ces of Macedonia and Achaia contributions were sent to the poor saints at Jerusalem; and Paul seems to have been delighted with being engaged in this charitable service, and commends his distant converts for their readiness. Consider now that this generosity was shown from Genfiles towards Jews, whom before the introduction of Christianity, the Jews thought unworthy of any thing but hell; whom they thought if a pollution to converse with; it was shown too at a time when controversies existed in the Christiau community, about some points of ceremony between Jew and Gentile, which, though to us they now appear trivial, seemed to the early converts of everlasting consequence. Yet notwithstanding these schisms and occasional jealousies, they did not forget the great duty of charity: this surely was a new phenomenon in the world. Perhaps it cannot be shown in the whole history of paganism, before the introduction of the gospel, that a number of poor societies or individuals in Greece or Italy, were interested in the distresses of a community at Jerusalem, and much less that they ever thought of contributing a sum for the relief of the distressed in such a distant and despised country. (To be continued.) B. ALFRED AND SIGBERT. THE following dialogue has been extracted from Cottle's Alfred, a Poem, founded on the character of Alfred, and the events of his reign. Sigbert was a papal clergyman, whose friends had been killed by the Danes. He laid aside the character of the minister of peace, and assumed that of the warrior, to revenge the wrongs he had received. The dialogue commences in a council of war, and embraces the substance of several distinct interviews. Sigbert. My heart doth pant To seek the Danish army! Let us haste Alfred. Pardon me, Sigbert! I am one who loves To make thee recompense; yet must I name Sigbert. We cannot love-e'en our worst enemies. Truth, from our minds. Have not the Danes some wrongs Of Britain, that, with dastard cruelty, Murder'd the Danish king?-The very sire The Danes are men And though they scorn the suppliant's cry, our faith Springs not from sudden anger, but is learn'd Sigbert, with me thou shalt not wage the war! O king! Monarch, thy words are just! Of thought and meditation, well approves Thy doctrine! But my all! each friend I loved, Those Danes have spoil'd me of! and shall I crouch In low, base cowardice, and court the foe To murder unresisted?-See the Danes, Thick as the solar ray, scatter around, All plagues, yet sheathe my sword! My very soul This loathing of all mercy! I must live, In fix'd and unextinguishable hate Screen not a soul! Laugh at their dying yells! And when with shrinking heart they look for death, Alfred. Thou knowest not what spirit thou art of. Thy many wrongs have so disturbed thy thoughts, A meek and quiet spirit; shew thyself This thou may'st do, but know the recompense! Sigbert. With deep conviction do thy words come here! Alfred. I hear thy resolution! I have well Discharged my conscience. After this Sigbert killed a Dane, who begged for mercy, and then appeared again in the presence of the king. Alfred. Sigbert! whither hast thou been. What of the two Danes? Thy sword is bloody! I conjure thee, say, Whence came it? Stand not thus insensible! Sigbert. I cannot lie, oh king!~ Alfred. Sigbert. But I do fear to tell thee;-I have slain Slain him! Did I not warn thee with a monarch's voice One Dane These eyes beheld not, but, retiring fast; Dane! as thou valuest life, yield me thy sword! He stopped and drew, we fought; I vanquished him. Alfred When vanquished had he not Strength to reach our presence? Answer these my words! Sigbert. It must be told!-then know, oh king! the Dane Scorn'd his petition. Him I thus address'd:- Alfred. What do I hear? Didst thou disdain a foe Sigbert. I did, for thinking of the wrongs, Many and deep, this head had borne, I said, Alfred. Thou art no friend of mine! I now disown thee! Never from this hour (To be concluded in the next.) EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GILBERT WEST ESQ. TO DR. DOD DRIDGE. I AM glad to find that Christianity begins to be so well understood, and taught by so many men of parts and learning in all seets; the fruits of which appear in a candor and charity unknown to all the ages of the church, exeept the primitive, I had almost said the apostolic age. Does not this give you a prospect of the completion of the famous prophecy, that speaks of the lion and the lamb lying down togeth er in the kingdom of the Messiah. Lions there have been, hitherto, in all churches; but too many, fierce, greedy, and blood. thirsty lions, though often disguised like lambs: and some lambs there have been simple enough to think it expedient for the flock to assume the habits and terrors of lions. But I hope they now begin to undeceive themselves, and to consider Christianity as intending to bring back the world to that state of innocence which it enjoyed before the fall, when in one and No. 3, Vol. IV. 21 To attain this happy state, all Christians should unite their endeavors; and instead of looking out for and insisting upon points of difference and distinction, seek for those only in which they do or may agree. They may at least sow the seeds of peace and unity, though they should not live to reap the fruits of it in this world. Blessed are the peace-makers, says the Prince of peace, for they shall be called the children of God; an appellation infinitely more honourable than that of pastor, bishop, arch-bishop, patriarch, cardinal or pope, and attended with a recompense infinitely surpassing the richest revenues of the highest ecclesiastical dignity. That you and all sincere Christians may deserve this character, and attain its reward, is the sincere and hearty wish of, sir, your most affectionate humble servant. N. B Gilbert West Esq. appears to have been of the Church of England. J. K. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. NATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY. To the members of the several Bible Soci ties in the United States. Brethren, Ir is with peculiar pleasure that I once more address you on the interesting subject of extending the Redeemer's kingdom by means of the unlimited and gratuitous circulation of the holy scriptures. From the most correct information that has lately been received, it has become evident that the demand for Bibles in the remote and frontier settlements of our country, is far beyond the resources of the several bible societies now existing in the United States An institution, founded on a more extended plan, that will concentrate and direct the efforts of our numerous and increasing Bible Associations, seems at present to be the general wish of the fiends of revealed truth. Such an institution has a powerful claim to the liberal support of the Christian public This plan, which originated with the New Jersey Bible Society, has within the last year engaged the attention of the Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society. Their resolutions, inserted below, contain the result of their deliberations on this important subject. A bright er day appears now to have dawned on our western hemisphere. That the present effort may be rendered an efficient means of salvation to many thousands of destitute poor in our own, and more distant lands, should be the wish and prayer of every sincere Christian. And may the blessing of him who is "able to do for us abundantly more than we can either ask of think," give it complete success- unto whom be glory in the church, by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages-world without end" Resolutions of the Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society. 1st. Resolved, That it is highly desirable to obtain, upon as large a scale as possible, a cooperation of the efforts of the Christian community throughout the United States, for the efficient distribution of the holy scriptures 2d That as a mean for the attainment of this end, it will be expedient to have a convention of delegates from such Bible Societies, as shall be disposed to concur in this measure, to day of meet at on the next, for the purpose of considering whether such a cooperation may be effected in a better manner, than by the correspondence of the different societies as now established; and if so, that they prepare the draft of a plan for such cooperation to be submitted to the different societies for their decision. 3d. That the Secretary transmit the above resolutions to the President of the New Jersey Bible Society, as expressive of the opinion of this Board on the measures therein contained, and at the same time signifying the wish of this Board, that he would exercise his own discretion in bringing the subject before the public. In pursuance of the foregoing reso lutions requesting me to designate the |