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least able, of the Society's supporters: they show, therefore, of what materials the vivacious parts of the body are composed, and form a suitable comment on the alleged moderation of former proceedings. They prove, also, if that needed proof, that a burning zeal for circulating the Text of Scripture, may exist in bosoms unimbued with the spirit of its precepts. But it is with the known and official advocates of the Society that I have now to do.

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"Whilst the Irish Bishops were members of the Hib. Bible Society, their patronage was loudly declared, both by Irish and English Advocates, to be a sufficient answer to all objections, as to the safety of the Church. 'Can the Church be endangered by a Society -supported by the Prelates of the Church, and by states. men?' 12 Hib. B. Soc. Rep. p. 39. The force of this argument,' says Dr. Dealtry, has been so thoroughly felt, that it is a main object with our adversaries to keep it out of sight. Thus, at a time when nearly twenty Bishops were enrolled amongst the friends of the institution, they declared that it had received the patronage of only three or four. They could hardly attach less value to the circumstance, if we cited the authority of the same number of persons in any other profession or department in life.' Preface to Review of Norris, V.

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"Now turn the picture. Twenty Bishops,' including the Irish Bishops, says Dr. Dealtry, in answer to Mr. Norris, were enrolled amongst the friends of the Bible Society.' After the secession of the Irish Bishops, says Mr. Scholefield, in answer to the same Mr. Norris, not one Prelate, I believe, has withdrawn from the Bible Society,' because the seceding Prelates had never joined it. "The two Irish Prelates withdrew from the Hibernian Bible Society.' Letter to the Earl of Liverpool, note, p. 86 †.

"Will they have the Irish Prelates, or will they not? They will claim them, or not claim them, as best suits their turn. Well, then, the Irish Prelates never sanctioned the British and Foreign Society, and Dr. Dealtry's charge was most unfounded--but they were members of the Hibernian Society, and whilst they continued so, they were all in all. It was a kind of spiritual high treason for a Minister of the Church to revile a Society so patronised.? 12 Rep. p. 34. Disapprobation was, however, intimated by the Prelates themselves. At last, the decisive step is taken, and the secession is announced. The forbearing, the unostentatious, the intelligent, and the pious head of the Irish Church, publicly tells

«* Little did Dr. Dealtry think how soon his own words might be quoted against himself and his associates."

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"Aware,' says Mr. Owen, speaking of the formation of a Bible Society at Geneva, of the arts which had been used by some of the foreign journalists, both in Germany and Prance, to represent the British and Foreign Society, as a Sećtarian Institution; I appealed to the list I held in my hand, as an unanswerable proof of the consideration which it enjoyed among a large portion of the members of his Majesty's government, and the guardians of our National Church.' 15 Br Rep. p. 39. During the whole of my journey, I endeavoured to act with simplicity and godly sincerity!" Ib. 41.

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them that he can go on no longer. The Archbishop of Dublin does the same. Nearly the whole Bench of Bishops, and a great majority of the Clergy, either preceded or followed their steps. And then comes Mr. Daly, and discovers, that the secession will * act only as a pruning knife to the Society, which will lop off the dead and useless branches.' And in conclusion says he, we may say of the Society,' no weapon that is formed against it shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against it, in judgment it shall condemn.' 2d Rep. Louth Aux. B. Soc. pp. 30, 31. Surely,' says the Letter-Writer, p. 82, that charity which suffereth all things, and endureth all things, could not fail to perceive that these expressions applied merely to the utility of the persons in question, to the Bible Society. This the real meaning, was always the most obvious' to his sagacity. Why, this is the offensive meaning complained of, and the inconsistency which deserves to be exposed!

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"At the same meeting, at which this speech was delivered,-a meeting sanctioned by the presence of the highest powers of the Society, Mr. Mathias is introduced as saying,- As to the letter of his Grace of Dublin, he had little to remark, since to unheard and unknown objections * no answer could be given, but that which they had just heard read. It remained only for him to affirm, that the Society was the same when his Grace retired from it, as when he first joined it. He found it an association of Christians of all denominations, for the circulation of the authorised version of the Scriptures, without note or comment, and he left it precisely the same.' 2d Rep. Louth Aux. B. Soc. p. 19. So much for his Grace of Dublin!

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The treatment which the late Primate experienced on the same occasion, is to my mind still more disgusting, as it was ushered in with professions of respect for his station in the Church, and of gratitude for his long and liberal patronage. A long and liberal patronage' is somewhat at variance with the Letter-Writer's phrase of the little interest the seceders had taken in the Society,' and was but indifferently requited by the epithets of dead and useless branches.'

