documents are put into the hands of a Com- to remove the difficulties which existed in

mittee, to examine and report thereon.

As to the publication of the Spanish New Testament, it was deemed inexpedient, for

the minds of many persons against a union with the American Bible Society, to publish, towards the close of the last year,

the present, to attempt it. The Managers, the following information on those points, however, cherish the pleasing expectation, viz. that in due time they will be able to accomplish the publication of the entire Scriptures in the Spanish and Portuguese Languages, for the use of the inhabitants of South America.

1. That every Auxiliary Society must determine for itself, what is their surplus revenue after supplying their own wants; but that funds, when given, are at the sole disposal of the managers. They will, however, thankfully receive recommendations as to the best way of disposing of the surplus revenue of any Auxiliary, reserving to themselves the right of adopting or rejecting the

With respect to the French Bible, the Managers have had their duty plainly marked out to them by the finger of Divine Providence. They have accepted of the offer of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to recommendation. receive, as part of their donation, in lieu of money, a set of stereotype plates, duodecimo, of the French Bible, which, when received, will enable them to furnish the public with a supply of French Bibles.

They have, moreover, received from the New-York Bible Society, who are not weary in their acts of liberality to the National Institution, all the copies in sheets of the French Bible in their possession, amounting to about 1000.

2. As to the interpretation which each Auxiliary Society has a right of giving as to the extent of their wants, the Managers respectfully suggest the propriety of each Auxiliary confining itself to its natural bounds. Unless this be done, one Auxiliary may interfere with another, and thus, while one district is doubly supplied, another may be left destitute.

3. It is distinctly understood by the Board, that every Society becoming Auxiliary has a right of withdrawing from the connexion when it sees fit so to do.

The Managers have ordered 200 Gaelic, and 200 German Bibles, to be transmitted to them from England. Whenever they 4. In conducting the business of the Board, find that a greater number is wanted, they the most scrupulous attention is paid to the will not fail to procure the necessary sup-diversity of denomination which exists ply. among Christians. The meetings are openThe Managers consider it a duty to ex-ed with reading a chapter of the Bible, sepress their gratitude to the Governors of the lected by the presiding officer, and no other New-York Hospital, and also to the Mayor religious exercises are performed. The of the city of New-York, for their kindness, managers are deeply sensible that they supromptly tendered, in granting them the perintend the concerns, not of a party, but use of the rooms in which for some time of the whole body of Christians, who are they transacted business. They are at pre-united in the National Institution for the sole sent accommodated in the New-York Insti- purpose of distributing the Bible without tution, by the Historical Society: and they note or comment. cannot deny themselves the pleasure of sta ting, that several Printers have volunteered to publish, gratuitously, any Communications which the Board may deem necessary to make to the public.

As one of the principal objects of the American Bible Society is to supply the great districts of the American Continent with well-executed stereotype plates for printing the Bible, the managers request that Bible Societies, in different parts of the country, would send such information as may enable

As inquiries from different parts of the country were made on some points of importance, the managers thought it proper them to determine in what places the un

appropriated plates may be located to the ports, In doing this, they have anticipated best advantage. the wish of the Board of Managers, who The Managers have commenced a col- had forwarded an order for the same. lection of Bibles, especially of the earlier! editions, in every language, the successful progress of which must chiefly depend on public liberality.

superintend was new and untried. Its operations, however, have thus far succeeded, and afford conclusive evidence of its capability for far more extensive usefulness to our common country.

In consequence of the necessary absence of the Secretary for Foreign Correspondence on account of his health, no correspondence has been opened with other FoFor the purpose of facilitating the busi- reign Societies. The President, however, ness of the Society, the Board have appoint-addressed a letter to the Russian Bible Soed a Standing Committee of Five Members, ciety, which has been honoured with an anwho have in charge all the property and ef- swer of congratulation and wishes for our fects belonging to the Society, except the prosperity. A letter has also been received funds in the hands of the Treasurer. They from the Hamburgh and Altona Bible Socieare empowered to superintend and direct ty, of the same description, soliciting a corall the affairs and concerns of the Society, respondence with us. during the recess of the Board of Managers: The Managers have thus given a plain and for these purposes, to enter into all ne- narrative of their proceedings, for the infor cessary contracts, to give orders for the de- mation of the Society. It will be readily livery of Bibles, and orders on the Treasurer perceived that their situation was not merefor the payment of all monies. It is made ly novel, but in the highest degree difficult. their duty to keep a Book of Minutes, in They had no experience, and yet the pubwhich are to be regularly entered all their lic expected great things. Every part of transactions; which book must be produced the machine which they were directed to to the Board of Managers at every meeting. Among the first measures adopted by the Managers, was to make an official communication to the British and Foreign Bible Society, of the formation of the American Bible Society. The Secretary for Foreign The Managers did not feel themselves Correspondence, who was on the eve of warranted at first to afford monied aid, or embarking for Great Britain, was request-even Bibles, to those Auxiliaries who ap ed, if circumstances would permit, to wait plied for both. Their plans, to be accomon the Committee of the British and Foreign plished, they knew would involve them in Bible Society, and respectfully assure the heavy expense; and they could not with Committee," that it will ever afford this certainty calculate upon a surplus of funds. Society very sincere pleasure to co-operate Such, however, has been the rapid and inin those plans of Christian benevolence creasing augmentation of their means, that which have rendered the British and For- they have been induced to afford the followeign Bible Society a blessing to the world." ing gratuitous supply of Bibles, to AuxiliaThe worthy President of our Society had, ries whose wants were great and pressing. however, anticipated the wishes of the East Tennessee Bible Society, 500 Bibles. Board; and, through him, the Committee Steuben County (New-York) communicated their satisfaction at the event, and a donation of 500l. sterling, which was Essex County (New-York) Biaccepted with suitable acknowledgments ble Society, 100 do. to that Society. Since that time, the Com- So soon as their present engagements will mittee, with their accustomed and honour- permit, and the liberality of the American able liberality, have presented to the Socie- people shall furnish them with the means, ty a set of the Versions of Scriptures printed they will cheerfully become almoners, in by them, and also several sets of their Re-money as well as Bibles, to all such destitute

