prayer and
praise in every community ? Whence are
the six hundred millions of perishing hea
then, and the numberless destitute of our
country, to be supplied with the word of
life? Whence the various benevoleot in
stituting of the present day to derive their
means of doing good, and of evangelizing
the world ? From the Press. The press
then, x to be regarded with a sacred vene
ration, and supported, or the pulpit falls.
A part of our property therefore, should
be considered sacred to tbe press, as due to
God and the Redeemer’s cause. The
claim of well conducted periodical religious
publications, to the encouragement and
support of the Christian publick. appears of
nearly the same kind wfth that of the Chris
tian ministry, and to stand in reason and
conscience, upon the same ground.
The importance of the press—the bene
fits which have resulted, and which are still
expected, >rom periodical religious public
ations, cannot be more fully illustrated, nor
more highly appreciated, than by taking a
view of tbe present state and prospects of
she world upon the large millenoial scale.
We live in a wonderful day—in the most
interesting and eventful period which the
people of God have ever witnessed. As
tonishing preparations are rapidly advanc
ing for the most glorious events to the
Church. Every circumstance in Provi
dence is calculated to excite the prayers,
the exertions and tbe hopes of Christians.
The whole resource of human means is
fast exploring—successfully springing into
action, in an astonishing sceue of new,
vigorous and varied enterprise. Much is
already done, and we see the means and
the spirit of action increasing with the pro
gress of the work: to effect the great things
which yet remain to be done, Missionary
and Bible Societies, and various oth&r be-
Price S s 3 i 6o P r - nn. or, >
\ $3,00 id advance. >
nevolent institutions, are formed and form*-
ing, and pouring their tributary streams
into this mighty river of God, till it shall
swell, and spread, and water the whole
world. The long neglected sons of the
ocean, are now receiving Bibles and Tracts,
and religious instruction; and the first
fruits of the sea are gathering into the
Redeemer’s kingdom. The waste places
of Jerusalem are rebuilding, and the wild
erness begins to blossom. The Holy
Scriptures are translating and printing in
every language, and spreading to every
land. (O! thank heaven for the blessing
of the The missionaries of the
gospel are £bing forth in every direction
—traversing trackless deserts, and crossing
tbe widest oceans, to testify the gospel of
the grace ofGod, and publish the glad
ding 9of salvation to the heathen. The
light breaks in the east. The morn
ing star of tbe millennial day has risen.
Ethiopia begins to stretch forth her hands
unto God, ajid the isles wait for and receive
his law. The first ripe fruits of the uni
versal harvest of Jews and Gentiles are
now gathering. The ransomed of the Lord
are returning to 2ion, with songs and ever
lasting joy on their heads. The world’s
grand jubilee approaches.—The gospel
trumpet is blown. It will sound long and
loud; it will be heard to (he remotest
clime ; it will call all nations to the stand
ard of Christ, and the blessings of his salva
tion. God’s truth and faithfulness are
pledged. He h 9 promised, and will per
form : he wiil make bare his holy arm in tbs
eyes of all the nations. • All the ends of the
earth shall seethe salvation of our God.—
“And the kingdom, and the dominion, and
the greatness of the kingdom uudt r the
whole heaven shall be given to tbe people
of the saints of tbe Most High I”
ANECDOTE.
The Hon. E. Boudinot relates, that he
was at the seat of government, where Indi
ans of seven different tribes were present.
On the Sabbath be was very much pleased
so see their orderly conduct, hecause it was
the sabbath of the white penplp. An old
Sachem addressed his red brethren very
devoutly. Mr. B. asked an interpreter
what he said. The substance was, the
love which the Great Spirit always had
manifested towards the Indians: that they
were onder his immediate direction; and
heqce they ought gratefully to acknowl
edge him, obey his laws, to do his will, and
avoid every thing displeasing ter him.
Just before public service, Mr B. ob
served an Indian standing at a window
looking into a field, w here some children
were at play; the Indian spake with earn
estness, and seemed displeased. Mr. B,
asked the interpreter what was the conver
sation?—He replied the Indian was lament
ing the sad estate of these orphan children,
Tne interpreter asked him, why he thought
them orphans?—he believed they wptp not
thus. The Indian with great earnestness
replied : “Is not this tbe day on which you
told me tbe white people worship the
Great Spirit ? If so, surely lhe“e children,
it they had parents, orny persons to lake
care of them, would not be suffered to be
out there, playing and making such a noise!
No no: they have lost their father*, and
their mothers; and have no one to take
care of them I” Alas: bow many soch or
phan children are to be found in Christian
lands; It their parents are not dead, m the
sense meant by this Indian; they probably
are in a worse sense dead; —“dead in tres
passes and sins.”— [JWw. Reg.
Religious Improvement of India. —Six re
ligious monthly publications are now sup
ported, viz: in English, The Friend of In
dia, the Missionary Herald, she Monthly
Extracts, &c., The’ Quarterly Friend of
India, and the Gospel Magazine, and Nevr
Missionary Magazine in Bengallee. New
plans ol improvement are everyday form
ing; new exertions are made, and new
stations are established.
VALUE OF MISSIONS.
It was staled by David Brown, a pious
Cherokee youth, at a meeting of the New-
York Tract Society, that by means of the
missionaries and religious Tracts, more
than 300 Cherokees had been converted to
Christianity. This number is much larger
than we expected could be found among
tbe Cherokees, who are real converts; and
it may therefore be donbtful whether be
did not mean to include all who were mere
ly nominal Christians. But as David Brown
himself must have made considerable ad
vances in a Christian course, and as he has
been considerably acquainted with the
people of bis nation, we cao but hope that
he referred to those only who had been
born of the Spirit, and that the statement is
strictly tree, as conveying that idea.
Egyptian Hieroglyphic!.— M. Cbampol
lion, of Paris, if* said to have discovered a
method of interpreting Hieroglyphic in
scriptions, found in the monuments of
Egy pt. To the cause of ancient literature,
it will be one of the most important discov
eries of modern times.
Keep all reports to yourself that cannot be ser
viceable to your neighbour; not only avoid break
ing bjs peace, but endeavour to preserve it.