indeed, who have never, in all their lives, borne fulse witness against their neighbour, in some degree or manner, either by unwarrantably spreading evil reports, or else by giving too willing an ear to slander and defamation. It is the evil which most easily besets us, of which we are least apt to be aware, and which many men and women practice, without compunction,and almost without thought, although, in other respects, of apparently estimable characters.

prehended, that there are very few | haps, that, if David spake in haste, he was not far from the truth, when he said, "All men are liars." That human laws guard property so much more strictly than character, and that human tribunals punish theft so much more severely than defamation, is a curious fact. To account for it, in addition to the reasons mentioned in the above extract, another might have been added; that is, the general prevalence of the love of money. Though all men have moral discernment, and most men will grant, that gold is dross compared with character, yet it is but too apparent, that the mass of mankind are worshippers of Mammon, on whose altar they do not hesitate to sacrifice reputation, and, not unfrequently, even life itself. EDITOR.

The preceding observations of the BRIEF REMARKER, may be considered as a comment upon the words of the Psalmist, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray, as soon as they be born, speaking lies." They will also furnish evidence, per

Religious Intelligence.

From the Missionary Herald for October. | great, amounting to almost the

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY-NINTH

REPORT.

The Ninth Annual Meeting of this Society was noticed in the Herald for June, p. 184. Of the Report, which was then read, and has since been published, we shall now insert an abstract, as

full and explicit as the nature of our limits will permit.

In the early part of the Report, there is a paragraph, which should not be forgotten. It is this:

whole annual income. This opinion is both unfounded and injurious, and should be fully examined and well considered by every friend of the Bible Society. It is unfounded, because the Society returns in value almost all that it re

ceives in money. This may be fully understood by a reference to the accounts of receipts into the treasury, compared with the account of sales and donations from the Society. It is injurious, as it makes a false impression on the minds both of the friends and en

The Board of Managers are fully aware, that there is an opinion very currently circulated, and gen-emies of the Bible, in relation to erally received, that the receipts into the treasury, of free donations and subscriptions, unbalanced by any returns of value to the donors and subscribers, are very

our annual income, and countenances the belief that the Society has no necessity for increased resources. This impression relaxes the efforts of the benevolent, turns

the benefactions of many into oth-ments were issued from the De. er channels, misleads some auxil- pository, the past year, in the iaries, so far as to invest their sur- French, German, Spanish, Portuplus funds, rather than transmit guese, Gaelic, and Welsh lanthem to a treasury, supposed to be guages. Also 651 copies of the already overflowing; it induces Gospels in the Mohawk language, others to neglect the collection of for the use of Indians at Greenbay, their annual dues, and some to in the Michigan Territory, at cease from all operations! Grand River, in Upper Canada, and at Caghnawaga and St. Regis, in Lower Canada.

Of the $50,000 in the treasury of the Society, during the last year, only about $ 6500 were at the disposal of the Managers, to be applied, at their discretion, to the translating and printing of the Scriptures, in foreign languages, and to the circulation of them in foreign parts, or in our own country where there are no Auxiliary Societies formed, and where the people are greatly in want of the Sacred Volume.

Printing of the Scriptures, &c.-
During the last year, there have
been printed at the Depository,
Bibles in English,
Bibles in Spanish,
Testaments in English,

48,550

Demands for the ScripturesHow important a use is like to be found for the stereotype plates of the Spanish Bible, will be perceiyed by the following extracts.

The important communications received from the different provinces of South America are weil calculated to animate the hearts and hopes of all the friends of Bible holiness. The ardour with which the Bible is sought for-and the gratitude with which it is receiv ed-the free introduction of the 22,750 New Testament, or parts of it, in2,000 to some of the most important 23,000 schools-the strong desire manifested by many to have the 47,750 whole Bible in the vernacular lan800 guages of some of the most popuTous and powerful provinces-the gradual decline of prejudice and opposition-and the cordial and affectionate co-operation of many of the most influential clergymen and laymen, are encouraging in the highest degree. In addition to all this, the translation of the whole of the New Testament into the Quichua, or Peruvian language, spoken by more than a million of intelligent people the certain prospect of the speedy completion of the translation of the whole Bible into that ancient and sacred language of the Incas, and also into the Aimara and Moxa languages, spoken by more than two hundred thousand people and the formation of a Bible Society in

403.552 Makes a total of 451,902 This is the result of the Society's proceedings during its first nine years. Nearly 373,000 copies have been issued from the Depository.

The Spanish Bible is the version of Padre Scio, for which stere. otype plates have been procured. Stereotype plates have also been obtained for a Pica New Testament, in octavo, of large full type, for the use of the aged; and plates for

a Pocket Bible are now in a course of preparation.

