CONTINENT. 1831.] Wittenberg-Dr.Heubner has furnished a gratifying account of the distribution of a part of the grant of Bibles and Testaments which had been made to him by your Committee: 392 Bibles and 195 Testaments have been issued. One of the Society's Correspondents thus speaks of the seasonable influence of the Scriptures in alleviating the trials and sufferings of those around him: The times are peculiarly hard upon the poor, so that they are unable to buy copies for themselves and children. They have the greatest difficulty to procure bread, and many of them are actually suffering hunger; and, as their privations augment, the desire to possess the Word of God seems to increase among them. Many of them seek in the Divine Word that comfort and peace, which their sorrowful hearts so much require. God has blessed it among us, of which I could produce a thousand instances; and He will continue to make it a blessing among us, according to his appointment. Denmark. The Rev. Dr. Möller, of Copenhagen, under date of August 31, 1830, writes The year before last, the Danish Societies, properly so called-those of the Duchies not being included-circulated 4842 copies of the Sacred Scriptures, and, in the last year, 5867 copies. Five new Auxiliary Societies have been formed; two of which were established at the last Jubilee of the Augsburg Confession, celebrated the 25th June, 1830. A complete statement has been drawn up of all the copies of the Bible and New Testament actually issued and made use of in Iceland; the result of which is, that 5405 Bibles and 8457 Testaments are in circulation; which, among a population of 50,000 souls, or 10,000 families, proves that every family at least possesses a copy of the New Testament. Mr. Röntgen, of Christiansfeld, Norway. from its Correspondents the sum of near Frederickshall With regard to the Bible without the Apocrypha, I have, in various conversations with serious persons in this part of the kingdom, found but little or no objection raised against it. Sweden. The issues of the Swedish Bible Society, in the year, amounted to 15,400 copies; of which 14,721 were sold, and the remainder distributed gratuitously. Count Rosenblad writes, under date of May 27, 1830 Blessed be God! the Bible Cause is actively proceeding in Sweden, under the patronage of the Government: the Crown Prince, himself, expressed a wish to attend our Anniversary Meeting. A solemn Religious Festival will be celebrated this summer in Sweden, partly in commemoration of the introduction of Christianity into this country a thousand years ago, and partly in remembrance of the Augsburg Confession presented to the Emperor Charles V. in 1530. The King has issued orders for a general collection to be made in all the churches throughout the kingdom, for the purpose of raising a fund for buying and distributing copies of the Sacred Scriptures among the catechumens; and I anticipate the happiest results, and hope that the measure will be repeated every year. Russia. The valuable correspondent at St. Petersburgh, referred to in former Reports, has been actively and zealously engaged during the past year in promoting the distribution of the Scriptures. Besides the most strenuous exertions in his own immediate vicinity, he has established small depôts at Karass, Astrachan, Selinginsk, Tiflis, Shusha, and in Finland; and has put into circulation, within the last twelvemonth, nearly 8000 volumes; that is, 4000 Russ, 1000 Finnish, 725 German, 974 various, 1000 Russian Psalters, and 260 Bibles. Your Committee have cheerfully supplied him with 100 Hebrew Testaments, 200 He brew Psalters, 2500 German Testaments, and 2000 Russ Testaments, on the usual terms. Roman Catholics. One Correspondent writesThe people at large are favourably disposed toward the Bible: the barrier is, at length, through the assistance of God, broken down; and the reading of the Scriptures now irresistibly proceeds. My official duties extend over a large district; and the Sacred Volume has, through my instrumentality, been intro duced in ten or twelve schools: I meet with much opposition, but I am careful not to let it be perceived that I am aware of it. The common people will not listen to the prohibitions against reading the Bible. In order, however, to proceed still further on the path which I have now entered, I stand in need of being supplied with cheap books, which I have hitherto succeeded in obtaining. Within the last three months, I have received in all 2764 copies. The whole of these books have already been put into circulation; for I parted yesterday with the last Polish Testament. Although I am a Protestant, my public situation brings me into contact with many Ca tholic Clergymen. I avail myself of these opportunities to circulate the Sacred Volume; and God has hitherto been pleased so far to bless my endeavours, that more than 3000 copies have been brought into circulation. Mr. Starke, of Breslau, writesIn Upper Silesia a great sensation has been awakened among our Catholic Brethren. The Catholic Clergy toward the Austrian Frontier had strictly forbidden the reading of Dr. Van