As it is our desire that none of our Correspondents may have the least occasion given them for complaining that we treat them with any injustice or unkindness, we insert the following letter, verbatim as we have received it, sincerely hoping that Mr. Boyd will not judge it necessary to make any reply to it, or take any notice of it.

TO THE EDITOR.

FINDING that my letter, dated March 19th, was objected to, because of its length I have here contracted it. Far be it from me to move, or prolong any unedifying controversy in the Magazine, which has hitherto been, and I hope will ever be, most extensively useful in promoting the best interests of precious souls; but, if in its pages a character has been injured, in order to maintain its credit it must remove the injury as far as possible. That I may give no occasion for dispute, I shall not in this letter enter into the subject in debate, more than is necessary to counteract the unjust and personal aspersions, and glaring misrepresentations, which Mr. Boyd has most illiberally sent forth respecting me in your number for March. Surely religion does not inculcate a disregard to "all respect to private feelings." Had he spoken the truth, or contented himself with fairly answering my pamphlet, or any part of it, I should not have troubled you with a letter at all; but justice requires that I clear myself of false accusatious, and that you do not hinder this from being done.

First, then, Mr. Boyd says of me, that "He actually believes that the ancient fathers, and the church in general, were adverse to the eternal Sonship, and in favour of the new system.” I answer, I do not, I never did believe any such thing, and I never said I believed it. No, what I know of the fathers makes it impossible for me to have this belief; and also I am too ignorant of their writings actually to have this faith, Mr. Boyd himself being witness, who must "be permitted to pronounce with confidence" on this point. While he charges me, at the same time, with profound ignorance and this actual belief, does he not charge me with something worse? Truly, I never denied that some of the fathers held the doctrine; their writings I respect, which doubtless may be studied with advantage, and should be regarded as a treasure, but not as a standard; let the good be received, let the bad be rejected. However, I have not deemed it to be my province to study their works, and of these I have never pretended to a critical knowledge.

But how then can my presumption be excused, since according to Mr. Boyd I have discussed some of their opinions, "subponed them," and spoken of when, where, and by whom the Nicene creed was written, &c. The truth is, I have not said a word about when, where, or by whom, the creed was penned, have not "subponed them," not quoted a syllable that I know of from the fathers. It is true, I noticed the Athanasian and Nicene creeds, and several passages from the fathers, quoted by Mr. Moore, as to their agreement with Scripture, and their bearing on the point in question, without concerning myself, unless indirectly by way of inference, with the opinions of the writers; and shewed that those creeds and cited passages, in themselves apart, do not prove that the fathers held the doctrine, and from them it could not be proved; but I never suggested what were their opinions; the most I said was, that the Nicene creed was written against the Arian heresy; and "that a man culling from the fathers may defend very opposite doctrines, and seem to have them on his side;" and, not having decided at all on their views, I concluded that part of the subject in these words, "that whatever was the opinion of the ancients, these quotations do not prove they held that doctrine in favour of which they are introduced." (p. 28.) And, therefore, I ask, Was it right and just to assert and publish to the world, that I actually believe they were adverse to the eternal Sonship, or that I subpened then? No, my appeal was and is, not to them, but to the true standard, the Word of God; and in things, from other sources, proposed to my faith, if I can. not find a scriptural sense, with me they have no weight,

Mr. Boyd further represents me as having inade "the monstrous assertion that the two creeds above-mentioned, do not teach the Eternal Sonship." I never directly or indirectly made the assertion. I did not pretend to give an interpretation of the Nicene creed "according to any particular sense in which the compilers, or any other persons, may have considered it, any further than as that sense accords with the Holy Scriptures," p. 25, of my pamphlet. I also allowed that two or three articles of the Athanasian creed may be explained to bear against my views, (p. 7:) thus, while I shewed the creeds which bear a good and scriptural sense, exactly agreeing with my sentiments, I also granted, that in another sense, they may teach the doctrine of the VOL. XLI. JUNE, 1818.

Eternal Sonship: Hence, again, I have been misrepresented, and under the cover of that misrepresentation, ridiculed,

