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MISCELLANY.

ADDRESS OF COV. VROOM,

BEFORE THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

have been in so great a degree successful. If all has not been

On motion of his excellency Peter D. accomplished that was so fondly

Vroom, esq. of New Jersey, and seconded by Rev. Dr. Carnahan, president of Princeton College, New Jersey,

Resolved, That the rapid growth of our popu lation, both from natural increase and foreign emigration, demands of auxiliary societies, and all benevolent citizens, their UNREMITTED exertions in circulating the Sacred Scriptures.

Governor V. remarked:-I rejoice, Mr. President, at the privilege of meeting with you this day, on the occasion that brings us together. I feel, sir, that it is good and honorable to be here. It is refreshing at all times to meet with fellow-Christians, laborers in different sections of the vineyard of our Master, and interchange sentiments, and feelings, and views, and hold sweet counsel together, for the advancement of his kingdom. But at this season, when God is signally manifesting his power and mercy in the midst of us, and all around us; when the throne of the prince of the power of darkness begins to totter to its fall; when thousands of humble penitents are bowing down before the Cross, and clinging, as for their lives, to Him who is the hope of Israel-it is peculiarly interesting. At such a season the Christian's heart is warm: he feels something of the worth of souls; something of the value of that blessed volume which contains the record of his highest hopes, and unfolds to him the wonderful mysteries of salvation through the cross of Christ.

And, sir, we may be permitted to congratulate each other that the operations of the past year

desired; if our prayers have not yet been answered in the manner, or to the extent that was anticipated, we have still great reason to take courage and rejoice. The result proves that the God of the Bible is surely co-operating with us; and that he who, in days long past, guided his faithful fol. lowers through the desert and the flood, and crowned with success their efforts on the battle-field, is still willing to stand by his people and enlarge his own kingdom. From what has been done, there is reason to believe, that in one year more, every family in this vast republic will have been supplied with the word of the living God. How delightful is the contemplation! How refreshing to the eye of Christian charity and faith! What a prospect for the exercise of Christian benevolence and hope! One can almost imagine, that in the sighing of the western breeze, he hears from the rude cabin, just erected be. yond the confines of civilization, the voice of praise, and the tender anthem of redeeming love. And instantly the thought arises, that soon our whole land shall unite in the holy strain, and the only subject of emulation or strife between the different sections of our country shall be, which shall sound the deepest note of grati tude to God.

But, sir, we must not indulge in this exhilarating contemplation; nor imagine that when the

Bible shall have been placed once in the hands of every family, our work will be accomplished. We wage war with ignorance, superstition, and sin. They are formidable adversaries. Their hearts are full of malignity, and their arrows bring death in their train. With such enemies in the field, we must not flatter ourselves that our warfare is so soon to be ended. Our weapons are spiritual, and not carnal; and experience teaches us the necessity not only of keeping them burnished for the conflict, but of using them with untiring exertion.

It is now about fifteen years since this parent institution commenced the circulation of the Scriptures. After laboring faithfully to place a copy in every house that would receive it, the society resolved, in 1829, that, with the blessing of God, they would accomplish the desired object in two years from that time. When this resolution was adopted, many destitute sections of our country had already been explored and supplied; some of them three, four, and five years previous. These sections were considered as wanting no further immediate aid, and have been left, in some measure, to themselves, while the efforts of Christians have been directed to the pressing wants of those who were literally "without God and without hope in the world." Take now one of those districts that was supplied, say five or six years ago; explore it carefully, and there will be found in it, at this day, a very considerable proportion of families destitute of the Bible. The truth is, sir, that the increase

of our population has been vastly greater, in many places, than the multiplication of the scriptures! New domestic associations are constantly forming; new families daily springing into existence : and unless care is taken to supply their wants, we shall soon find, not only that our work is to be done over again, but, that we have actually lost ground.

One or two facts will place this subject in its proper light.

