and particularly of the opponents of Missionary exertions. Mr. JABEZ BUNTING, of Leeds, with that ease and elegance so natural to him, expressed the satisfaction he felt, that Missionary Societies had taken their rise in the Circuit in which he Jaboured; and went on to shew, that the Methodists, for fear of running into the extreme of ostentation, had run into the opposite extreme of privacy; but that the time was now come, when instead of putting our candle under a bushel, we must set it upon a candlestick, that it may give light to the whole house. He then specified the causes of the success which has so far exceeded our most sanguine expectations. The first of which is the extreme publicity which has been given to it. The second is, the combination of all ranks and classes of men. And the principal cause is, we have applied the mode of weekly subscriptions. The second Resolution was moved by Mr. JOSEPH AGAR, of York, who ob served, that all who feared and loved God, should pray that he would raise up Missionaries to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to the heathen; and remarked, that with respect to York, and its vicinity, they have always been ready to come forward on every occasion; and that he had no doubt, upon this most honourable and important one, they would not be backward, and he trusted there was not one there, who world not contribute to the work:the widow's mite being as acceptable to God, as the gentleman's 100 pounds. Mr. DANIEL ISAAC, of Malton, observed the fituess of Methodism for Missionary exertions; and that Christianity was a Missionary institution, After noticing the ardent zeal which animated the first Christian preachers, and the success which crowned their unwearied labours, he proceeded to show the causes of the decay of vital religion, when the priests, caressed by the rich and great, departed from primitive simplicity. The speaker, in the course of his speech, brought forward two pleasing anecdotes, in order to prove that the heathen are not so remarkably hostile to the supporters and propagators of Christianity as some people have been led to imagine. And he concluded by saying, "Let us give our money and our prayers, and send forth men of God to preach, and the Lord will soon convert the world." Mr. WILLIAM LEACH, of York, observed, shat for some weeks he had looked forward with pleasing expecta tion to this Meeting, and that he rea lized more than he anticipated. The cause of Missions, said he, is the cause of God, and the cause of Jesus Christ. Missionaries were once sent to your city; within its walls heathen temples once stood; and had it not been for Christianity, heathen temples would have still stood there. You will show your gratitude for the blessings of that gospel which you have long enjoyed, by supporting, in every possible way, Christian Missions. Mr. THOMAS INGHAM, of Bridling ton, remarked, that we had too much exercised a false charity respecting the moral state of the heathen world, supposing them not to be in so bad a state as they really are; and that the only means of bringing them to the enjoyment of that sanctification which alone can make them happy here, and prepare them for eternal blessedness in the world to come, is by bringing them to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour of fallen man. He observed, that through the means of the Bible Society, the word of God had been sent to the heathen, and we must send Missionarics to preach that word to them: for faith cometh by hearing, as weil as hearing by the word of God. Mr. WILLIAM DAWSON, of Bar wick-in-Elmet, in the course of a speech replete with argument and animation, which deeply engaged the attention of the assembly, observed, that the subject of Christian Missions would bear the closest examination, and that nothing would be lost by the investigation. He then adverted to the state of the heathen world, and said they were deeply depraved in their morals, and that, circumstanced as they are, their conduct could not be expected to be much better. He farther observed, that some had endeavoured to rob the gospel of its vital principles, by setting up mere morality in the place of evangelical religion-The various miseries of human life, said he, have claims upon us, but they are not superior to those of Missions. Hospitals, AlmsHouses, and Public Charities, have claims upon us, but their claims are not superior to the claims of the Missions. The Bible Society has claims, great claims upon us; and though much has both been said and done for it, yet there has not been enough said and done; yet these claims are not su perior to those of the Missions. instanced that the Bereans had the He Scriptures, but it was necessary that Paul and Silas should go to preach the gospel to them. In the Bible Society, I see the blushing of an opening dawn: In the Missionary Society, I see the bright beams of a glorious sun, which portends a glorious day. He concluded with observing, that York stood one of the first in the list of the Bible Society, and he hoped that it would not be the last in Missionary exertions. Mr. JOHN HICK, of York, observed, that the cause of Missions was truly interesting, and that in so glorious a cause, every heart must glow, and every bosom heave with sacred enthusiasm of exertion. He remarked, it will be no diminution of our happiness to join in the ranks of Emmanuel, with the sable sons of Africa, or the once deluded worshippers of Juggernaut; it will not cast a damp on our songs of praise, because the chorus is heightened by the sacred hallelujahs of the heathen; nor shall we worship at the footstool of our God with less rapturous feeligs, because they are united with us in