But there is one accusation more, which, if well founded, ought, I confess, to make me ashamed; it is thus worded, "He writes a book against the Eternal Sonship; and yet, he has not a correct view of the doctrine he opposes." For proof of this Mr. Boyd ought to have referred to page 4th, where I stated my views; but, instead of that, he only says, in support, of his affirmation, I intimate that the Sonship I oppose, "and the Sonship as explained by (Dr. Samuel) Clarke are the same thing!" "Now just as much right have Ito say, he is ignorant of the subject, because he as strongly intimates, that my views, and the Sabellian heresy, are the same thing! The truth is, I have not given such an intimation; just the contrary, for I said, the "Divinity of our Lord is acknowledged on both sides." (p.4.) And, again, the doctrine of the Eternal Sonship "seems, and is actually intended by its professors, to oppose Arianism.” (p. 11.) From this it is clear I could not mean that the two doctrines were the same in the views and opinions of the parties; I could intimate no more than that in their natural consequences they come to similar results. If I erred, he should have pointed out the error, and in that case he should have had my thanks. In res pect to Sabel. lianism, I know myself to stand clear of that heresy. In the Godhead, according to the Scriptures, I believe there are three persons, not, indeed, separate, but per fectly distinct, and that each person has distinct offices in the economy of redemption; I certainly do not pretend to know in what the personal distinctions particularly con sist, neither can I tell the modus of the Divine subsistences; but rejoice in what I know of Scripture testimonies respecting the fact; and I gladly use all the helps I can find towards understanding the holy word of God; beyond the declarations of which I cannot, for any man living, depart one single hair's breadth.

In Mr. Boyd's letter there are other misrepresentations, but as they may have arisen from mistake, I shall not here notice any of them, except this one, namely, that he says in speaking of the term "Word," I "plainly allude" to this passage, the Word was made flesh." Now it is evident, to those who have read my pamphlet, that I do not allude to this passage, because it is seen at once that it alone does not, cannot, prove what was said of the term "Word;" the allusion is to John i. 1, 2,3, which I should have thought no one could mistake.

I do not think myself much wiser for Mr. Boyd's secret, yet give him credit for his scholarship and learning, and shall not offer my vote against his being umpire "on any question relative to the fathers," provided he forbear to heap on me personal abuse; but whatever his attainments may be, I suppose he does not intend that letter to be esteemed as a specimen. THOMAS EXLEY.

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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

On Wednesday, May 6th, the 14th Anniversary of this Society was held in Freemason's Hall, Queen Street. At half past nine o'clock in the morning the doors were opened, and by ten the Hall was completely crowded.

Ar 12, the Right Hon. Lord Teignmouth took the chair. His Lordship then observed, that from the voluminous documents in possession of the Committee, it had been found impossible to prepare the Report in such a manter as would not encroach on the time of the meeting. They would therefore at present hear only a short sketch of the Report. This was now read by the Rev. Wm. Dealtry. Following the Geographical order, as nearly as circumstances would admit, it began with the Netherland Society, which united no less than 52 several establishments, and beside the distribution of Bibles and Testaments, was engaged in an edition of the Malay Bible and Testament for the Mahometan population of the East. The Hanover Bible Society, under the patronage of H. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge, with many noblemen and dignified Ecclesiastics, was proceeding in the distribution of the Scriptures among Protestants and Catholics; many of the latter, notwithstanding every discouragement, co-operated in this interesting object. From the depository of the Parent Society at Hanover, 500 copies had been sent to Hildesheim and its vicinity. How destitute this district was, may be learned from the statement of a respectable Parish Clergyman, who, on his settlement there, about five years before, "found not a single Bible in the village, the church, or the school!" The grateful manner in which

3

this supply was received, may be seen from the reply of the Rector of a Protestant Grammar School, who says, "This donation shall stimulate us to watch over the best interests of our youths, and by the public reading and expounding of the Scriptures, to kindle the flame of religion in their minds, and thereby render them truly wise and virtuous." The Brunswick Bible Society was also prospering under the patronage of the Duke of that district, and Auxiliary Societies were formed in many places. "The Prussian Bible Society, under the patronage of his Prussian Majesty, consisting of the Central Society at Berlin, and various branches and Auxiliaries in different parts of the kingdom, exhibits a gratifying spectacle to the eye of the Christian philanthropist."

The Report went on to state the progress made by the Societies in the Grand Duchy of Berg, in Konigsberg, in Cologne, Minden, Wese!, Thuringia, Dantzig, Cleves, Pomerania, Silesia, Lubec, Bremen, &c. It stated, that a new and promising Society had been formed at Rostock, where the Committee, reflecting on the late indifference to religion during the reign of infidelity, considered themselves peculiarly happy that at this very time they were encouraged by the distinguished labours of the British and Foreign Bible Society to lay the foundation of a Bible Society of their own." The progress made by the Frankfort Society had drawn from the Emperor of Russia a strong testimony of his commendation and friendship. At Hesse Cassel a Society was formed by the sanction of the Elector; and several Auxiliary Societies had greatly tended to strengthen the Hesse Darmstadt Society, the influx of contributions from every quarter proving the existence of a favourable disposition towards the furtherance of the sacred cause. The Nassau Bible Society had a great many branches, and had already distributed 1,800 Catholic New Testa ments, and 700 copies of Luther's Bible. In Saxony, Saxe Weimer, and Wurtem berg, the cause was equally prosperous, as also in many parts of Switzerland, and the Vallies of Piedmont. France and Italy had also borne a part, though in very different proportions, in this great work, and many thousand copies of Ostervald's Protestant New Testament had been dispersed in France, where there was, in general, an appearance of an increased desire to peruse the Holy Scriptures. In Italy, editions of the Catholic New Testament had been printed, without note or comment," both at Tunis and Naples, and many channels found for their circulation, with the prospect of their being thankfully received.