In one of the upper counties of this state (N. Y.) every destitute family was supplied with a copy of the scriptures in the year 1826. The number thus supplied was 716 families. Since that period there have been distributed within its bounds, 1300 bibles, and 7000 testaments; and yet, by an examination recently made, it appears that, in that very county, there are 990 families without a bible, and upwards of 500 without either bible or testament! This is an alarming fact; and the more so, that it is not an isolated case. Similar occurrences have taken place in Indiana, Illinois, and others of our sister states. It is true that the increase of population in those regions has been very great. But, making every proper allowance for this excess, it is abundantly manifest, that if this society and its auxiliaries relax in their efforts, and sink into a state of apathy, under the impression that their work is accomplished, our labor will prove abortive at last; and but a few years will elapse before some of the fairest portions of our country will be found a moral desert.

There is necessity, then, for vigorous, and unremitting, and

prayerful exertions on the part of the friends of this institution, and especially on auxiliaries, to keep pace with the growing wants of the community.

Our country is a moral wonder. It is rapidly advancing in population, enterprise, improvement, and intellectual culture. New states, which in extent of territory may vie with some of the kingdoms of the old world, rise up before us as if by enchantment. Honest labor meets its recompense. The early and the latter rains shower down their blessings upon the evil and the good, and the prolific earth teems with the richest productions of nature. The spirit of liberty, that indomitable principle in the American people, is cultivated with jealous care, and the temporal prosperity of the country advances with a giant's step. The ocean, like a friendly barrier, separates us from the wars, the desolations, and the blood-drenched fields of Europe.

Under these

favorable circumstances, the increase of our population, from natural causes, must necessarily be great; and if our people were to remain stationary in their location, it would require strict attention on the part of our auxiliaries to supply the increasing demand.

But, sir, we are not a stationary people. We have the restless spirit of freemen, and are fond of change. The advancement of worldly interests, and all the various incentives of unsanctified ambition, induce our citizens to leave the altars and the graves of their fathers, and make to them selves a home in the wilderness. Now, if we would do our work

effectually, we must follow them there with the bible. They can't go without carrying sin with them; it is a constant inmate, and takes up no room; but the bible may be left behind, and its use and value forgotten together. Or if a single copy be taken along, how soon is it lost in the rapid changes that follow!

The tide of emigration is setting onward with unabated power. While I speak, the spirit of enterprise is pushing its way to the far west: now striking into the dark bosom of the forest, and now pursuing its course along the margin of some stream, which, for ages, has rolled along toward the ocean in unbroken solitude; in either case, far removed from the influence of religion and the bible. Soon the forest falls before its industry; the limpid stream reflects upon its peaceful bosom the cottages that rise upon its borders; the subduing power of civilization causes the earth to yield her increase, "and nature, from her ample store-house, scatters rich blessings around." Would that there were no reverse to the picture. But, sir, the Christian traveler, as he goes upon his errand of mercy, looks in vain for the path that shall conduct him to the house of God! He listens for the sabbath bell, so tenderly associated with feelings of reverence and devotion; but the sound is not heard. He enters the habitation of comfort, and lo! there is no family altar; no sacrifice sends up its incense to the God of Hea. ven! And why? the bible is not there! The mild and sanctifying influence of that gospel, whose every page breathes love to man,

is unfelt. Souls are multiplying like the drops of the morning dew, but they have no light to conduct them in their pathway to eternity. The enemy comes in like a flood; and there is no standard raised against him. All is spiritual darkness, and desolation, and death. Oh, sir, this must not be. Can we, who know the value of gospel truth, who have partaken of its blessings, and are constantly refreshed by the rich streams that flow forever from this spiritual fountain, can we be insensible to their wants? They are our brethren. Can we be satisfied with any thing short of one unceasing and untiring effort to redeem them from the frost of the second death? I repeat it, sir, it must not be.

Again: the necessity of unremitting exertion is manifest, not only from the circumstances already adverted to, but from one other, which is embraced in the resolution, and must not be omitted.