Ess's Testament, in consequence, as they alleged, of superior orders to that effect: this awakened the curiosity of the people they contravened the prohibition; and pointed out to their Ministers that it was the Word of God, and that they had no right to withhold it from them. There are more than 500 families who would be glad to be provided with Van Ess's Testaments. In reference to the same quarter, the Countess of Reden writes from Buchwald Since the conclusion of last year, the Lord has been pleased to open, in His mercy, a new door for the distribution of His Saving Word in Upper Silesia, where gross darkness has hitherto prevailed. The sensation which has been awakened is very great: the Clergy, even if they were so inclined, can no longer stem the progress of the Word of Life; and, thanks be to God! they are themselves, in some instances, carried Polish Testaments are received with Catholic, German, and along with it. great eagerness. A Correspondent, who had satisfactorily disposed of a grant of 4000 Catholic Testaments, and has received 1000 more, writes The demand increases; and my at tention is particularly directed to the necessity of introducing the New Testament into Schools, by the Clergymen and Schoolmasters, as a book of instruction. In this I have frequently succeeded; and it appears to me to be the likeliest means of rendering the New Testament a fa vourite book among the people. France. Ar pp. 304-306 of the Number for July, we quoted, from a Correspondent of the Continental Society, some statements relative to the Romish Church and to the growing Infidelity of the French Nation. We now extract, from a Letter addressed, in February last, to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, by the Rev. Colany Nee, a Protestant Minister in the North of France, some account of the Reviving State of Religion among French Protestants. A new era as to Religion has begun in France, since the astonishing Revolution of July. The obstacles to the spread of the Gospel, which the Ancient Government always suffered more or less to remain, have almost entirely disappeared : it is no longer necessary to obtain per mission to spread the Word of Life and hold Religious Meetings. Already Three New Protestant Churches, WHICH DO NOT RECEIVE STIPENDS FROM THE STATE, have been organized at Paris: others of the same kind have been, and will be, formed in the country. Like those which I serve, they follow the same discipline as yours with respect to the Holy Supper: we admit to the Table of the Lord only those who appear to have expe rienced the efficacy of His Sacrifice, and to have felt the sanctifying influence of His Spirit. With you, Dear Brethren, I am sensible that this discipline is intimately connected with the purity of the Church and the extension of its limits. It is truly desirable that it should be introduced into all the Protestant Churches of France; but, alas! it meets with great opposition in them, although it is conformable to the Ecclesiastical Discipline: notwithstanding this, it is still considered a dangerous innovation, and many minds have already been excited against it yet this opposition, and that which the Gospel meets, more or less, in all unregenerate hearts, do not prevent its advancing in the greater part of our Churches. Almost everywhere the people begin to rise from that lifeless state, into which they were sunk. Many souls are renewed in Christ. Indifference and credulity daily lose some of their partisans. The old doctrines of the Reformation resound in many pulpits. The work of God is spread abroad. Domestic Worship is re-established. Bible Classes are formed, and Sunday Schools organized. Our Religious Soeieties prosper. Mr. Nee adds the following Notices of the New French Catholic Church, A religious movement, most favourable to the Gospel, begins to be manifest, among the Catholics also of this kingdom. A large number of them have separated themselves for ever from the Romish Church. Some have entered into our Communion; and others have formed the NEW FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH, not paid by the State. Among the latter there are some Converted Priests. At first, there were but about Ten Eccle siastics, one of whom was a Curate who served the Papists of one of my parishes, and whom I believe to be truly renewed by the Holy Spirit: after a little while, about Fifty more Priests joined the others, to establish the principles of their New Church. Their first step was, to shake off the yoke of the Pope and of their Bishops-to constitute themselves an independent Church-to celebrate worship in French-and, by means of the press, to offer to serve, GRATUITOUSLY, those Communes which would receive them, and adopt their principles. This did well. Their voice was echoed in France. Demands were made upon them for Clergymen, even from within the Pyrenees; and they are already unable to furnish as many as are asked for-so greatly is the number of their adherents increased and increasing daily, both at Paris and in the provinces. All this, it is true, does not prove that their hearts are already