ed for the moment about to open a separating chasm, how delightful to witness the prompt flowing in of a full tide of fraternal, Christian love, to unite, to cover, to cement in one. He must be inore or less than human, who could witness such scenes unmoved. To the generous forbearance, concession, and candid indulgence which the Convention have delighted to exercise and manifest, must it be attributed in no small degree, that disorder and tumult have been entirely unknown, and that scarcely any personalities have marred the sweetness of the scene. Nor would I fail distinctly to acknowledge in this connexion, as resulting from the same source, that in the complicated duties made obligatory upon me, while endeavouring to follow the meagre rules of order which had been prescribed, sometimes enforcing them with rigid exactness, and at others yielding to the obvious desire of the Convention for a wider license in their application, you have not called for a single appeal, nor hesitated to sustain with a generous confidence, every requisition. Let me assure you, that highly as I appreciate this support, it is noticed here, to ascribe it as is due, to yourselves and not to me. When I remember how many have here risen to speak, at different times and on various points of our deliberation, who, for want of time, have not been heard-and how inany more-even hundreds, as capable as the best among us, to entertain, enlighten, and guide, have not even made the attempt, I cannot but feel, what is certainly a common sentiment here, that such forbearence is above all praise. The presence and the silence of these beloved brethren, have not failed to exert a most salutary influence, and together with the lifting up of their hearts to God for his gracious guidance, have most efficiently assisted to secure the auspicious result of our deliberations. The hour of final parting has at length arrived. The object of our convocation has been secured. We part now in affection and peace. If some slight wounds have been made, they are not left to fester and extend-blessed be God, they have been kindly healed. If all is not immediately gained, which the most sanguine had hoped, much is certainly secured both for the present and the future, in the cordial and mutual concessions which here have renewedly bound us together in welcome, and I trust, indissoluble ties. The nature of our enterprise, and the principle of our union, furnish the best guarantee of future harmony and success. To give the Sacred Scriptures, God's own book, faithfully translated, to darkened and perishing heathen-O what an object-how benevolent, holy, ennobling! Can we ever repent that we have laboured in this cause? Will it plant any thorns in our dying pillows, that we have put forth strenuous efforts, and made some sacrifices to give to dying pagans the lamp of life? Shall we not return to our respective spheres of labour, with more determined energy to prosecute the noble design, which, while we have here looked upon it, has filled us with unutterable delight! While we press the gospel to our own hearts, with all its blissful hopes, can we forget the souls of the perishing who never yet welcomed the glad tidings? There is now lying open before me, the minutes of the first Baptist General Convention, for foreign missions, which met in this city twentythree years since. It consisted of less than one tenth of the number which have now assembled-but the list of its members, presents names highly honoured throughout our land. How affecting is the memento thus furnished of human transientness. More than two-thirds of their number have passed away. Furman and Baldwin, Williams and Staughton, with their venerable and worthy associates, have left the scene of their toils, and have entered into their rest. But while in their own persons, they are thus transitory and fading-the noble institution whose foundations they then laid in faith and prayer, has risen to a commanding elevation, where each year witnesses new accessions to its resources, and wider and more blest results from its operations. Some thousands of the heathen have already occasion to bless God for that undertaking, feeble as seemed its beginnings, and we trust that millions will stand up in the judgment as trophies of its success. We too, must die. Some of our number will probably be removed to the world of spirits before another anniversary; and successive years will continue to witness the thinning of these ranks, till all are gone. But if this blessed book which we have associated to diffuse, is made our own directory, and God shall smile on our humble endeavour to disseminate his word, this institution will not die; and we shall one day meet its record and its fruits on high. Dear brethren of the Convention, receive from my full heart-as all it has to give, my warmest, humblest thanks, while I bid you, in this