The second resolution, viz. Second." That the spiritual exigencies of India, the inadequate amount of personal agency provided for its conversion to God, and the evident blessing which has ever attended the circulation of written truth-call for sustained and increased activity on our part in the diffusion of Christian Tracts and Books over this whole land" Was put by Mr. Morton, who followed it up with some appropriate remarks; in the course of which the speaker gave an anecdote of a young lady who having gone to a ball was struck with the awful word eternity,' which so affected her that she became serious. Mr. Beattie seconded the Resolution with a few earnest expressions of delight in being privileged to do so. The Rev. Mr. Wybrow after moving the Third Resolution, which was: Third." That the unbelief and impenitence under the various means of grace, by which we are beset on every hand, claim from us earnest intercessory prayer before the Lord, and special supplication for the immediate and effectual interposition of the Holy Spirit to communicate saving power to all our operations as a Society,"-observed with much earnestness on the still prevailing stubbornness of heart, and obstinate perseverance in wickedness by the people, notwithstanding the knowledge that they could not fail to possess concerning the riches of the gospel. Even in this city where such intense exertions are being made for their enlightenment, he could not help thinking of what Davis says, that although the truth is selfevident of the two sides of an isosceles triangle being equal, if that truth were to affect any of the religious prejudices of mankind, its infallibility would instantly be questioned and perversely denied. So it is in regard to Christianity and the heathen's acceptance of it: their superstitions and prejudices render them utterly blind and deaf to the perception of truth. It is a lamentable fact, their existing hardness of heart seems to be almost beyond redemption. The speaker then related a striking instance, which had lately come under his own observation, of a young native, who from a scoffer at Christianity, at length professed to believe, and seemed so earnest that he was received into the church; but he fell soon after his baptism, he presented himself to the speaker, and giving an exaggerated statement of the illness of his mother, expressed his intention of instantly going to see her, the result was feared; he was earnestly advised not to go, but he would and he did. He returned to the Mirzapore Mission no more! He had been since seen, but had shrunk from the Missionaries. Such things were sorrowful and deeply humiliating. More union in prayer-more earnestness in it-was called for from Christians. As Elisha in his earnest prayer to God for the restoration to life of the Shunamite's son, made the child's case his own, by placing his hands on the child's hands, and so also his arms, and his limbs; in like manner should we, by making the case of the heathen our own, pray more unceasingly and more earnestly for their conversion and regeneration to life eternal. The Rev. Mr. Mieklejohn seconded the resolution with some very appropriate remarks, in the course of which he observed that the very fact of the obstinacy to receive the truth, ought to be a reason for our increased, united, and persevering exertion to spread the knowledge of the means of grace; and if there were any one way in which that end could be arrived at, that way was the mode adopted by this Association of diffusing Christian knowledge. Observe, said the Rev. speaker, how the operations of nature proceed: now plants spring forth and bud; the thistle with its downy filaments, each of which contains a seed, is made to spread far and wide, by the winds of heaven wafting the downy seed over the tops of mountains as well as in the vallies. Some fall on rocks and stony places, and produce nothing; but much falls on good ground, and fructifies and multiplies. Tracts and other religious publications are our winged messengers, and although much may fail of producing good, still will some take root and bring forth fruit in due season through the grace of God. In this confidence we circulate tracts-and deem it a privilege to do so-let us do it as a work of faith, and do it with earnest, and affectionate, and above all united prayer, for it is this which will ensure the help of the Almighty. The last resolution was put by Mr. J. F. M. Reid, and seconded by Mr. C. Tucker, Fourth." That for the management of the affairs of this Society during the ensuing year, the Committee of last year be reappointed, with power to add to their number, agreeably to the printed regulations of the Society." After which the Doxology was sung, and the meeting broke up. CALCUTTA AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. A General Meeting of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society was held in the Town Hall, on Dec. 3rd, -the attendance of ladies and gentlemen on the occasion was very respectable. The Chair was taken by C. W. Smith, Esq. After prayer, and a few words from the Chairman, the Acting Secretary was called upon to read the report of the year's proceedings. The following are the most in The report was an exceedingly interesting one. teresting items which we could gather from the Report. From the 1st December 1837, to the 31st October 1839, there were issued from the ............. ...... 