A number of Bibles and Testa-Caraccas, by the united exertions

of the priests and the laity of that | place cannot fail to gladden the heart of every one who longs for the spiritual emancipation of all South America. Toward hastening on this glorious result, your Board of Managers have voted five hundred dollars in aid of the above mentioned translations.

Missouri, possessing a population of more than eighty thousand, has not in circulation ten thousand Bibles; and the state of Illinois, containing nearly an equal population, does not possess an equal number of Bibles.

In one district in Madison county, in the state of Alabama, containing 655 white inhabitants, there were found 69 Bibles, and more than 2,000 were necessary to supply the wants of that coun

Your Board of Managers have information that the Bible is received gladly in Patagonia, in the provinces on both sides of the Parana, in Monte Video, Bahia, inty. the Brazils, in Valparaiso, Chili, across the Andes into Mendoza, and through all Mexico,

In our own country, too, the demand is great. As an illustration of this, we bring together several

Nor is this scarcity of the Holy Scriptures confined to the western states. In the state of New Jersey, and almost within sight of your Society's house, in that region called the Pines, in Camden, Haddonfield, Clemington,

the last report of the Nassau-Hall Bible Society, whose Agents have have lately examined that district, many families were found who did not possess the Bible, and not a few who had never seen one! and whole neighbourhoods in which there was not a single copy to be found! In all that part of the south-eastern section of the state, were very few copies of the Scrip

extracts. It has been the constant prac-Speedwell, &c. as we learn from tice, and earnest endeavour of the Managers, to ascertain as far as practicable the wants of every section of the United States; and having ascertained them, to send relief, through their regularly organized Auxiliary Societies, as far as their limited means enabled them. There has been no want of opportunity; for, had the funds placed at their disposal been tenfold, they would not have beentures. sufficient to supply the ascertained necessities of the United States.

In one of our Western States, it is represented that more than sixty thousand readers are destitute of the Holy Bible; and in many districts of that state it is almost wholly unknown. Nor does it appear that the wants of that state are greater than the wants of some other states. But a detailed account of the wants of every district, which have been spread out before us, would swell this report to a forbidden extent, and cast a gloom over the exercises of this hallowed morning. Yet still there are a few cases which may not be omitted. The state of

Yet

In the state of New-York, too, there is a most deplorable scarcity. In the county of Monroe there were found 1200 families destitute of the Bible. In the county of Jefferson, also, the town of Champion has not half as many Bibles as readers, and in the city of New-York, after all that has been done in it, and in a ward which has done more for its own supply than any other ward in the city, there were lately found in one section of a single street, and on one side of it, 46 families without the Oracles of God! These are but a few items in the appalling sum total of the want of the book of God in our own beloved country.

men of the night, we can confident- Christ, have the assurance of my ly exclaim the morning com

ORIGINAL POETRY.

Errata.--p. 522. for, well known Text, read, well chosen Text.--p. 525, first column, 1. 20 for their, read the,--and I. 34. for includes, read include.

To Correspondents.-Two or three numbers of the Magazine have issued later than the time set, on account of the failure of hands in the printing office. The Remarks of S. J. are received; but being partly in cypher, they must be transcrib ed, if inserted; a task, which we may not find time to perform.---SERATAH has our thanks for the few lines of good, original Poetry, inserted in this number an arti ele very valuable, because very scarce. J. will find his remarks on John iv. 19, ir our number for March, p. 349, but his Exposition we do not recollect having sec

And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.

Such is the connexion of the words, and, in this connexion, they might lead us to discourse of the happy effects of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon a peoplethe duty of a church, on such occasions, frequently to assembleand the favourable opportunity, at such a time, to teach people the peculiar doctrines of the gospel.But waiving these things, all I propose, on the present occasion, is to call your attention to the peculiar mode of expression used in this passage, "A WHOLE YEAR.

THIS is recorded of Barnabas | Church, and taught much people." and Paul. At the time Stephen, the first martyr mentioned in the New Testament, was stoned to death for his faithful adherence to Christ, there was a violent persecution against the Christians at Jerusalem. In consequence of this, many of the disciples were scattered abroad, and went in various directions, preaching the gospel. Among these, some, who were natives of Cyprus and Cyrene, came to the city of Antioch, and preached to the Grecians there: "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." News of this happy event reaching Jerusalem, the church there sent down Barnabas; who, on his arrival, greatly rejoiced at the work of Divine Grace, which he beheld, and commenced preaching with much success. At length, finding too much work for one labourer, he went over to Tarsus for Paul, and brought him to Antioch. "And it came to pass. that, a whole year, they assembled themselves with the

A year seems to be spoken of as a long period-a period, in which the apostle had opportunity to preach much, and to do much good among the people.

There are several respects, in which a whole year may be considered as a long and important period.

First. A year is a long period, compared with some other portions of time. Long and short are comparative terms. The same thing may be long, compared with other things that are