official relation, FAREWELL. The union hymn was then sung, and a closing prayer offered by brother Stow, of Boston, one of the Secretaries of the Convention, when the final adjournment was announced, and all separated in love. CIRCULAR OF THE BIBLE CONVENTION, HELD IN PHILADELPHIA, To the Baptist Churches throughout the United States. DEAR BRETHREN,-At the recent Bible Convention assembled in this city, churches, associations, conventions, and societies of the Baptist denomination, from twenty-three of the United States, and the District of Columbia, were represented by an aggregate amount of numbers and intelligence, unequalled, probably, in the past history of our advancement. After much prayerful deliberation, a very gratifying degree of unanimity was manifest in reference to the importance of a distinct Bible organization, to furnish the requisite means for distributing faithful translations of God's word in foreign languages. As a matter of compromise, it was unanimously agreed to confine the operations of the Society which has been organized by the Convention, during the ensuing year, to the circulation of the Sacred Scriptures in foreign tongues; and in the mean time to solicit the denomination throughout our land, to send up to the first annual meeting of the Society in New-York, the last week in April, 1838, their views as to the duty of the Society to engage in home distribution after that period. The following are the Resolutions passed by the Convention on this subject. 1. "Resolved, That under existing circumstances, it is the indispensable duty of the Baptist denomination in the United States, to organize a distinct Society for the purpose of aiding in the translation, printing, and circulation of the Sacred Scriptures. 2. “Resolved, That this organization be known by the name of the American and Foreign Bible Society. 3. "Resolved, That the Society confine its efforts, during the ensuing year, to the circulation of the Word of God, in foreign tongues. 4. Resolved, that the Baptist denomination in the United States be affectionately requested to send to the Society, at its annual meeting, during the last week in April, 1838, their views as to the duty of the Society to engage in the work of home distribution. 5. "Resolved, That a committee of twenty-four members, one from each State, be appointed to draft a Constitution, and nominate a Board of Officers for the ensuing year." In accordance with the last of these Resolutions, a Constitution has been adopted, and the Officers of the Society for the ensuing year have been appointed. The seat of its operations is fixed in the city of New-York, and the undersigned, in obedience to the direction of the Convention, beg leave, with respectful earnestness, to call the early, enlightened, and candid attention of all the Baptist churches in our country, to the question submitted to their decision in the 4th Resolution. Without attempting to enumerate the reasons which require to be taken into account in forming an accurate judgment, we may here be permitted to remark, that sufficient time and opportunity will be allowed to all our churches, to form and express such a decision as they think most in accordance with facts and duty-best adapted to honour God, and bless a ruined world. That you may be guided aright in this important question, and especially that you may not fail to send your views as above requested, either by delegates or by letter [addressed to the Corresponding Secretary of the American and Foreign Bible Society, N. Y.] was the earnest desire of the Convention, by whose order and in whose behalf we beg leave affectionately to salute you, as Your Brethren in Christ Jesus. BARGN STOW WOOD, } RUFUS BABCOCK, Jr., President Secretaries of the Convention. Philadelphia, May 1, 1837. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. Philadelphia, April 26, 1837. The Society met pursuant to previous notice, at 3 P. M. Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be directed to submit to the Bible Convention, about to meet in Philadelphia, a brief abstract of the operations of the Society during the period of its incipient organization, should such abstract be called for by the Convention. Resolved, That the Society now adjourn, to meet again at the call of the President. Philadelphia, May 1, 1837. At the call of the President, the society assembled in the meeting house of the Baptist church, in Sansom-st. at 7 P. M. Prayer was offered by Brother T. B. Ripley, of Providence. The Treasurer, Wm. Colgate, of N. Y. presented the following abstract of his account, which on motion of Lewis Leonard, of Cazenovia, N. Y., seconded by Joseph Taylor, of Philadelphia, was accepted. TREASURER'S REPORT. WM. COLGATE, Treasurer, in acct. with the American and Foreign Bible Society. 1837. Apr. 21. 