20,628 Amount of Subscriptions and Donations during same period, .... Co.'s Rs. 11,130 Co.'s Rs. 4,903 19,043 Bible Depositories in connection with the Calcutta Auxiliary have now been formed at Agra, Allahabad, Benares, Burdwan, Cawnpore, Chittagong, Chunar, Cuttack, Dacca, Dinapore, Dum-Dum, Futtehghur, Goruckpore, Jessore, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Meerut, Midnapore, Mirzapore, Monghyr, Nusseerabad, Patna, Saharunpore, Sabathu, and Sudiya. By these Depositories have been distributed volumes 12,109. At the conclusion of the reading of the Report the Rev. R. B. Boyce briefly proposed the first resolution," That the Report, an abstract of which has now been read, be printed and circulated." It was seconded by Mr. A. Beattie, who addressed the Meeting somewhat to the following effect, that when he looked back at the period of the first institution of this Auxiliary in 1811, when the revered names of Brown, Martin, and Thomason, were amongst its founders, and considered its successful and useful progress since then, he could not but see reason for thankfulness to God for the success with which He had crowned their labours. The measure of success afforded, should not only be a matter of thankfulness, but should induce an increasing zeal in Christians who ought to feel excited to persevere in the good cause-the best cause in which mortals could engage on earth-viz. the distribution of the Holy Scriptures, the words of everlasting life to their fellow-creatures. The Bible is the source of eternal happiness, glory, and honor: and as long as translations of that Book are needed, all Christians ought to exert themselves that every soul, every intelligent being in India should possess a Bible. He knew-he felt he was justified in hoping that there was not one present, but would feel the importance of renewed exertions towards the objects of the Society. The Chairman concurred in all that the above speaker had said, and hoped that every heart would be warmed with zeal in the distribution of the Scriptures. Reverend Mr. Lacroix rose to move the second resolution-"That this Meeting would earnestly call upon their fellow Christians throughout India, to consider it as their responsibility and privilege to aid in the distribution of that blessed volume which alone can make men wise unto salvation through faith which is in CHRIST JESUS." He spoke largely of the comfort of the gospel when in affliction or in adversity-immeasurable benefit in reforming men's minds, in forming their morals -nations even benefitted from its distribution, it turned many from the worship of dumb idols to the worship of the living God, it mended their morals-knowing all this, said the speaker, you will feel a lively interest in its dissemination, and better fulfil the Lord's will than by selfishly keeping these blessings to yourselves. It is a privilege we possess in having the scriptures in our hands-the apostles when in affliction, rejoiced at their stripes and counted it a privilege to suffer. All men should become wise unto salvation, should become ennobled for mansions in the skies; and this object can only be attained by the scriptures-you are convinced of this, said the speaker, I am sure; every Christian knows it, and it needs not that I should tell you of it. Allow me here to mention the case of a man who was not a Christian, who resided in Calcutta some years ago, Rammohun Roy. Three days before his leaving this country for England, I visited him, and in the course of conversation he told me "Sir, my countrymen are a degenerate race and grovelling people: but in my observation on men and things I have found that it matters very much what you believe in order that your morals be good and proper." The Hindu system he considered absurd, the Mahomedan somewhat better; and said he, "I am ashamed of my countrymen when I say it, there is in them not a single virtue-in the Musalmans on the contrary I have found it, and the following instance is a sample; a rich Hindu zemindar having some cause in the court offered a bribe of 20,000 rupees to the Moulovie, a Musulman, if he