Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-16


!. 'ocitties ar, .:,,. p Ia every part OF IN
globe, whose excius.ye o;i)eSi ~ 10 send Tia
Scriptures pur,, and una. ulterated to all tina
: Jssll upon the earth. In the United State,
here are at least torty institutions OF this kind
IN Great Dri ain more than three hundred
there are nanv on the European Continent
Gsths;ics aud Protestants are united in these
lbeneficsut lsbours. The Greek Church bids
iar To rival any of her sister Churches in zeal
TO propagate the truth. In St. Petersburgh a
fSociety has been established on the most ex-
ltensive scals, Z under the happiest auspices.
2 The illustrious Alexander is its patron, aud
most liberal ben-factor; the princes of the En-.
pire are proud To initiate the example OF their
Sover Ign all ranks are eager to become mem.
bets OF the Bible Society of russia and there
IS reason to hop, that the word of God with
all lis blessings will be communicated to every
part OF that vast county /" The word of the
Lord runs and is glorihsd.' Asia. from which
Originally issued ,he light of the world, but
which had forrsges been involved in thick
darkness, begins to be reiliumined File
star is again rising in the East;'' a prelude,
tits hoped, OF the rising of the Sun of Rightes
BUSINESS. in all his etfulgence, on that ext.n..
size and populous region. And Africa, be-,
! Dighted, and oppressed Africa, is revisited b.
The Gospel OF Jesus Christ. ~
The river o. cur Col is flowing, with all its
ferti:izing infuencrs into her desar,s; her
burning plains aud scorshing airs are perfu-
med by the rose of Sharon and amidst the
| roar Other beasts OF prey is heard the voice of
| heavenly mercy An almost simultaneous
| movement is made through he whole world,
to effect the mighty oajecs presented in the
| book ST prophecy, the filling ofthe earth with
the knowledge OF the " ore living and true
God, and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent,
whom to know is life eternal" Not much
more than ten years bave elapsed since the idea
of q society, whose exclusive object should be
the distribution oi the Bible, was FIRST sugges
| ted There are now, in different and distant
nations, at least FIVE hundred Institutions ofthis
Kind, annually employing Git Is believed) not
| less than Eve hundred thousand dollars in the
\ dissemination of the tIots Scriptures Hardly
any undertaking o: man has ever been so IA
| voured Of Heaven. Every year increases the
numbers aid the zeal of these tsbourers il, the
harvest OF our L nd. Aud they are now reach
inl, forward, and an,cipa. ing the st glorious
rewards they a,ri ut nothing less than the
Regeneration, the illurnaiiiil, The sa walton of
the world IL is true tlSt the TIM s in which
we live are empnaticasiy tiin=s OF trouble. We
| daily hear OF % wrongs and outrage done by
man to man :" the world - de solsted by law.
! less passions, and tiled with violence Bu,.
| amidst the harsh AID discrrdant sounds Of war,
we hear daily, "rhe gospel uampet waxing
! louder and joudsr;' thre' the cIJu,ls that now
darken tue world, Nc can catch giimpses OF
that delightful prospecc presented IN the pre-
d,ctions of scripture Lst Bible Societies go
ON as they have begun, and no very remote
\ pc; iod, nation VIII no longer rise up Against
VA. ion, but the instruments of war W Ill be beat
| IN uito. instruments OF nus3Ind VI while the
| pe giving influences OF the gospel will rest
on every heart, and the Whole race of man re.
! joicc in the salvation of God. We hail the ef.
| forts nov making, oinens OF good, and con-
template with rapture the approach Of tfat pc.
| Rod, when the funess or the grntiles shall DC
| brought in, the lost sheep OF the house OF Is
\ aei recovered, when Zion shall become the
| glory Of all lands, and all nations shall aow
into her, From the elects already produced
| by Bible Societies, we are authorised u hope
| that, ut no very distant day, al, christian
churches, united By the bonds OF christian love,
vii DO, s7has has, nat Ken doaS s.Rce psssla
| tive lines, make an ul,aivIded effort to pro-
mote the Kingdom OF the Redeemer, and exI
lend It's powerful yel gentle sway Throughout
4 the whole world ~ ts ~
! And it the whole Christian world were
thus united, If all who cali themselves by
| The name of Christ would employ their ;ai-
ents, their zeal their wealth, and the infin
ence If their prayers in revoluti onizins fie
| yor.d, in promoting righteousness. x peace
and love among all people and nations Git
4 we regard only the influence of humai..
means) who can tall the RESULT eVVho
can prescibe limits TO the effects thar
| woald be produced by a Cause so powerful
But when I'll considered that Heaven, be
yona iii doubt, gives encouragement to
| such efforts THAI eternai love. almighty
power, and infinite wisdom would favour,
would direct, would giye energy TO the
church in this work of universal Charity /;
the triumph os truth and riglneousnes and
peace, oyer error, and vice, and all the un-
ruly passions of mac, might with the ut.
| most confidence be anticipated. Ia this
| grand desjgn, this mighty work OF love it is
the most earnest wish OF your managers
that the Ci;izens of Virginia may neither be
last nor least and they indulge the hope
| that ere long, our state will exert is char
actrrisSic energy and zeal in sending the
book OF Col To every valley among our
mountains, to every creek and Inlet our
coasts, and to the poor and destitute in ali
our borders. It is the wish, and the hope of
your managers, that, in process OF time,
tn r. may not be found even a log school
house in the country--wthout full supply
of Bibles; so that our youth. with the We
ry elements OF learning. may also acquire
that knowledge which alone is able to make
then, wise unto eternal life.
Finally, the Managers. in surrenderiug
the trust committed to them. would most
humbly co.hmehd to Almighty God the in.
terests of the Bible Society of Virginia, and
earnestly pray that he would SO favour the
, Institution as to make il blessing to the
; STATE, and TO the church planted in our
land.
(All which IS respectfully ADMITTEDLY
(Sisned) J. Fl. RICE.
: w. MUNFORD.
SAMUEL GREENHOW.
BY order OF the board.