trived a method of translating the scriptures with greater expedition than had ever been previously known. They have erected, if the expression may be allowed, a sort of translating machine; and thanks to the Divine Goodness that has spared their lives to its completion. It is now complete and in full work. Oh that its operations may incessantly be continued, and that the work of instruction may go forward till there shall not be a man without a Bible, nor a child without ability to read it! Then indeed improvements may be made by good men touching and retouching the various versions, but otherwise translations will cease, and nothing will remain but to multiply the copies for successive generations of readers.

But there is another work which will not so soon be finished. Beside Bibles, Missionaries are wanted also. Let us attend to primitive principles and practices: in following these we are always safe. For the conversion of the world, Christ himself sent forth men at first, inspired men. The plan is not altered since: men are made the instruments of sending forth successors. We must not only put a book into a man's hand, but must point out to him what he perhaps would not read at all, or would read without due attention. Suppose all your ministers were at once to be removed from this land, what would you say, how would you feel? Would they not be missed? The regard shewn to ministers here proves the value of missionaries. How must we admire the disinterested spirit and feelings of men who, from all the enjoyments of London, are willing, for the sake of the gospel, to go into the most unfriendly climes, and among the most savage tribes, not knowing but that they may be immolated on the altar at the next festival which they may celebrate to their idol gods!

What God has done among the poor negroes in the West Indies is truly wonderful. One church containing two thousand seven hundred members! Ministers who preside over the largest churches here may well be astonished. More Missionaries are wanted, but the funds have not allowed the Committee to send more. The prospect is now brighter. And where God opens such a door, we ought to go in.

The liberality of our friends north of the Tweed, demands my particular acknowledgment. Mr. Crisp and my self, who went into Scotland last summer, were highly gratified, both on

our own account and on that of the Society. A journey of near one thousand five hundred miles must ne cessarily be attended with much fatigue; but every thing unpleasant was more than counterbalanced by the kind. reception we every where found in the houses and hearts of our christian brethren. The personal respect with which we were treated, the patronage of our cause, and the generosity of the contributions, made impressions upon our minds which we shall not forget.

But exertions must still be made, Auxiliary Societies and Associations should be carried to a greater extent than they have yet been. The churches will not fail us, provided the object be evidently a good missionary object. But of this we ought to be very clear. Then they will not be backward to come to the help of the Lord against the mighty.-What is chiefly to be recommended is steadiness. This may be thought a common-place virtue; but it is of prime importance. Steadiness in prosecuting a good cause is beyond ingenuity in forming a great and plansible plan. Let us act steadily, and steadily pray for prosperity, which God alone can give; let us pray for the perseverance, joy, hope, and success of Missionaries; and may fresh reasons for gratitude and joy be daily experienced!

William Carus Wilson, Esq. M.P. had no intention of speaking on this occasion, but could not refuse to testify his cordial regard for so good a cause. A signal proof of its commanding merits he thought had been furnished some time ago, by a writer of considerable ability, in the Quarterly Review: who, after having spoken of the missionary spirit and of missionary enterprises in general in a disrespectful and almost contemptuous manner, yet when he proceeds to a particular examination of the proceedings of the Baptist Missionaries, speaks of Carey, and Marshman, and Ward, and their stupendous labours, in terms of high admiration, and almost admits the work they are engaged in to be of God. The success in the West Indies, announced in the report, was great indeed, and worthy of particular observation. Who could be insensible to the wrongs of Africa, to the evils of slavery? It was a foul blot upon this country that so many of its sons have contributed so largely to these enormities; but this country also contains those whose efforts have been exerted,

and whose prayers have ascended for the relief and removal of them. Fresh importations of slaves by British subjects is now prohibited, but much remains to be done. What greater recompense, however, can be made to the victims of past injuries than by sending them the gospel? Thus to multitudes their captivity and slavery have issued in their good, and their light affliction (light compared with everlasting misery) has been overruled as a way to an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

The Rev. George Barclay considered occasions like this as throwing around as a kind of moral atmosphere. We inhale an air purer than common, and enjoy feelings unusually delightful. Such scenes may well heighten our pleasures, and soothe our pains, and make even the dying countenance beam with satisfaction. What a gloomy and degraded spectacle did the continent of India present to our view a few years ago: all enveloped in gross idolatry; millions of idols, and their Notaries hundreds of millions, all destitute of spiritual light and life. Ah! little do we think what abominations and miseries idolatry includes. But we have lived to witness the dawn of a brighter period, and to see that the accursed chain of the caste is not able to hold those whom God deigns to loose. Perhaps it may not be generally known, that yesterday commenced the annual festival of Juggernaut. While we are meeting here, think what crowds are assembled there. But this is a declining cause; ours is an advancing one. We are more af fected by providence than by promise; but the Divine promises are infallible. We have now oue instance in the prosperity of our funds. He shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Then let us add, prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised.

