Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-06-08


taen, rs the BIBLE prin.ed and preached. isy
welding this single weapon, sharper indeed
thnn any two edged sword, they look fJv a
anal and complete victory over every enemy -.
lntdels may and do derde the atten.5t ss CHI
mericd But, encouraged by the coniuiA ~,
by tue predictions, and by the promises OF he
living God, let Christians advance i'm ,b.;- 10,
rlous enterprise, assured that success will ;ufai
libby attend their exertions. 1t was by this
powerful weapon that the Apostles effected sne
OF the grandest and most beneficial revolutions
that ever occurred in the affairs of manlSind.---
With the BIsLE in their hand, they went forth
to combat with the powers of darkness ami in
a few years they Slapped the foundation ofSatau's
kingdom, in most parts of the civilized world.
The arhhces ofpagan priests, the eloqucnce OF
heather philosophers. and the whole system. of
ldoiatrous worship, were laid PROSTATE before
the mighty power of Gods holy word ~
Such were the triumphs of the Bihinin p-isni.
tive days. 1t is destined to receive Ieatyrstri-
umphs Let the Bible be distributed in all
countries; let it begivea to the benighted At.
rican, and to the more civilized inhabilant Of
the East /; let it come in contrast with the AL
coran IN other sacred books of the heather /;
let 1t be generally read by pagan nations and
then, attended by the prayers of all Christians,
and by the labours OF Christian missionaries, il
wall soon effect that mighty, that. glorious, that
universal change in human affairs, which in
spired prophets have sung in such rapt,rous
strains, and for which the church OF God has
been looking with anxious eyes and believing
expectations. Wars will then cease to affiict
the world; peace will wave her banners over
all people; and God will dwell with our reno
vated race. Angels will descend to visit our
bode, and TO contemplate the triumphs of divine
grace; and the church on earth and the church
IN heaven will shout the praises of the great
Reieemer.
From the movements Of contendinp armies
and the conflicts of angry nations, turn OFF your
eyes to contemplate this glorious and peaceful
movement IN the church of God movement
bearing evident marks of the Almighty's hand,
and designed to accomplish ends the most SAB
lime that can be conceived by the human mind.
who does not hail the great event with Joy, as
the beginning OF a new era of light and haDpi
ness to the world Who will not praise God
tor combining the efforts of Christians in their
multiplied Bible associations, for the noble pur.
pose OF disseminating divine truth among the
ignorant, the poor, and the destitute Who
Will not unite with them III the glorious work in
which they are engaged Who will not rally
round the standard OF the Redeemcr, and con-
tend Tor the promction OF his kingdom, which is
= righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Ho.
ly Ghost"
The debt OF gratitude, Mr.. President, we
owe TO the Bible, cannot be computed. Instead
or depasing ourselves, as the heatfens do. by
bowling before dumb idols, do we lift our .yes
IN alteration 10 tue Great Supreme, who made
all thiags! To tho Bible, which has exposed the
| oily as well IS wickedness of idol worship. and
taught us the knowledge of our Creator, au,!
now TO worship aim In an acceptable manner.
We owe our elevation. Are women our com
panions, our counseilors, and our comforters'
10 the Bible We owe it, that they occupy that
dignitied station which they hold IN our country,
| and that they have 1t in their power to shed O.
| f. Intxy tt,> oh L ~.
| hnence. Do We enjoy civil and religious jiber
ty! To the Bible, which teaches magistrates
| how to rule, and the people how to obey, we
owe this blessing. Above all, is the path TO
heaven discovered To the Bible, which has
taught us the name and the rneaiatorial work of
our Lord jesus Christ, who is "the wav. and
the truth, and the life" We owe this great dis
| covery
Sbutup the Bible abolish our Christian a..
sembles for reading and preaching its sacred
contents and IN few years all these blessings
| would be lost. Women would be again reduc-
| ed to bondage; domestic society would be EN-
Uttered by the conflicts of passions the most
| debasing ; civil liberty would perish in the ru.
ms OF sound morality hesthensh darkness
would cover our wretched country; and the
| way to heaven would become again unknown.
1 Ii then we prize the sweets OF domestic soci .
ETY., and rejoice in the honour of the female cha
racter: ii we value civil and religious liberty
| II We duly estimate the knowledge of God, and
I the ,idiDgs of salvation through his son Jesus
Christ: We are bound, sacredly bound, to en-
deavour, according to cur ability, to distribute
among our fellow creatures that Holy Book.
| which so greatly promotes their happiness
both in this world and the next. How cordial.
ly and zealously should we engage in so bene.
| VIOLENT and divine work in which the glory OF
| God and the salvation of unborn generations
are so materially concerned What heart can
| remain insensible to motives which should
touch and move every pious feelingi Who does
not esteem it privilege and an honour to be-.
come member of Bible association. and 10
| assist in the glorious work of enlighteninp a
4 dark, reforming wicked, and blessing mise.
| rable world
| My respected hearers, the Bible Society Of
| Philadelphia, whose labours through the last
| year you have just heard narrated. preseots Won
an opportunity for assisting them in their work
of love. 4 collection will now be taken AN
and they will thankfully receive the free win
offerings Of this assembly. shall not press
your charity. icontent myself with suggesting
| one reflection.
The benefits that may result from the dona-
1 ton oil single Bible, it is impossible TO COM
pute. The poor man to whom it is given. reads
| 1T in his family. Its divine light beams upon
his soul. He feels its converting power. He
becomes new man, Christian. He sets un
| the worship OF God in his family, and instructs
his children in the knowledge of the holy Scrip.
lures. He dies in faith his soul ascends 70
heaven, and there, among its glorious inhabi
tants, he praises God for the gift of a Bible
| HIS children, Initiating his pious example. and
feeling the power OF divine truth on their hearts
erect fomiiy affairs to their God their chiIdrrs
follow the same examples and thus a stream