Star.
London, England, 1819-11-05 00:00:00

Total - • - E 1,39.3 7 9
" In conclusion :—The Committee would again
direct the attention of all who can feel for their own
interests and for those of others, to the new and pecu-
liar situation in which the Nation is placed by the ex-
tensive diffusion of infidelity and irreligion. They
have, indeed, no fears as to the ultimate issue of this
conflict between the powers of light and darkness,
nor any apprehension for the tinal security and
triumph of the Ark of GOD ; but while the enemies
of the Christian Faith, like Goliath, Rabshakeh, and
Shimei of old, are defying the armies of the living
GOD, and reviling his sacred cause, they conceive
that there is a loud call upon all the friends of true
Religion, however they may differ with each other on
subordinate topics, to unite as one man in an honest
and open confession of their attachment to the Holy
Scriptures, and in more extensive and energetic efforts
for the dispersion of them ; we live at a period, when
it is no longer a-question merely of different modes of
worship, external forms of Church Government, or
points of discipline, upon all which, they who pro-
fess and call themselves Christians,' may conscienti-
ously differ in opinion ; but our lot is Cast in a time
when the very foundations of Religion are sought to
be destroyed, • and• not merely the superstructures
which one or another class of prefessing Christians
has reared • upon them ' • when the great charter of
our-common faith and hope, is denied to have any
primary authenticity, any intrinsic excellency, or any
obligatory feic2;:irhen a judgment to come is openly
denied and derided; and all future responsibility de-
clared to be' a Table of human invention ; when the
doctrines of eternal truth, respecting the nature and
attributes of
.him who has been pleased to reveal his
perfeetichta in hisiibly 'Word, are disavowed arid dis-
owned; And *heir the plain requisitions of the divine
law are held to.be no longer binding, a fatal theory,
which, in seeking to annihilate the relation which
subsists between Man and his Masten, would. dis-• ,
solve the connexion between man and his neighbour,
and introduce universal crime and anarchy inn the
world. In such a moment, when, not merely the out-
works of our Zion, but the citadel itself is attacked ;
and when it is "aright to deprive us of all that can
sanctify proiperity, or sweeten afiliction-:-all that can
render life destrabM, or disarm death of its terrors,.
the obligation of all classes of Christians to. make
common cause with the Bible Society, appears to be
paramount and imperative. 'ro those persons in par-
ticular, who, while they admit the importance of a
Revelation from Heaven, and who profess to desire
its diffusion upon earth, but who have yet withheld
their aid from the Bible Socisay, from some conside-
rations of minor importance, some fears of distant Cr
contingent evil, and some doubti upon points of Fo-
licy and expediency, the Committee avonld especially
appeal at the present moment, and remind them that
the actual and unequivocal good which has been
achieved by the Bible Society, both abroad and at
home, has king since appeared to them to reduce a