Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-17

and the pure morality of the gospel of Je-
sus Christ. Incalculable is the gooL which
has already been done by them. In our coun-
try the benefit conferred by them has not
been snall.-Many who have not ia
ken pains to examine, have supposed that
among a people situated as we are, none who
wish To possess the scriptures are destitute
OF them. But this has been found by eXpe-
rience to be incorrect. Numbers have with
gratitude acceptd the donation of Bibles
multitudes in the neighbourhood of our large
towns, in frontier settlements, and in vari-
Gus parts Of the country are without the
word orli!e. Bible Societies then cannot be
useless. But another view may he taken of
this subject. In addition to the supplies
furnished to the poor, apd to heathens, the
effect OF these societies has been to excite
attention to the Bible in numbers employed
in the distribution of this charity, as also in
multitudes who contribute to it-And, more
over, as the Bible is distributed without note
or Comment, Christians of all classes have
united in these associations ; thus have they
become acquainted the one with the other,
preJudices have been removed, bigotry and
party spirit have been, il not ~extinguishcd,
yet diminished, and brothcrly love has been
promoted. Indeed the effect of Missionary
and Bible Societies has been to produce a
5SiNiot iH'NCttClil III tiC NhilslilI StluISl.
E.;ertions uneXampled since the days of the
Apostles are nowmaking to ditTusc the light
OF divine truth throughout the world the
stream Ut heavenly mercy is flowing into
lands the most barren and desolate its fer
tiliziDg influences are felt and seen " the
" solitary place is made glad, and the de-
:" sert begins to bud and blossom as the rose"
The hope is now ~joyfuliy entertained that
at no very distant period, the grand Apo
calypso of mercy will be displayed 30 wars
cease to the end of the earth, and every hu-
man heart rejoice in the salvation of God.
But in this general excitement of the
Christian Church, amidst the mighty efforts
which are making to overturD the power Of
darkness. and establish the kingdom of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, shall we of
this City, shall the Christians OF Virginia set
Indifferent and inactive ? Shall we through
s'o'h and wcrldly~mindedncss, exclude our
selves from the rewards and the honour, and
the triumph of having labouretl to promote
the glory of God IN the salvation of souls
of having exerted oursea yes to usher in the
Prince ofPcacc in his glory, to extend wide
as the ruin and the desolations of sin, the
healing, the restoring, the redecming pow.
CT OF the Gospel of salvation } Let us ra-
Their unite and form a Bible Society of Viz
Sinia ; let us contribute and persuade others
to contribute a portion of that substance with
which the Lord has blessed us, for the holy
and benevolent purpose of furnishing the
poor in our W state and the heather in our
own and distant countries, with the word of
Lille, the blessed Gospel of our God and Sa-
viour Jesus Christ, the foundation of our best
hopes, our comfort in every sorrow, and our
guide to eternal rest.
az The citizens ~ofRichmond & Manches-
TO-. nnl tI..., =.
proposal, are requested to meet at the Ca.
piiol, on Tuesday the 22nd of the present
month, for the purpose of choosing suitable
persons to form a Constitution for a Bible
Society iii Virginia, and to adopt such other
measures as-may be necessary to attain the
objects ofso benevolent an institution.
JOHN BUCHANAN,
JOHN ID BLAIR,
J. II. TURNER,
JOHN Ii. RICE,
JOHN BRYCE,
JACOBGRIGG.
Saturday, June L., 1918.