would decide it in his favor-the bribe was refused! Such an act of virtue is not to be found in the Hindu character. The Musalmans have more ཀ honor and virtue in them than any other infidel nation in the world, and much supe. rior to my countrymen.' "How different was this to the morals of Englishmen. Yet Sir C. Malcom and Sir Charles Forbes had lately said, that England would be the gainer if she would exchange her morals for the morals of India. If that were true, ye Englishmen, I say, give up your charitable institutions, your schools, your domestic happiness, your sublime religion, and exchange it for all the degrading system of the Hindus, with their caste which would let a fellow-creature starve like a dog rather than put forward a hand to help him. When we see these things our minds must fall back with disgust at a religion (!) which can sanction such things; away, ye Missionaries, ye are not required here-no; Hindu priests are required to go to England to teach them there! The speaker then said that he had attentively examined the Shasters and the Koran, and was ready to prove, if necessary, and had proved it several times already, that there was scarcely a single doctrine, or a precept which inculcated the pursuit of morality and a holy life. The duties of Missionaries called them into very frequent and close contact with the natives. They had thus an opportunity of knowing more of their virtues and vices than any other Europeans. And as an object at a distance seemed well proportioned and consistent, but when viewed closely, and scanned in all its parts, its deformities and defects were fully apparent; so was it with regard to the observation of English residents in general, and that of Missionaries on native manners and morality. Were England indeed to exchange morals with such a people, then would he no longer be holding the paper containing the resolution which he had to propose, and which he now did with sincere pleasure. The Rev. Mr. Tucker rose to second the above resolution-and in doing so reverted to the days of David when the scriptures were scarce--those days had passed, and now every one had the privilege of possessing the bible. Had I come (continued he) to tell you of a tale of woe or famine, the doleful tale would in all probability affect you greatly; and were I to take you to see the bones of the victims as they lie whitening the road side, that tale and this sight would stir your benevolence to acts of charity: we come with no tale of this nature, but we come with one of a far worse kind-your fellow-men are starving around you, not with starvation from want of food for the body, but with the famine of the soul-and the death of the soul is worse than that of the body. What would you think of an executor, who was entrusted with a legacy which he was to administer for the benefit of the widow and children of a deceased friend, if he were to make away with all the property for his own benefit-thus is it with us, we are left as executors, the gospel is the legacy which we are to distribute to our starving neighbours let; us not therefore hoard it up for our benefit alone, but fulfil our trust to our master in the best man ner. In putting the resolution from the chair, Mr. Smith adverted to the small despisedcolony which Calcutta once was, and that in its advancement from darkness to light the hand of Providence was to be seen very prominent. The Reverend Mr. Morton proposed the third Resolution,-"That this Meeting adopts the rules of the Auxiliary as revised by the Committee and now read, and that they be substituted in the forthcoming report as the rules of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society." ." Mr. Morton spoke to the purpose, but we have not time to give any part of his speech. The resolution was seconded by W. Bainbridge, Esq. The Reverend Mr. Boaz proposed the fourth resolution,-"That the following be the list of Office-bearers of the Calcutta Auxiliary for the ensuing year: Patron.-THE BISHOP OF CALCUTTA. President-C. W. SMITH, Esq. Vice-Presidents-Hon. W. W. Bird, Esq. and Ven. Archdeacon Dealtry. Committee-Alexander, J. W. Esq., Beattie, A. Esq., Boaz, Rev. T., Boswell, Rev. R. B., Boyes, Rev. R. B., Cragg, J. W. Esq, Fisher, Rev. H., Hæberlin, Rev. Dr., Hawkins, J. A. F. Esq., Lacroix, Rev. Mr., Lowis, John, Esq., Millett, F. Esq., Morris, G. Esq., Morton, Rev. W., Pearce, Rev. W. H., Pickance, Rev. G., Piffard, Rev. J., Roxburgh, Capt., Thomas, Rev. J., Yates, Rev. W. Treasurer-BANK OF BENGAL. Captain Roxburgh, Cash Secretary; Rev. T. Boaz, Secretary for correspondence with England and America. Rev. R. B. Boswell, Acting Secretary for general business. The Rev. Mr. Gogerly seconded the above resolution. J. A. F. Hawkins, Esq. moved the fifth Resolution, in which he was seconded by the Rev. T. Sandys,-"That thanks be returned to the office-bearers of the last two years for their labours in the cause of this Auxiliary." Moved by John Lowis, Esq. seconded by J. W. Álexander, Esq.