renewed by the Holy Spirit, and purified in the blood of the Lamb. The love of novelty, the spirit of independence, and hatred of Jesuitism, may have had much to do in producing this change; but a great actual advance toward True Religion has been made, and a terrible blow given to Popery in this kingdom. In vain, the Beast and the Dragon strive to stop this defection, and forbid the reading of the Bible. All their efforts are useless. The religious movement advances, clearly, day by day, in the minds of men, in spite of the numerous enemies and obstacles which it meets. Never have I seen so great a return toward the Gospel-never, so many doors opened-never, so many religious books sold among the Catholics. We cannot procure a sufficient supply from Paris and London, so great is the sale in this country. This is the more remarkable, as there is extreme distress among us, occasioned by the total prostration of commerce, and the rumours of war and revolution which are unceasingly circulated. There is much ground for hope, that God will make use of this distress and these political agitations to draw souls to Him, who, being rich, became poor to enrich us, and who alone can make us truly free. Let us then hope, act, and pray. The Wesleyan Society supports a Mission in Paris. The Missionaries have lately circulated an Appeal in behalf of their design, from which we extract a notice of the Activity of the Saint-Simon Infidels. Political and civil liberty lends itself as freely to the manifestation and developement of evil as of good. Infide lity, with her attendant immoralities, may make it a deadly curse; as Christianity, with her suite of graces, will make it a blessing. As yet, Infidelity has profited much more than Christianity by the late changes. Men have slept, and the enemy has sown tares with the greatest diligence. One branch of Infidelity, St. Simonism, has applied the now-practically-acknowledged right of association to the accomplishment of its designs, with wonderful intelligence, perseverance, and success. It has its Meeting-Houses, its Preachers, its Missionaries to the Departments and to Foreign Countries (it has sent five to Brussels)-its Journals-and its Funds for proselyting. The system thus embraced, thus supported, thus taught, openly proposes the thorough subversion of most of the till-now-generally-received principles of religion, morals, and politics: and yet, such is the weakness of all existing Institutions on the Continent, or at least in France and the countries bordering on it, that no reflecting man can see any human power to which he can confidently look for safety from the threatening, the coming, the impending ruin. The following account of this new modification of Infidelity is given in a Note to the Appeal : St. Simonism derives its denomination from M. St. Simon, one of its most eminent advocates. It is a system of philosophical infidelity, constituting a refined species of Pantheism, in which God is said to be "an infinite, omnipresent Being, constituting whatever is, every thing being IN him, and BY him, and he being every thing-in his living unity, being love; and, in the modes of his manifestation, being intelligence, wisdom, strength, and beauty. Man is a collective and progressive being-the finite manifestation of God, and capable of constant approaches towards perfectibility." In many instances, the theology of this Infidel System corresponds with Pope's celebrated but sceptical Essay on Man," and his "Universal Prayer.' It is well remarked on the duty and the support of the real Christian in such appalling days— To the Sacred Word, the Christian will look for consolation; and he will feel peace, in the assurance that when the enemy cometh in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. He will make, of the success of the ungodly, a motive to prayer and to hope; and will say, It is time for Thee, O Lord, to work, for they have made void thy law. But, as he knows that the servants of the Lord are called to do the work of the Lord and fight his battles, he will ask, What wouldest thou have me to do? In this contest, indifference is rebellion, neutrality is treason. He, that is not for me, is against me. Curse ye Meroz: because he came not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Mediterranean. AMERICAN EPISCOPAL MISS. SOCIETY. MRS. Hill, wife of the Rev. J. H. Hill, furnishes the following Notices of the Island, Town, and People of Tinos. Tinos, like most islands in the Ægean, appears from the sea like a high and barren rock. This is owing to the high stone fences which enclose very small fields. In looking up, you see nothing but what appears to be a mass of rocks, and, there being no trees, you would suppose it a barren country: it is, however, cultivated to the highest peak. The town is small, situated on the sea-board. The houses are of stone, covered with clay: they are whitewashed, but have little of taste in their outward structure, or of what we should call con venience within: they have four walls, the sole resemblance to ours at home; the roofs flat and gravelled: we walk on our