In May last, was formed the Malta Bible Society, (for the encouragement of which the Committee voted £500,) and this Institution is now using "every exertion to render its advantageous position conducive to the dissemination of the Scriptures along the shores of the Mediterranean, and even in the interior of Asia."

The Catholic Professor of Divinity at Marburg, Leander Van Ess, amidst many difficulties, perseveres in the propagation of the Scriptures, observing, that he never spread such a number of New Testaments in so short a period, as since the late prohibition by the Pope; and no where had he perceived" a more lively and ardent desire after the word of God than in the very places where infatuated men strove to dry up the fountain of living water, or prevent the people from having free access to it." Last autumn he took a Biblical tour through some of the provinces by which he is surrounded, his aim being to confirm the friends of the Bible, to reconcile its enemies, and to scatter the blessed seed of the word on the right hand and the left. For this end the Committee furnished him with funds amounting to £5,000. A satisfactory account was received of the expenditure. The conduct of the Agents of the Committee, Drs. Paterson, Henderson, and Mr. Pinkerton, was characterized always, and still is, by a diligence, propriety, and zeal which fully justified the confidence placed in them by the Society.

The Danish Bible Society had, during the last year, been printing 10,000 copies of the Bible, with 5,000 extra Testaments, towards which this Society gave them £500. Two promising Auxiliary Societies were established in the island of Zealand; and the Sleswig-Holstein Bible Society had been active and useful in both those

duchies.

The Report proceeded to state the judicious arrangements which had been made by the Icelandic Society, which was encouraged by a grant of £300 from this Society. The Swedish Society, aided by the King of Sweden and the first persons in the Government, and by many auxiliary Societies, continues its unwearied efforts in the cause. Fostered by the paternal care of his Imperial Majesty, the Russian Bible Society has enlarged very much its dimensions, and strengthened itself by some newly formed, but promising auxiliaries, and there is little doubt but that, ere

long, in Russia, as well as in Britain, Bible Associations will follow in the train of Auxiliary Societies, and become co-extensive with them. In Finland, the progress of the Society was under the direction of the Archbishop and Governor General, and corresponds with the expectation which its first promise excited; but of all the Auxiliaries, that at Moscow was the most splendid and efficient, and was only inferior to the Parent Society at St. Petersburgh, The Emperor had presented them with a large stone house, wherein to hold their meetings.

From the East, accounts of an equally pleasing nature were received, the Corresponding Committee of Calcutta still going on in the Lord's cause. WM. HEY, Esq. of Leeds, in order to encourage the Baptist Missionaries at Serampore to execute their designs of translating the Scriptures into all the vernacular tongues of India, has presented the Society with £1,475 as an offering from "certain friends to the translation of the Scriptures for that specific object." The natives, both Hindoo and Mahomedan, have also received the Scriptures with so much readiness that it has been thought necessary to put again to press the Rev. Mr. Martyn's Hindoo Testament, the first 5,000 (printed in 1814) being nearly gone.

In Madras, though no Bible Society has been established, very liberal contri butions had been transmitted through the Rev. M. Thompson, and the like activity prevails throughout India, and particularly in the Society at Bombay. On the MaJabar coast, to the south of Bombay, the New Testament in Portuguese, has been distributed, and the Gospel in Syriac (edited by Dr. Buchanan) to the Syrian Churches.

At Colombo, in Ceylon, the translation of the New Testament into Cingalese, begun by the late Mr. Tolfrey, is carried on under the direction of Messrs. Chater, Clough, and Armour. In the mean time the old version has been circulated, particularly in the gaols of Jaffna, and a considerable reform has taken place there.

In consequence of Java being restored to its parent country, the Bible Society there had united itself to that of the Netherlands, and the new Governor had agreed to be its President.

At Amboyna, Penang, and Malacca, the cause proceeds with like energy. Dr. Morrison and Mr. Milne are printing the Scriptures at Malacca, not thinking it safe at Canton, and many openings are found for their circulation.

A Bible Society has been formed at Port Jackson for New South Wales, under the superintendance of the Governor, who declared he felt himself bound, " as a man and a Christian," to support the Institution; and of their funds £150 had been remitted to the Parent Society.

Africa, from the peculiar circumstances of that continent requiring more, than almost any quarter of the globe, the instruction of the Scriptures, had sent a contribution in gold dust, amounting, in pecuniary value, to £103. 14s. 7d.

