Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-08-25

I
! &c. For sale oil bibles aud les au'',ts
S4229; making IN The whole, 500 %
OF hlch sum there has been remllted tS
the Ii, asurer oil the American Bible
Society, S42 81; for incidental expen
ses, S2,o6: Leaving balance in tbs
treasury OF S24.86.
/ he Board would remind the Socie.
qy, that considerable OF the las years
subscription remains unpaid; they car
not presume the failure arises from cold
indifference to the vital welI-being of the
society, but would earnestly hope thai
pecuniary aid viii be afforded, which
alone can enable the society 10 carry Tor
ward lis benevolenl designs
Your Board directed the Correspond
ing Secre airy 10 forward an order TO the
American Bible Society tor 500 worth
oi bibles and ics,amenls. Information
was last fall received, that The amount
was sbipped Tor NV Orleans. The box
was LOST Oh us way by The wreck OF The
vessel, on / way TO the south. But
when the parent Society came 10 the
knowledge OF this tact, IL very generous
Iy made ms Sociey donation OF box
oi bibles and testaments OF precisely the
same amouni; which box has safely ar
rived and is now in ST. Louis, al Mr.,
Shsckiord's.
Wnile therefore the managers rejoice
ID The continued exertlons of the socic,y,
and in It's success in past efforts, they
meet the members with less congratula.
lions Tor the past, than with urgen. ex-
horlauons for the future. Surely the
fed oil exertlon is wide; the MOVIES Tor
1t multiplied aud various; the object
presented is equally simple, grand, anu
highly interesting. What duly can be
more indispensable, than thai OF comnu
nlcatiDg to the destitute the measurable
boon OF the words OF life and salvation,
Where, in the vast extent of human
thought can be found more noble
scheme OF benevolence, than is exhibit
ed to the world in the Efforts o, the wiss
and good TO print and circulate the bible
without note or comment; and surely II
an object can be presented TO the mind
against which there cannot possibly b.
raised plausible objection, ii is this.
Here all hearts may unite and all
hands may be engaged. Can any be
lieve The oible to be the word OF God,
and no, feel under obligation to lend
helping hans TO spread II TO the remot-
est bounds of earth. | we considerthal
the bible views and addresses man as an
immortal being, destined to exist COM
Densura'e with the countless ages OF
eternity, and tha 1t IS the only safe rule
of faith and practice; we shall see that
in distributing Il, we exert ourselves 10
promote an infinite good and can CHRIS
tian benevolence be inactive when such
an object is proposed? The doctrines
of the bible alone are sufficient TO pro-
mote good order, tranquility, and peace
here, and prepare men for happiness
hereafter. II there are families within
our sphere who are destitute, they ought
to be sought GU, and supplied. ADM,
the deiec, is owing to criminal Iuditfer-
ence and negligence; as much at least,
as to poverty, would 10, Christian char
ity wish 10 prefer them the richest trea.
sure, however egiected or undervaiued.
Perhaps the very compassion manifest.
ed lii such a gilt, might arouse some
,hought!ess creature 10 a serious atien'
ton to things of eternal moment TO hin
Let US here observe tho wide contras,
between this and past ages. Once, a
copy of the bible would cost several hun
dred dollars. Now it can be Obtained
Tor the paltry SUN of one dollar. And
now we may we'll ask what would have
been our situation, had not the souls oil
our predecessors glowed with the same
ardor OF benevolence which the narrow
philosophy OF our day brands with ex-
travagance and enthusiasm
But as we proceed the subject ex.
pands, and considerations the most aw-
full and interesting press on the contem.
plative mind we would invite your Sc.
rious attention to this simple fact, that in
the 10Th century more than half the hu.
man family are as perfect strangers to
the gospel as though It's light had never
shnne on our globe. More than 4oo,.
900 900 OF immortal souls are in the
broad way to destruction, and no bible
to poin, them to Christ the only Saviour
Of sinners,
Think of the Aboriginals, scattered
throughout our highly favored nation
most OF whom are immersed in the
grossest ignorance and idolatry. Think
Of the value Of one soul, and the grea
good that may be done by small means
and then determine whether we are mol
lmperiously called on to continue ouI