We all know that our favored country is a retreat for the oppressed of every land. No matter what may be their character or condition, she welcomes them to her shores, and invests them with the privileges of freemen. Thousands and ten thousands are annually escaping from civil misrule or religious intolerance, and scattering themselves on the face of our land. They form an important part of our population, and must necessarily exert an influ. ence on the destinies of our country. Among these there are many, very many, who, like multitudes of our own brethren, are groping in darkness, and pe

rishing for lack of vision. These it is our duty to search out and to aid; and this should be done year after year. We would approach them, not as sectarians in religion, any more than sectarians in politics; but in the higher and nobler feelings, we would proffer to them, in one hand, the charter of our earthly rightsand in the other, the dearer charter of our heavenly inheritance. In thus approaching them, our adopted brethren may rest satisfied that our motives are pure -we meet them on the broad and catholic basis of the Bible without note or comment. We believe it to be the best hope of that country in which we have now a common interest;-and what is of infinitely more importance, we believe it to be "the power of God and the wisdom of God" unto the salvation of their souls.

Without looking, then, to other quarters of the world, it is evident that the field before us is broad and ample; but let us not be discouraged. The contest is to be often and often renewed ;-but let us not faint. It is the glory of the Christian, that he lives not for himself. Our love to others should bear some resemblance to the love Christ bears to his people. It should be like the stream that gushed from Horeb's Rock

pure, overflowing, perennial. Let, then, our efforts be renewed and redoubled; and let them be accompanied with a united prayer, that God would continue to smile on our labors-and that the gospel of his Son may visit every family and illumine every soul in this mighty confederacy.

And, sir, have we not encou

ragement to go on? What means the deep solemnity that marks the exercises of this day? What mean the anxieties, and wrestlings, and agonizings of Christians all around us? What the ingathering of souls in every part of the church, reminding us of the myriads of the day of pentecost? Surely the Angel of the Covenant is walking abroad in the midst of his people; and the Spirit of the Most High is rising on our land, bringing peace and salvation. And what mean the throes and convulsions of the kingdoms of the old world? The turnings and overturnings of empires and thrones? Is the Beast about to be slain? Is the false Prophet about to be cast down? Are they the harbingers of the latter-day glory? So let us hope-so let us pray! Courage, then, Christian. The season of conflict will soon be past, and the time of our mourning be ended. A glorious day is opening upon our sinful world. It shall be ruled by a Sun, the brightness of whose rising already cheers our hearts, and whose full orbed meridian splendor shall scatter darkness from the earth and illuminate the world. Then shall

"One song employ all nations; and all cry "Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain for us.' "The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks "Shout to each other-and the mountain tops, "From distant mountains, catch the flying joy; "Till nation after nation, taught the strain, "Earth roll the rapturous hosannah round."

SKETCH OF THE RIGHT HON.

EARL GREY.

A slight sketch of this distinguished person may not be unac

ceptable to our readers at this moment, when all the early anticipations of his future greatness are on the eve of being realized.

He was born in the county of Northumberland, in the year 1764. His family is of great antiquity; but the elevation of that branch of it to which he belongs, is of recent date-his father, a celebrated soldier, being created earl, so lately as 1801. Earl Grey received his education in Scotland; and gave early proofs of those talents which have so eminently qualified him for the first office in the English state, but from which he had been, unfortunately for his country, too long excluded. When only nine. teen, he was returned to represent Northumberland, in the House of Commons, but did not distinguish himself for several years, in his senatorial capacity. In 1790, we first find him a debater; and as he opposed the Pitt administration, his manly eloquence soon acquired him particular notice and reputation. A speech of his in 1792, respecting the misunderstanding with Russia, excited considerable interest, in consequence of the boldness of the tone with which he commented on the conduct of ministers, who, he stated, ought to be impeached.

Being now foremost in the ranks of opposition, he entered warmly into the various questions which were agitated in parlia ment at the time of the French revolution, and was considered of so much value to his party that, on the change of administration in 1806, he was promoted to

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