"But what is Mr. Mathias's respectful comment on the Primate's Letter? What he,' his Grace, says, therefore, is only from hearsay..... As to the second charge, it does violence to common sense.'

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"At the same meeting, allusion is made by the Rev. Robert Daly, to the two celebrated sermons advertised by the Committee the one to be preached in St. George's Church, Dublin, and the other

"The objections were publicly stated, in a Charge delivered at his Grace's Visitation, held in the City of Dublin, at which many clerical members of the Society, and probably some of the Committee themselves, were present; but it was not worth the while, forsooth, of the Committee of the Hibernian Bible Society to make inquiry as to what had been declared, in the most public and solemn manner, by so obscure a person as the Archbishop of Dublin."

in the Scots Church, Mary's Abbey. The great object, on these occasions,' is declared to be, to furnish the friends of religion, of all denominations, with an opportunity of presenting their united thanksgivings to the God of all Grace, for the glorious work which he is carrying on by means of the various Societies, the progress of which they have been contemplating during the preceding week.' There are errors, says one, too absurd for defence, and too gross for palliation; and this is of them. For, by what authority did the Society foist in amongst the known and stated objects for which our congregrations are assembled, the purpose of presenting their united thanksgivings' for the progress of the various questionable spiritual enterprises of the week, which this Committee, by its fiat, pronounces 'to be the glorious work, which the God of all Grace is carrying on! And what kind of congregation did this Catholic Society invite to assemble in one of our Churches? the friends of religion of all denominations ;' the Socinian was to invoke Jesus of Nazareth as God, whom he believes to be a man like himself; the Roman Catholic was to take a benediction from that Minister, whom he considers as an heretical intruder into the priestly office; and the Presbyterian was patiently to behold him officiating in the very rag of Popery.' The whole procedure was a tissue of absurdity and presumption, well worthy of the managers, who put to the vote of the meeting a motion of thanks to Almighty God, for a distinguishing favour. 14th Hib. Soc. Rep.

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"Now the Primate's reprobation of this thanksgiving day, was \matter of notoriety. I know this charge is supposed to have been made in very high quarters,' says Mr. Daley. He could not but know it. He states the very substance of the Primate's objections, as delivered in his Charge. And what are the remarks of this most zealous, and consistent member of the Establishment?' To my judgment, the grounds are very shallow;'-he goes on; and with many who use them, indicate a desire to bring forward what they think will be disreputable to the Society." What is this bute to impute motives of the most offensive kind? With some, at least, I fear, thus dwelling on such a thing as this, is too much in the spirit of the caviller, that is somewhere described -as one, who, if he cannot find a hole, will pick one. Among the opponents of the Society there are many that in every way demand from us the most respectful construction of their opposition. But there are a set of men, whom we have every right to complain of; -men who, in an under hand way, misrepresent the proceedings of the Society, and poison the minds of those, who, from their situation, judge of such matters chiefly by report; those surely are highly criminal.' This explains Mr. Mathias's hearsay evidence. There is another class of persons, not so much the object of our reprobation; but whom it is impossible to respect: men, who seem to act from no principle of their own, but are carried away by names; who are sometimes with, and sometimes against, the. Society; sometimes speak in its favour, sometimes against it.

This is not manly-it is scarcely honest.' 'In the full career of all this uncharitableness, he stops short to utter a godly admonition-Oh! that man would pray for direction on this important point, (most important indeed it is.) Let them consider the subject well, and not be carried about by every wind of doctrine, till at last, they oppose the work of God himself. I am astonished at the obsequiousness of some persons,' &c. And I, for my part, at the presumption and uncharitableness of others.. This, you will perhaps say, is but general slander. Not so-the shaft is pointed against an individual's breast. No sooner is the pious ejaculation out of this gentleman's mouth, than he tells us whose character it is the object of his good-natured observations to traduce. The Archdeacon of the Diocese of Armagh, whom I have the happiness of knowing, and whom, in common with all who do know him, I most sincerely respect; on whose account, therefore, I doubly resent the foul imputation;-this Clergyman is the object of Mr. Daly's remarks. This' (the obsequiousness of some of the opponents) is very strongly exemplified by what occurred under circumstances alluded to in the early part of this day. At his Grace's Visitation, a sermon was preached, in which the preacher,' &c. Now that Preacher was known to be the Archdeacon. His sermon was published, and has met with the approbation of those, who are as well able as Mr. Daly to judge of its merits. The concluding part of the extract from the sermon quoted by Mr. Daly, is this- I hope, while it (the Society) continues true to its original institution, I shall never see it hastily deserted by any of its members.' I leave the subject with Mr. Daly's charitable insinuation, which, pointed as it is against Mr. Knox's obsequiousness, recoils, in fact, upon the Society itself. I wish I could be sure,' says he, that the author of this sermon had not deserted the Society'. The concluding part of the gentleman's harangue contains strictures in the same spirit, on Mr. Hinck's Visitation sermon, which he says exemplifies a quaint saying, that a text is a starting post to run away from. Mr. Daly's speech in 2d Rep. Louth Aux. B. Soc.

