The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-06-08


'bora1 philanthropy, whose feelings il is tn
br tea ed are not sufficiently embarked
with hlrm, and whose energies conse-
qnnil, L'hve mt been drawn firth, snd
made Ia bar, but, very partially on the
subject. II Is true, tint our pernniay
m-ans are hut very limiled but II rs no
less lru.. and mneh moir lnrniahle, thai
our disposition 10 do good Ike him, pre-
senttd IN his holy book for our imitation,
is much more llnitrd. Living rs We du,
IN a SLATE of comparative Ease and luxury,
our energies are TOO often encrvaied, and
we become The suhirrts uf "A moral debility
which units rs for vigorous action. Should
these remarks, however. IN their applica-
tl"n, admit nj m qualification exceptions
whatever, then indeed with much certain
~, might we anticipate the utter exiiuc-
tlun Of the Bedford Bible Society at pc
rix not far remote as necessary conse-
qlMnee resulting tlum -ueh state Of things.
This would he inevitable upon the nnchan-
'ging principle ol cause aud Effect. But
assured as we are, thai u Is the cause of
God, and not of men, thai hr is AT n helm,
thai II Is under the Inspiration of divine in
tlucnee, thnt things have thus been put in
motion, aud thus far advanced, and is sllll
advancing With awful majesty aud truth IN
almost every part 0fthe world, commend
ing itself To ever, mans conscience, irium-
phing over local pfeiudiees, & srrtarian PEE
cullarliies g. principles. proeldiming IN It's
grand march bow the knee, "thp Lord God
Onnipotent relgnefh, I'VE cannot fora mo-
m"nt indulge any fears ns To the ultimate
safety ofthr Ark. hut have abundant cause,
with the Apostle of thr Gentilrs 10 thank
God md take courage, for although the ac-
cesslon Of new members for sts eral Years
past, has been but small, and f. IN various
causes, as stated IN he last report the dim
l. uilon Of the Ayr. gaze number consdr-
rabbi, rs well ~ sii mrful drhrquinrlrs in
the ANNUAL contributions Of members, yet
Ne do not thlnk this furnishes any solid
ground for de-pnndirg with The determined
hIr"ds ot Bible associations; falling off,
IL hlt might have been expected in this
rs In all other Institutions, requiring in
some degree, sacrifice and self donal, the
0o,eiIy of which and perhaps, nothing
higher. bring many nto the ranlss, who,
when the noy"lly Of the same subsidies,
soon beco,n" weary aud with retrGgade
steps ala dbn the l'ur Ut Al! friends aud
'r"ih ~ ltt the intrrrogatory of him who
di"d u on the Cross, "sll We also go a.
~ quicken our pace. excite ns to re-
pewed eXerllon, and inspire our souls with
An ardou' ard fer,ency Of zeal. that never
shall become extinct, no, not with tho spark
of mortal hir Itself
In rendering an account of the operations
of the past year, your managers can onl,
say that tlcy have endeaHorrd IN pursue
the duty asslgned lhrm, and the, hopr it
has moi beet altogether without some good
effect. They have tooud IT necessary in
order more eitectualIy 10 accomplish their
ohIrct III the appointment OF agents for the
distribution Of the holy scriptures in dGIrr-
cnt sections Of the surrounding country,
/ To incur some additional expense 10 sending
| the books to their houses, with letters of
Instruction, aud soliciting IN the name of
the society, their benevolent agency, and
operation IN this labor of ", and so
far as WE have been able 10 ascertaln the
fact, We believe IN relation 10 those agents,
our confidence has not been misplaced aud
that qualification haa been afforded them
By tn" society which they do not lightly
esteem.
The following table will exhibit the ma
ture and extent of our operations, together
with a state of the funds Of the society.