Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-10-27

this association, there is sufficient to call
forth the efforts Of the wealthy, the liberal
and the pious.
An important design Of the Society was
to provide for an extensive circulation Of
the Prayer Book, and religious tracts
still, as this was to be a Society for pro-
noting Christian knowledge, ii became an
obvious dictate Of propriety, that the BIZ
BILE should also be distributed. In this,
the trainers OF the constitution followed the
example before alluded to. Among the
means OF that knowledge which the Socie-
ty proposes to promote, the Holy Scrip
lures certainly should be recognized as
the basis Of all, although the portion oil
the funds applied to their distribution
may, at present be small, from the cir
cumstance of the existence Of many and
powerful Bible societies.
| The Directors are far from wishing 10
enter into the discussion OF topic which
has been of late years warmly argued, but
they deemed these remarks proper as ex-
pianatory of their designs.
| Ii will not be necessary here to urge, at
length, the advantages to be derived from
an extensive circulation Of the Book of
Common Prayer. 1t cannot fail to be
useful to distribute work which, like
this, carries the doctrines of the Gospel
to the heart, in language the most pure
aud tender, drawn from the fountains of
primitive faith and devotion. To the
decayed congregations of our communion,
we furnish most valuable assistant in
religious exercises, when We send them
this inimitable Liturgy.
BY the occasional circulation OF suita-
BILE Tracts, the Society will contribute
to the spread Of useful information on
subjects connected with religion and the
Church and often arrest the attention Of
the thoughtless, instruct the ignorant, and
confirm the pious in their faith.
Besides these objects, the distribution
of Bibles, Prayer Books, and Tracts, il
/ has been contemplated 6 to aid young men
Of piety and talents, who nay need as
sistance, in the necessary preparations
for the Gospel ministry" While it
may not be in the power ofthe Society
to take up an individual, and give him the
whole Of an education for the ministry, it
may come within their means, to afford
occasional relief to deserving characters,
who may fall short, in their pecuniary
4 provisions, of means TO complete their
course of theological studies. Such op-
portunities frequently present themselves;
and when they are embraced, often con-
tribute to furnish the Church with able
ministers of the New-Testament. In a
Diocess like New-Jersey, where the
clergy are few in number, and where
there are many parishes unable TO give
very ample support, it becomes especially
important to provide, as far as may be III
our power, for the supply of ministers to
) those parishes which have not the means
Of holding out any considerable encour
agement to enter the sacred Office. A
provision like that here contemplated by
the Directors, is the only remedy which
can be applied to the existing evil, the
paucity of ministers in our Church. This
then is a great object which may always
afford ample field for the exertion OF mem
bers of the Society, aud open door ior
those who delight in deeds Of bounty in
the best of causes.
| In securing permanent fund, the
Constitution contemplates time when the
annual collections and subscriptions may
be discontinued. In this fund, also,
there may be provision made for future
operations of great value to the Church I;
and the Society, having for its object the
promotion of Christian knowledge and
piety, may lend her means hereafter to
particulars not at present seen. In any
event, by the steady, though humble Ell
forts Of the members of the Church, there
may be here provided store which ma,
one day be employed to great profit, 10
advancing the. honour Of God, and the
everlasting interests of the souls of men.
Such are the encouragements, such are
the objects which the Directors hold out
to their brethren In this age Of wonders
in the work of Christian charity, it is to
be hoped that the Churchmen Of this
Diocess will not be backward. There is
sufficient to animate them in the example
of those numerous and immense associa
tons formed in various parts of the
world, enjoying the cooperation of the
most distinguished men, and sharing in
the bounty of emperors and mobiles.
The holy volume, in almost innumera-
BILE languages, is making its way into those
regions where its truths were lately en-
tirely unknown. Norway, Russia, and
Finland, with many other sections OF the
globe, not only see the light, but begin TO
feel the blessings Of that warmth which is