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"Thus were these gentlemen occupied, at the very time they were controverting the Primate's declaration, that it is notorious, that at the Society's meetings, speakers introduce topics, not only irrelevant to the business, but inconsistent with the avowed object of the Society, and which are injurious to the Established Church and offensive to its members.' And we may now judge with what propriety the Letter-Writer has said, that it was impossible for any person to feel more concerned than his excellent friend when he found' the expression of rotten branches liable to an extended application.' Letter, p. 82; and with what grace it is denied, that the Society's chief advocates indulge themselves in imputing unfair motives to their opponents.", P. 95.

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This long extract, which we felt unwilling to injure by

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abridgement, prevents our following the Author through the remainder of his reply. Its success is not confined to local matters, but extends, as we have already intimated to the general principle, particularly to that branch of it which relates to the conversion of Idolaters by the mere distribution of the Scriptures. The absurdity of such a system becomes more apparent every day.

MONTHLY LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.

DIVINITY.

Discourses on the Rule of Life, with Reference to Things Present, and Things Future, consisting of a Charge, delivered May 16, 1823, to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of London; with Supplementary Additions. By J. H. Pott, M.A. Archdeacon of London. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

An Analogical and Popular View of the Church of the Living God: its Ministry, and Service, &c. By the Rev T. Pruen, Resident Curate of Dursley, Gloucestershire. In 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 1s.

The Valedictory Address of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, delivered by the Lord Bishop of Bristol, at a Special General Meeting of the Society, June 13, 1823, to the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, previously to his depar ture for India; together with His Lordship's Reply. 8vo. 1s.

A Sermon preached in Lambeth Chapel, on Sunday June 1, 1823, at the Consecration of the Right Rev. Reginald Heber, D.D. Lord Bishop of Calcutta By A. Bland Wrightson, M.A. Rector of Edlington, and Chaplain to the Right Hon. Viscount Beresford. 4to. 1s. 6d.

Lectures on Miracles selected from the New Testament. By the Author of Lectures on Parables, &c. &c. Crown 8vo. 88.

The Christian armed against Infidelity; by the Author of Body and Soul. 12mo. 5s.

A Sermon preached in Bedford Chapel, Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury, for the Benefit of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders; on Sunday, May 25, 1823. By G. H, Law, D.D. F.R. and A.S. Lord Bishop of Chester. 4to. 1s. 6d.

Letters on the State of Christianity in India; in which the Conversion of the Hindoos is considered as impracticable. By the Abbé J. A. Dubois, Missionary in Mysore, Author of the Description of the People of India. 8vo. 7s.

A Sermon preached in the Episcopal Chapel at Deal; on Thursday June 26, 1823: Being the 5th Anniversary of the Dover and Sandwich District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. By the Rev. J. Maule, A.M. Perpetual Curate of St. Mary's Dover; and Vicar of St. Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent. 8vo. 1s. 6d.

The Poor Man's Christian Director. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. 1s. 3d.

BIOGRAPHY.

Soine Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, Bart, particularly of his Services in the Canadas, &c. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Memoir of John Aikin, M.D. By Lucy Aikin. With a Selection of his Miscellaneous Pieces, Biographical, Moral, and Critical. In two vols. 14. 49

The Royal Naval Biography. Containing Memoirs of all the Flag Officers living at the Commencement of the present Year. By John Marshal, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Vols. 1,2. 11, 10s.

HISTORY.

A Visit to Spain; detailing the Transactions which occurred during a Residence in that Country, in the latter Part of 1892, and the first four Months of 1823; with an Account of the Removal of the Court from Madrid to Seville; and General Notices of the Mammers, &c. of the Country. By M. J. Quin. 8vo.

12s.

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