In America the cause was flourishing, and the number of Auxiliaries was believed to exceed 200. The Committee here did not fail to avail themselves of the presence of Dr. Mason, to testify through him their high respect for the American Bible Society, and the deep interest which they continued to take in every measure which might conduce to its success. A Society had been formed at Niagara, in Upper Canada, and another in Prince Edward's Island.

After a long account of further progress abroad, the Report then alluded to the domestic transactions of the past year, which had been such as to furnish the Society with deep matter for congratulation and thankfulness, the number of Auxiliaries having, at the close of the year, amounted to nearly 500, independently of Associations; scarcely a county in the island being destitute of one or more of these Auxiliary Establishments.

The Society were much gratified with the formation of "The Merchant Seamen's Bible Society," and were happy to add, that within two months after its formation, 133 outward bound ships, containing 1721 men, had been supplied with 580 Bibles and Testaments. Much aid was derived from the female part of the community, and as an example of this, Liverpool, with its ten Associations, in aid of the Ladies' Auxiliary Society, deserved to be particularly noticed. Mr. C. S. Dudley had done much; and when it is mentioned, that from March 31, 1817, to March 31, 1818, he had travelled in the service of the Society more than 4,500 miles, visited 107 Committees, and attended 128 General Meetings, (59 of which were for the establishment of new Societies or Associations,) nothing which the Committee could add. could strengthen his claims to the grateful acknowledgements of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Among the many legacies the late Miss Mary Houston, of

Dublin, had bequeathed £3000, and also a moiety of her estate; and a donation of £500 had been received from an anonymous friend. The Report then stated, that the number of copies circulated last year was

Bibles

89,795 Testaments

104,306

And in somewhat less than thirteen years there had been more than Two MILLIONS circulated by the Society. It then concluded with a general review of all the past occurrences since the first formation, and expressed an earnest hope that the Lord would continue to aid them, while in the devout strains of holy writ, they implored his continued benediction upon it-" Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto thy children, and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of our hands establish thou it."-Amen.

Among the remittances are:- Bedfordshire, £1,725; Essex, £2,304; Gloucester, £978; Kent, £1,953; Lancashire, £2,740; London, £7,145; Middlesex, £1,480; Norfolk, £1,007; Oxfordshire, £1,197; Somersetshire, £1,794; Staffordshire, £1,032; Surrey, £1,075; York, £3,980; Scotland, £6,205, &c. &c.

Total net receipts, sales included
Total payments

£86,979 10 4
71,099 1 7

The Chairman then stated, that further particulars would be given in the printed Report.

THE First Meeting of this Society was held in the New Chapel, City Road, on Monday, the 4th of May, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, THOMAS THOMPSON, Esq. M. P. in the Chair. The attendance was greater than the chapel, large and commodious as it is, could accommodate; and the proceedings of the day will be long remembered. The addresses delivered on the occasion produced a powerful impres sion in favour of persevering and renewed exertions for the extension of the kingdom of Christ; and the effect of them will, we doubt not, be seen in the additional zeal, with which the plans of the Society will be carried into effect for the supply of a now exhausted fund.

The time allotted for the Meeting having expired before the business of the Meeting was finished, an adjournment was proposed; and the hope was entertained, that SIR ALEXANDER JOHNSTON, Chief Judge of Ceylon, whose arrival in town was announced to the Meeting, might be present on Thursday evening, the time to which the Meeting was adjourned. In the mean time, at the particular desire of Mr. Thompson, Sir Alexander was requested to take the Chair; to which he kindly consented; but was prevented by the melancholy and alarming state of the health of his excellent Lady, who had returned home ill; but, on the day preceding the adjourned Meeting, had an accession of indisposition. The chair was therefore resamed by Mr. Thompson; and a delightful evening was spent in terminating the business of the Meeting. We have not room for even an abridgement of the many excellent addresses which were delivered on the occasions; and have only to regret that more of our friends could not be accommodated, and share in the interest and edification of the proceedings.

The Collections made at the religious services, and at the Meetings, we are happy to state, amounted to near £800.

On Wednesday, April 8, a Public Meeting was held in the Methodist Chapel at Bakewell, for the purpose of forming a Methodist Missionary Branch Society. On account of the smallness and poverty of the Methodist Society in Bakewell, and several other very unfavourable circumstances, the formation of a Missionary Society in that place was long deemed impracticable. It was at length, however, determined to make the attempt; and the success was such as exceeded the most sanguine expectation. The Meeting commenced at two o'clock in the afternoon; and though the weather was very unfavourable, the congregation was respectable. Mr. Brownell, from Sheffield, being called to the Chair, stated the object, and directed the proceedings, of the Meeting, in a very able and affectionate manner. The very