The Rev. John Leifchild came to the meeting without any intention of speaking, or any intimation that he should be called forward;, but his regard for this institution would not suffer him to refuse an application to appear publicly in its support. These meetings have chiefly to do with the state of the heart and feelings. Our judgments have long been convinced of the duty of promoting missions. There have been times indeed, when some among us gravely contended, that the

time was not yet arrived; that because God permitted the heathen to remain without the gospel, so should we; and that to attempt their conversion, would be taking the work out of his hand; forgetting, or not considering, that God had resolved to send the gospel through the world by the instrumentality of his people. Some of these objectors complained of the noise and bustle of missionary preparations; and quoted against us the building of Solomon's temple, which rose silently and majestically, without the din of axe or hammer: as if the heathen were to be converted by magic, idolatry dissolved by a charm, and the truth circulated round the earth in a whisper. But these times are past; the actual success and splendid triumphs of missionary societies, have silenced these objectors, and reduced their number: if a few still remain, they are only like the gleaning of an olive tree, one or two on the topmost bough. A contrary sentiment now prevails throughout the christian church; christians in general have come to a clear and powerful conviction, that it is a duty incumbent on all the followers of Jesus, now to support all Missionary exertions to the utmost of their power.

But in matters of religious duty, it is not enough to have the judgment convinced the heart, by intercourse with the world, and the excitement of its passions by different objects, is too apt to render the conviction feeble and inoperative. And if there is danger of this in the business of our own salvation, notwithstanding the alarms of conscience, and the sense of selfinterest, the expectation of personal benefit, and the fear of personal injury. can we wonder that the mind should relax in its efforts for the conversion of others, and those living at the extremities of the globe? Hence the necessity of these meetings, where by a report of past proceedings, and mutual exhortations and encourage. ments, cur ardour may be rekindled, and our energies afresh consecrated to this cause. And who can have heard the interesting and encouraging report of to-day, and the animating appeals that have followed it, without feeling that he has done nothing hitherto, compared with what he might have done, and ought to have done; without resolving, not merely upon a renewal of his efforts, but upon increasing them, if it were possible, a thousand fold? I am ready to say,

there. The public authorities have honoured them, and committed to them the superintendance of the noblest youth in that country. Your Missionaries have penetrated the seerets of Indian Mythology, have drawn forth from unexplored recesses what the researches of learned men could never before reach, and have exposed in all its enormity, the iniquity of that system which used to be held up to European admiration as a model of primitive simplicity. Sterne says, "If I had met him habited as a brahmin on the plains of India, I would have bowed down and done him reverence.' This, a few years ago, was the general feeling in this country, but a very different feeling prevails now. Who has enabled us to legislate for that conntry, which in former days we were not able to do? Your Missionaries. It must not be forgotten that your Missionaries have taught, not only religious knowledge, but knowledge profane: they have taught Hindoos the institutes of European science, and prepared them to receive the pure gospel, which leads men to the service of God.

I had almost forgotten that this motion refers to the Committee. The Committee occupy one of the noblest stations towards all parties, both at home and abroad. They are in some respects legislators for hundreds of thousands, for millions of human souls. The cause is high and honourable, and the trouble is not to be compared with the reward. At home they have to arrange plans, to meet objections, and to keep up that spirit, without which the society cannot prosper at home or abroad. May its prosperity continue and increase, till eastern and western climes shall be brought to unite in the song of Moses and of the Lamb!

Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M. P. offered a hearty welcome to the society on their meeting in a Methodist Chapel. This is a specimen of what God has done in putting an end to the strife of tongues which formerly prevailed so much among different religious parties. The Divine wisdom is often to be seen in permitting differences among christians. The difference between Paul and Barnabas led to the spread of the gospel in different directions. And the existence of various Missionary Societies causes more labour to be performed than could be performed otherwise. What society,

what treasurer, what secretaries} what committee of any one society, could do the work now done by all? But it is truly delightful to meet to gether, to countenance each other, and to help each other forward, in the common cause. We had been reminded of the building of Solomon's temple, and had been told that our Missionary undertakings should be conducted with similar quiet. It is true the temple was reared without the sound of hammer, or axe, or any tool being heard during its erection: and so, if we must make the comparison, our Missionaries in foreign lands are pursuing the even tenour of their way, without any bustle or noise. But the materials for the temple were all' prepared before they were brought to the place where they were to be laid: and was it to be supposed that the masons employed in hewing and squaring the stones, made no noise with their hammers; or that the cedars of Lebanon were felled and wrought without the sound of an axe? Neither could we prepare for missions abroad without any stir or noise at home. Mr. B. had great satisfaction in mentioning, that on the preceding evening an attack had been made on one of the abominations of India in the British Parliament. The Burning of Widows had been made the subject of discussion, and he trusted that ere long, it would be stopped by legislative authority. Mr. B. concluded by exhorting the Society to be zealous, active, and prayerful, and not to doubt of increasing resources and

success.

The Rev. J. H Hinton, in seconding the 4th Resolution, remarked that the topics of the preceding resolutions had all been pleasing, but there is no mortal scene that may not be overclouded and saddened. We have seen the wilderness and solitary place glad, and the desert becoming as the garden of the Lord. But in this garden there is a sepulchre. Several Missionaries have been taken away by death. Scenes of mortality are not all alike distressing. We mourn for infants whom we love, but not without joy that they have so soon escaped from the ills of life. When the aged die in the Lord, we regard them as removed in a good old age, to that world where the weary are at rest. We look at other deaths often with great anguish, especially when