-"That the best thanks of the Meeting be returned to the Chairman :" and the interesting Meeting then broke up. THE CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. (New Series.) No. 4.-APRIL, 1840. I. Remarks on the omission of certain passages in an Urdu translation of the New Testament recently published by the Missionaries of the London Society at Benares. We trust never to be chargeable with introducing into this country the controversies which have long agitated so unhappily the European churches; but as confidently do we trust by the grace of God never to be chargeable with a cowardly dereliction of duty in neglecting to strive for the faith once delivered to the saints. "Seek not thou, my son, the battle, nor shun it when it comes," is our rule in regard to controversy. "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable." While then we are resolved by the grace of God if it be possible, to live at peace with all men, we are as firmly resolved to oppose what in our conscience we believe to be error, let its supporters be who they may; and with double earnestness do we think it our duty to oppose the errors that are countenanced by those whose tried Christian character gives importance and authority to their opinions. When such a case occurs, we hold ourselves bound by love towards our erring brethren, as well as by love to the truth of God, to stand boldly forward in behalf of the faith. True it is unpleasant to enter into controversy with those whom we believe to be members of Christ, but conscious of being animated with feelings of brotherly love, and hoping that our Christian brethren will receive our remarks in the same spirit in which we trust to be enabled to make them, we shrink not from the unpleasantness of controversy, in order to establish 2 B VOL. I. the purity and integrity of our holy faith. If earnestness be proper in the defence of any particular doctrine of the faith, how much more is it proper in the defence of the rule of faith itself! When any difference arises within the church as to a point of doctrine, the appeal is straight to the law and to the testimony, and we apprehend that this agreement as to the ultimate appeal, is that which, amidst all the dissensions that subsist amongst Christians, is the chief external mark of the Catholic unity of the church. So long as the unity of the Scriptures is preserved, the church possesses within herself the means of detecting and rectifying all the errors into which her members may fall. But when violent hands are laid upon the Bible itself, then is the very citadel and fortress of Christianity assailed; and the watchman on Zion may not without treason be silent. So long as the Bible is preserved pure and entire, the church, however corrupt she may be, possesses within herself the seeds of reformation,-seeds which may require to be sown in the good and honest heart of a Luther, and to be watered with the dews of heaven, before they will spring up, but seeds which, so sown and so watered, will infallibly produce a harvest rich and abundant to the praise and glory of God. But with the purity and integrity of the Scriptures perishes the hope of the church. The light that is in her has become darkness, and how great is that darkness! Is not the Scripture the light of the church? And is not the church charged by all the most solemn sanctions to keep this heavenly light purely and brightly burning? Is there any more legitimate or rather more necessary subject of controversy than this integrity of holy writ? With the authors of the translation before us we are personally all but unacquainted, but we honour them highly for their works' sake. The highness of their character as Christian men and Christian missionaries, goes at once to convince us more strongly of the importance of taking up the subject and to inspire us with confidence in its treatment, being assured that errors are never so hurtful as when they are supported by men of tried worth; and being assured at the same time that if by grace we are enabled to speak the truth in love, those whose errors we impugn will gratefully feel and candidly acknowledge that the wounds of a friend are faithful. The passages which we have observed to be omitted are the following-John v. 4, vii. 53 to viii. 11, and 1 John v. 7. We have cause to complain that these omissions are made in a popular version, without any reason being assigned for the absence of the passages; this renders it impossible for us to know to what arguments we ought especially to address our |