worshipping at the Redeemer's feet. We are sorry that our limits prevent us noticing the animated speeches of several gentlemen, who addressed the assembly much to its satisfaction. Their names were Messrs. Burdsall, Turkington, Simmonite, Musgrave, Ayre, Sissison, and Booth. In the evening, Mr. JABEZ BUNTING delivered a most excellent discourse from Judges v. 12-23, when the chapel was crowded with admiring and attentive hearers. BRITISH ANd foreign BIBLE SOCIETY. ON Wednesday, May 4th, the Annual Meeting of this Institution was held in the Free Mason's Hall, Great Queen Street. It was, as usual, most numerously and respectably attended. Lord Teignmouth, the noble President of the Society, was in the Chair, and was supported by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, the Bishops of Salisbury and Norwich, and many other persons of distinction. The Report of the Committee was read, and communicated the most satisfactory intelligence respecting the progress made, during the past year, in various parts of the world, towards the accomplish ment of the grand object of the Society, the universal circulation of the Holy Scriptures. We hope to be enabled to insert very speedily an abstract of this able and interesting Report, which will of course be immediately published. The several Resolutions, usual on such occasions, were moved and seconded by the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Wells, the Duke of Kent, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Bishops of Salisbury and Norwich, the Count De la Gardie, Ambassador from the Court of Sweden to that of Spain, the Rev. G. Burder, Wm. Wilberforce Esq. M. P., Charles Graut jun. Esq. M. P., the Earl of Northesk, Dr. Romaine, from North An erica, Dr. Blackburne, Warden of Manchester, Henry Thornton, Esq. M. P., the Rev. Mr. Thorpe, of Dublin, and the Rev. W. Dealtry. By most of these distinguished persons appropriate speeches were delivered, as well as by Lord Teignmouth, and the Rev. Messrs. Owen, Hughes, and Steinkopff. The attention of the Meeting was peculiarly interested by the speeches of Mr. Pinkerton and Mr. Patterson, two gentlemen who are well known as the honoured instruments of promoting the Society's designs in the North of Europe, and especially of establishing the Bible Societies in the Russian empire. The details given by these gentlemen were of the most encouraging nature, and calculated to gladden, in no common degree, every Christian heart. The particulars will doubtless be published by the Society; and we shall then hasten to lay them before our readers.-On the whole, we believe, it was the universal impression of the persons present at this Meeting, that it equalled, if not exceeded, any former anniversary. Never were rank, cloquence, and piety more happily associated than on this occasion in support of the best of causes. MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. Extract of a Letter from Mr. WOOLLEY, to the Miffionary Committee. Dear Brethren, My silence has been protracted much beyond my wish, owing to the great detention of our packets of late. In my last I informed you, that I intended shortly to visit my little flock in the island of Barbuda, but at that time I did not meditate the probable relapse of brother Wilson, which taking place, prevented my going so soon as I had designed. At length, he being recovered, I sailed on the 1st of December, and the next morning was welcomed on the shore of Barbuda. I was much pleased to find, that during my long absence, the people had not forgot the assembling of them- On the Friday night the people as- a woman called me to her hut, and when I entered, she burst into tears; she wept abundantly under a sense of guilt, and expressed a longing desire to be a Christian indeed. I pointed her to Christ as the only refuge. A peor man, who had rebuilt his house, which had been blown down by a hurricane, wifhed to change the negro custom of (what they call) christening their houses with dancing and drunkenness, for the becoming conduct of prayer and praise: he therefore requested that I would come to pray in his newly-erected hut; I complied with his request, but did not expect any to be present but himself and his sable family. To my agreeable surprise I found, that having invited his friends and neighbours, his house was filled, and the outside surrounded. Embracing so favourable an opportunity, I delivered to them the word of life, and joined them in the praises of God. Wishing the divine favour to rest upon you, and the divine blessing to crown your labours with success, I continue, dear Brethren, Your's, very affectionately, S. P. WOOLLEY. After preaching, a man of, perhaps, fifty years of age, came to me, and ingenuously said, "Master, before you came to tell us this word, we scarce knew whether there was a God or not, but now I see the evil of my ways, and de- Antigua, January 14, 1814. sire to put away my sin. The next day, POETRY. (At the request of a friend, we insert the following) THE MISSION. Let the ransom'd world reply. 2 From yon continent of glory, Mission'd by the Eternal King, Christ's ambassadors before you Peace on earth are come to bring: Hallelujah! All ye favour'd sinners sing. 3 Ipto all the world he sends us, Bids us preach where'er we go; Christ is come to reign below. Rise and shout, ye fallen race. AN INVOCATION TO PEACE. Sweet Peace! with olive crown'd, and wings outspread, Nor more be heard the murd'ring canuons' That plenty, for whose absence now we May to our British islé again return; high; Haste then, sweet Concord! fly on angels' That all the nations may one chorus sing, Printed at the Conference Office, 14, City-Road; by THOMAS CORDEUX, Agent. |