Bible Society,

100 do.

parts, at home and abroad, as may require |quity, "Bestowing their lives on the public,

the one or the other. Thus far they have endeavoured to discharge their duties, not only faithfully but intelligently, so as to ensure the approbation of the Society and the Public.

they have every one received a praise that will never decay, a sepulchre that will always Le most illustrious ;-not that in which their bones lie mouldering, but that in which

The Managers cannot conclude their Re-their fame is preserved, to be on every oc port, without observing, that the origin, in-casion, when honour is the employ of either crease, and success of Bible Societies, con-word or act, eternally remembered." No stitute one of the most remarkable events of glory is comparable to that of doing good to the day in which we live. God has been our fellow-men: and of all the various kinds pleased to make the people of Great Britain of good that we can do to each other, none the instrument of forming, maturing, che-is comparable to that which has a respect rishing, and constantly and substantially directly to the benefit of the spiritual estate aiding these Societies, not only within her of mankind. This is to do them good in the own territories, but throughout the world. life which now is, by securing to them eterGreater honour has never been conferred nal good in the life which is to come. Such upon any people, since the sceptre depart-is the high and holy aim of Bible Societies ed from Judah, and the Lawgiver from be-in every part of our world, who, following tween his feet. Not to pay a tribute of re-in the track of the illustrious Parent Instituspect to them on an occasion like the present, would be ungrateful; and to pay a smaller tribute than this, would discover a criminal disregard to the work of the Lord and the operation of his hands. To honour those whom God honours, is both a Chris-bear fruit to his own glory, and the salvatian privilege and duty. Of the founders tion of myriads of our fallen race. The and patrons of the British and Foreign Bi-word has gone out of His mouth who canble Society—a Society pre-eminent in the felicity of its design and the grandeur of its plans when they are gone down to the grave, posterity will say, in the language of an eminent statesman and orator of anti

tion, guided by her experience, and quickened by her example, are depositing the seeds of truth among the nations to whom they have access, with the confident hope that the Lord will cause it to spring up and

not lie, that in every place incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure offering and the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will per form his promise.

-00000

To Correspondents.

P. is inadmissible.

"The letter to a young lady of the Romish Church," will be returned to the writer : we must beg him to excuse us, when we decline to insert it.

a shall receive his communication on calling for it, with our reasons for not publishing it.

L. S. will accept our thanks for what we have received, and our request for further favours.

The Rev. Mr. M- -'s letter shall receive due attention.

HAVING, in a former Number, discussed some of the laws by which the important duty of prayer is to be regulated, we enter on the second point proposed, viz. "The different methods by which God is pleased to answer." This, on a super ficial view, seems to open a small field for investigation. If God hath promised (as he most assuredly hath done) to listen to his people's requests, and graciously answer them from the habitation of his holiness, all that is required on their part, is to know what they have requested, in order to ascertain how they will be answered. Such is the reflection which naturally rises in our minds. It is far, however, from being correct. Though the great God hath revealed himself as the hearer of prayer, he hath not, in doing so, sacrificed the glory of that awful prerogative by which " he doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." Even in his faithfulness, he frequently exercises an adorable sovereignty, and though he answers, he answers according to his own good pleasure, in a time, and by a way of his own devising. So mysterious are his dispensations in this respect, that the very fulfilment of his promise is frequently construed by his people into a breach, and his very answer to their prayers is considered an irrefragable argument, that "He hath forgotten to be gracious."

How strikingly is this exemplified in the disciples of old! If any particular care may be supposed to have burdened the minds of these affectionate followers of Jesus, we may safely assert it to have been the welfare of their much-loved Master, his triumph over the enemies who thirsted for his blood, and the advancement of his kingdom on earth. What then must have been their confusion, when they saw him suddenly torn from their embraces, dragged before the judgment-seat of the very foes whom they dreaded, and lifted up on Calvary, the execration and scorn of beholders? If ever God appeared to forget his promises, and frustrate the legitimate expectations of his people, it was on this memorable catastrophe! Accordingly we find the disciples in the lowest stage of despondency. "We trusted (say they) that he would have redeemed Israel:" intimating, that now all their hopes of this kind were terminated. But what was the true state of the case? This precise and identical event, which they so deeply deplored, on account of which they presumed to arraign the High and Holy One, was a most glorious fulfilment of all the assurances given to his people in ages past, and a most illustrious answer to their prayers for their Master's welfare!

Thus it is with the children of God in every age. Absorbed in the pursuit of some particular object, blindly imagining that in obtaining it is identified all their happiness and hope, they forget, in the meanwhile, that there is a sovereignty with the Most High, and rashly demand of him, at the peril of his faithfulness, not only the accomplishment of all that he hath said, but that mode of accomplishment on which their own carnal and perverted judgments have determined. "Give me this, give me that, or I die."

To check, and if possible to eradicate a disposition so insulting to God's veracity, so fraught with serious dangers, nothing is better calculated than a devout contemplation of the point before us, "The different modes in which our prayers may be accepted and answered."

There are, probably, few of our Christian readers who have not found, in the course of their spiritual life, that their sup