1836. To amount of receipts from Auxiliary Societies, Associations, Churches, and Individuals, all the items having been published in the American Baptist, and in the Quarterly papers of the Society, . By amount paid to the Baptist Missionary Society, LonJuly 6. don, for printing and circulating Brethren Pearce and Yates' Version of the Bengalee New Testament, By amount paid the Baptist General Convention of the United States for Missionary purposes, for printing and circulating versions of the Sacred Scriptures made by Missionaries under their patronage, DR. $21042 58 CR. 2500 00 5000 00 Aug. 3, do do. do. 5000 00 1337. Feb. 1. By appropriation to the Baptist Missionary Society, London, for printing and circulating versions of the Sacred Scriptures by their Missionaries in the East Indies, 2500 00 By amount of salary paid to agents, and travelling ex The undersigned have carefully examined the above account, with the vouchers for the same, and find it correct. NEW-YORK, APRIL 21, 1837. I. NEWTON, WM. WINTERTON, Auditing Committee. The President, Spencer H. Cone, of N. Y. then addressed the meeting. BRETHREN AND FRIENDS!-The occasion which has convened us, is one of surpassing interest. Borne along by circumstances which we could neither anticipate nor control; cut off from resources upon which we had been accustomed, perhaps, too much to rely; and having examined the signs of the times with prayerful solicitude, we have at length been constrained to organize a distinct society for the printing and circulation of the Sacred Scriptures. To this course we have been impelled not merely by the fact that the Calcutta, the British and Foreign, and the American Bible Societies, have combined in the determination to afford no further aid to versions made by Baptist Missionaries; versions which obvious duty binds us promptly and adequately to sustain ;—but the measure has been imperatively demanded by the cry of the destitute; by the ardent desire of many of our churches to come up to the help of the Lord, in this matter, against the mighty; and by the peculiar facilities now afforded us in the glorious work of Bible distribution. In communicating to the human family the gracious plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Not only did they deliver the sentiments, but the very words of Jehovah. The sacred penmen were no more left to their own wisdom in the selection and arrangement of sentences, than in the choice of the facts or doctrines, the promises or threatenings, they should at any time promulgate. Much has been said by the learned, about the different degrees and kinds of inspiration pertaining to different portions of the Bible; but as these speculations are never based upon a Thus saith the Lord! the conclusion is inevitable, that they are wise above what is written. The scriptures claim for every jot and tittle of themselves, the same plenary and verbal inspiration. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD! He breathed into the writers the lively oracles; and whether the words of the Lord were spoken by the mouth of his servant David; whether his messages were confided to prophets or apostles; and whether they comprehended the import of their own annunciations or not; they all spake as the Spirit gave them utterance. If this reasoning be not conclusive, it is evident that we need a second Revelation, by which to ascertain what portion of the first, is the word of God. The gift of inspiration, it is true, is not vouchsafed to modern missionaries and translators; nevertheless, in connexion with their high vocation, the doctrine we advocate is of immense moment. Under its influence, not a single word can be intentionally neglected, obscured, or perverted; but giving themselves to diligent study and to fervent prayer, "they will make it their sole aim to present to the nations the Word of Life, in its nearest approach to the mind of God, contained in the original record." Among the errors and frauds which have marked the rise and progress of the Papal Hierarchy, handling the word of the Lord deceitfully, certainly is not the least. To keep back any part of the price; to add to, or take from, the words of the Book, is a crime of no questionable character—the curse of the Almighty rests upon it! The Romish priesthood have always withheld the Scriptures from the laity as far as practicable; and when this could no longer be done, their effort has been to obscure the light of Divine Truth, and to incorporate with their several translations, the distinguishing dogmas of their religion. In the accomplishment of this object, the transferring of Greek terms, instead of translating them, has proved to be a most successful device. The hollow pretext for this conduct has been, that they were ecclesiastical or sacred words, invested with a certain mysterious meaning, which could not be appropriately and fully expressed in other tongues. Hence, in the English Testament pre |