The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-10-01

solemn Festivals, the whole law was read IN the
assembled members of the nation Besides this
lhe people OF Israel were commanded to embrace
every private opportunity to make themselves
acquainted with the sacred Books. and IN in.
struct their children in the written law of their
Uod Therefore" said Moses, 4" shall We Law
up these my words in your hearts, and in vonr
Souls, and bind them for a sign on your hands
tnat tney may be as frontlets between your ewes !:
.ndii teach them to your children sneak
S VI 'heh when thou sittest in thine house
ana when thou walkest by the way. when tbon
nest DOWN, and when thou rIsest IN and tbop
smart write them on the door post ofthine honse
and onithy gates" '"'"e "ouSe'
me publication ofthe gospels, the acts ofthe
aPost,es' ana the epistles of the New Testament
Introduced new era among the nations, and
tEe most powerful reasons URGE their universal
dissemination and perusal
When Jesus. the Savior empowered his i'm
ineaiate disciples to promulgate his religion
their commission was to preach, and of course
TO publish, the gospel among all nations
Am"ng the evidences adduced by our Savior
IN proof OF his being the Messiah, one is, that
the gospel was preached to the poor. When the
sacred Scriptures are given to the poor the spir-
1t OF the Christian religion is evidently in yigor
Gus exercise So
In disseminating the Bible, Christians of the
present day are favored with amiliarties, which
neither the Jews, nor primitive disciples of Jews
possessed; by printed impressions, copies may
oe multiplied to any number, and with inconsid
cradle expense. lfthen the value of Revelation
be duly appreciated, and the spirit of charity
be extensively felt, no member of the Christian
community need be destitute Of copy of the
Bible.
The efforts Of an individual is weak, and his
most strenuous exertions can produce only linn
tied effects but the combined exertions Of
numbers surmount mighty obstacles, and pro-
duce effects great and extensive beyond human
calculation.
The existence of societies for the exclusive
purpose of disseminating the Bible without note
or comment, is but Of yesterday and yet these
associations admirably calculated to unite
all the disciples of Jesus in most audable de-
sign, and the fruits produced are truly Christian
Bible Societies meet on common ground. In
promoting this charitable purpose, they rise
above the weakness and dscordance which uD-
happily separate them in Offices of public wor-
ship, and religious communion and they exer.
else spirit freed from the asperity and bitter
ness which too often blended with the dis
cusslon of their minor differences respecting ar
ticles Of faith, and the poty of the Church
God has owned the work, and blessed the la
Dor of his servants. Experience has brought
the power of Bible Societies to satisfactory
test, and clearly displayed tile efficacy of their
measures. The number and resources of these
Societies at the present time, in Europe and
America, give high promise of their future ben
eficial operations.
The British and Foreign Bible Society, the
Parent of all similar associations in chistendom
established in 1904. The exclusive object
of this Society is to dffuse the knowledge of the
Holy Scriptures, by circulating them through
out the United Kingdom, and also, according to
the extent of their funds, by promoting the print
ing of them in foreign languages and the distri-
button of them in foreign countries In each
succeeding year, the means of the Society have
been increased, and its efforts extended Their
last annual Report states that within the pre-
cedng year, they had distributed in various
languages l37, 1862 Bibles, and l99I08 Tesla
ments. This is exclusive of the distributions of
many auxiliary Societies formed to supply the
wants of the poor and destitute in the section of
country Immediately around them. National
Societies now exist in every kingdom in Europe
Our country has not been deficient in this pi.
Gus and charitable concern. The American
Bible Society holds highly respectable rank
among similar Institutions. 1t has existed for
twelve years, and its operations have been con-
slant, and have annually been of increased ex-
tent and benefit. The receipts of the last, be-
ing their twelfth year, amounted to about $40 900
which, with balance Of a former period, placed
at the disposal of the Society sum of about
$4,000. Their expenditures within the last
year, amounted to $4,000. During the last
the Scriptures.
The Parent Institution is aided in their benev-
olent work by numerous auxiliaries in the sew.
eral States of the Union.
In our Commonwealth, besides the Massa chu-
sets Bible Society, there are nearly as many
auxiiaries as there counties in the State.
Though these numerous streams have been
united in common fountain, still the means of
the Parent Society have not been adequate to
the demands of the public. Great expenses
have this year occurred in erecting buildings to
accommodate tho increasing demand for print
ing, binding, and depositing copies of the Bible
in various languages. Requests for copies of
the sacred Scriptures continue to be greater
than are the means to supply them From the
last Report of the American Bible Society, it
appears that this desire to receive the sacred
volume has been as remarkable as the DISPOSE
ton to give it; and at the present time there
are more destitute hands opened for the recep-
zion of the word of life, than there is charity in
exercise to fill them.
The auxiliary Bible Society in the County of
Worcester, takes a humble station among these
Institutions; but their labors have not been un
availing. They have supplied the poor and des.
titute in this County, as far as their wants have
been discovered; andthey have repeatedly trans
united considerable sums to the treasury of the
Parent Institution.
Within the last year, they have distributed
Is copies of 8vo. Bibles, so l2mo. lSnlo and
Ia Testaments There remain in the Deposito-
ny at Worcester, for future distribution, az cop
les of 9vo. Bibles IS l2mo. and l9mo
Tho means of the Society are principally de-
rived from annual subscriptions and donations.
This branch of charity is respectfully submitted
to the attention of Christians of every denomina-
ton, under an assurance, that public and indi-
vidual contributions will, with gratitude be re-
ceived, and faithfully appropriated to their spe-
cifc object
BY the blessing of God, may the distribution
OF the HOLY Scrintures nrnva Tho o,aons 10 das