The National Register.
London, England, 1813-12-12 00:00:00

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Insensibility to avowed abuses has been the invariable in.
siicator of revolution. This species of indifference, which
was so fatally characteriitic of our times, may be traced in
almost ever y ramification of the subject now before us. It is
the voice of the people, however, and it is the voice of
their God, that again calls, perhaps finally, on the protectcd
minister.; of our national religion, each and all, to shew
themselves earnest in the faith once delivered to them, and
to work while it is day ! Surely it is no expecting too much
of the Clergy of the Church of England, especially at this
conjuncture, when " England expects every man will do
his duty," that they, of all other men, will not continue
wanting in those solemn services which they are thus empha-
tically called upon to -perform ; that, on the contrary, an-
swering the just expectations of their country, they wilt dis-
charge their duty--not formallv,but feelingly, not cautiously,
but conscientioUlly—with simplicity of mind, with integrity
.of heart, and with irresislable impression. ONESIMU.II.

BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Sett,--I have read with attention the observations of Onesimsn 1
Its Bible Associations, and.'passing over all extraneous mattear- I
plall briefly examine a few of his remarks on trite Christian princi
woes. When he says that " the expediency of Bible Po-,sociations is
attempted to be illustrated by repeatim, a series of gossip stories,"
and then refers to a tole about a poor boy who bought a Bible with
the money which he had saved for other purposes, and to accounts
64 of wives who have left off scolding in consequence of taking to
read the Bible," I feel inclined to believe that the individual who
exclaims against the pions labours of a clergyman in striving to en.
kindle some spark of holy and benevolent feeling, by Winging for-
ward the example of a poor boy, would have been equally dis-
gusted, if he had lived in our Saviour's day, with the parable of the
Sower.
But such clergymen in promoting Bible Associations, like their
great Master, skew their willingness to be servants to all, and to do
good by the most humble means. .
Were I the husband of what Onesimus calls a scolding wife, who.
had been reclaimed by reading the Bible, I should put a greater'
value on domestic happiness than to think lightly of such an effect,
as I art of opinion. that domestic discord is one of the greatest woes
of human life. It. is a very easy matter to ridieule 'audible exer-
tions, as Onesimus does, by his remarks on the advice given at Bible
Associations, to diminish the consumpam of tea, suntr, &c. ; but
when we have this fact stated by a worthy Beslmp, that Bible So-
cieties have done more for us as a nation than fleets aeol armies, I
almost fear that I am wasting time in noticing in any way the re-
marks of Onesinms. I agree whit him that 64 clergymen should be
solicitous to preserve the regard that attaches to their pro!essiqn ;'
but when any of such a profession " thrust thenexlves forward in
the public eye" among horse-racers. they in every " sense put thenL
selves out of the prote6tion of their cloth."—" Pulpits are sacred'
things, and shield those who till them," ''but when the pre at her
descends from the pulpit" into the playhouse, and is pleased by the
harangues of lieentiousnens and ribaldry. " his auditors" will " be-
come" more than " his eept..ls' and will " determine that he ha.
no " merit" at all. •
Many preachers are not suffeiently aware " how miserably num-
bers of their profession figure at" balls, assemblies, and cant rities
by whicii they become " unfitted" for their ministerial timetions,
and lose 44 that personal reverence which stems essential to their
impression." Have " preachers" so much " business" at balls, plays,
or horse races, as they have on what One:slums styles a" platform"
or a" pavement?"
I wish Onesinsns to notice these observations that he may be in-
duced to mark by which sort of preachers the above places are most
frequently attended, those who 64 sometimes think poorr to
harangue on the floor, er on the platform, or those who never" de-
scend from the pulpit" to the pavement." Till this is decided, I
shall suspend my judgment whether the former or the jostler pay-
the greatest regard to " their bubvidnal reputation and Ow respecta-
bility of their church," by holding op the best standa.td of the pu
City of that gospel whirls they profess to Jisseminate.
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