neighbour's, they on our's; and can pay us a visit, which, in the present unquite so pleasant, and might be to our certain character of the people, is not loss. I do not speak from experience, but information: as far as mine goes, I do not think them worse than the poor and ignorant with us. The streets are very narrow; the widest, a little broader than what we should call an alley: it visit an opposite neighbour from one would not require a very long skip to balcony to another. I have not yet to be: I should say that the people been disgusted with filth, as I expected were rather cleanly than otherwise, but are entirely destitute of order, which is so essential to comfort. It has been well said of them, that they have no hours, no system, no customs. The Greeks are lively and loquacious. We have frequently entered without ceremony into the houses of the working classes, inquired about their work, and satisfied our curiosity on any thing which attracted our notice: we have always been treated respectfully; and, on taking our departure, been followed to the door by such as could conveniently do so, taking leave of us with a native grace and politeness, in which they greatly resemble the French. Our intercourse has not been confined to these: we have access to, indeed we have cordial association with, some of the first families in Greece. We are surrounded by ignorance and superstition. Satan has great power, and he will not relinquish it without a struggle. The Priests, who live by deceiving these ignorant souls, will not approve of any system, which, by enlightening them, would destroy their own influence: and it seems so much easier to burn a candle to the Virgin, and pay money to be freed from the punishment of sin, than sincerely to repent and lead a godly life, that it may be hard to convince this people, (who in their own eyes are safe under the present system,) that they are yet in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity. AMERICAN BOARD OF MISSIONS. THE Rev. G. B. Whiting, in writing from Beyrout, in the early part of November, thus describes the Degraded State of the People of Syria. To say that they are Christians ONLY IN NAME, would go but a little way toward declaring all the truth. I might tell you of their IGNORANCE, It is probably safe to say, that not one in twenty of the adult population can read. Of this small fraction of the people, few have access to any useful books, or a disposition to read such as they have. Of course, the great majority are destitute of the Scriptures; and there are multitudes who do not even hear the Scriptures read intelligibly during their life-time. Of the Priests themselves, probably many have never read the New Testament; and it seems to be no part of their business to teach the people knowledge: they are sometimes zealous, but not for the truth of God, nor for good works: the main object of their zeal seems to be, TO SHUT OUT the Truth, to fortify the strong-holds of Error, to rivet the chains of ignorance upon the people, and perpetuate a long-established, soul-ruining system of Superstition and Ecclesiastical Tyranny. I might speak of the IMMORALITY of the people; not one of whom, so far as we know, even PROFESSES to take the precepts of the Bible as a rule of conduct. This remark applies to both Priests and People. Moral honesty, or a conscientious regard to truth, is a thing unknown, and unlooked for: no one seems to EXPECT that his neighbour will tell the Sept. 1831. truth, or be upright in his dealings, any further than it suits his convenience or his interest to do so. And it is confessed, that if a man should profess and endeavour to regulate his life by the Word of God, he would make himself the object of universal ridicule. I could tell you of prevailing infideLITY; which, it is too evident, is often concealed under a violent zeal for the name and some of the forms of Christianity. There is no doubt that many, especially of the more sensible men, and not a few of those Ecclesiastics, who are the stoutest champions of "The Church," and the fiercest persecutors of the "Bible Men," are infidels at heart. I might go on, and fill my Letter with accounts of the PROFANENESS of the people-their DISREGARD OF THE SABBATH-their general APATHY in respect to religious subjects, and the difficulty of exciting their attention to the momentous concerns of the soul. This, though it could afford you no pleasure, might assist you in forming an idea of the nature of our work, and the difficulties attending it; and induce you to pray the more earnestly for the pouring-out of the Holy Spirit, in connexion with our exertions to persuade the people of this land to embrace the pure Gospel of Christ. You will not wonder, if, with so much around us to make us feel our own impotence, we regard the prayers of our beloved Brethren at home as peculiarly precious; and I beg you will not think it a matter of course, if we very often "6 PRAY FOR USrepeat the request, PRAY FOR US." Endia within the Ganges. THE Rev. James Selkirk, of the Church Missionary Society, in writing from Cotta in Ceylon, thus re cords the |