THE BIBLE. THE following eloquent peroration of the Rev. Joseph F. Berg, D.D., was delivered before an audience of near three thousand persons in a recent debate, in the city of Philadelphia, on the divine authenticity of the Scriptures, with a certain Joseph Barker. Camden, N. J., Jan, 30, 1854. We love this Bible. We can conceive no severer calamity to the race than to be deprived of its pure morality; and we know of no blacker gloom, even in imagination, than that which pours its shadow over the soul when the weary spirit is breaking through the dissolving walls of its earthly house, unsolaced by this light of life! No Bible! O horrid deprivation! No Bible! Then is the world one grand enigma— a tangled tissue of contradictions, unanswered and irreconcileable.、 Í see the flowers springing from the warm bosom of the earth, and lifting their meek eyes toward heaven, and I say, Surely there is a God, and the fragrance is earth's incense of praise! I hear the birds singing among the branches, happy and free, rejoicing in the pure air and sunlight of the bright heaven, and I say, Surely there is a God, and this music is nature's anthem of thanksgiving! I look out upon the furrowed field, and the springing corn smiles its blessing upon the God who sends the soft showers in their season. I see the joy of harvest, and the golden sheaves praise him, and the fruitful trees praise him, and in full concert all his works declare that he is good. But I hear a cry of anguish? it is the moaning of an infant gasping in its mother's arms. I see it pale and quivering in its agony; I hear the wail of sorrow which woman only can utter as she bows to weep over those she has borne. This world, what is it? A wilderness of graves! a mighty charnel house! from which groans of pain and sorrow are for ever rising to the heavens; and I ask, Is this world governed by one God who is good, and by another who is evil? And is it so, that the evil is mightier than the good? Wretched man that I am! How shall I oppose the wrath of the malignant being who wars thus constantly against human happiness, and finally prevails so that men die! And, dying, shall they ever live again? What answer shall I give? Shall they live again? And if they do, will that life be a blessing or a curse? What can I say? There is no Bible! And every grave confounds me—the joys of life perplex me, its sorrows depress me-I am afraid to live, I dare not die! O! what can I do without the Bible! What can I know without it, that shall still the eager questioning of the restless, deathless spirit that is beating like a caged bird against these earthen walls, struggling after the purer, wider range of its immortal sphere? I know nothing, except that I am a child of sorrow and an heir of death; I can do nothing but regret my existence, and submit to my fate! So says the infidel; but not so the Christian. This world is no enigma to him. He cannot explain every detail, but he can see a glorious harmony between the operations of Providence and the testimony of the Bible. He knows that God is good. He knows that God is holy, that moral law has its penalty for transgression, as surely as natural laws have theirs; and, therefore, he knows that there will be sorrow where there is sin; but there he learns that this is not remediless. Christ has repaired the ruin and provided the remedy. It is faith in Him, as the author of a new life, that is mightier than the power of death. It is faith which binds the soul to Christ, and raises it through all these scenes of sorrow to the joys of the heavenly inheritance. Let us cherish this Bible. Let us read its words, pure as silver refined. Its precepts are apples of gold. In keeping its commands there is infinite reward. Let America keep the Bible, and the Bible will keep America: it will be the salt of divine truth that shall rectify the tendencies to moral corruption, whether in the family, in society, or in civil government. It. 1537 Matthew's (i. e., J. Rogers's) shall save the land from infidel licentiousness and misrule. Remem ber, that God no sooner caused any part of his will or word to be written, than he also commanded the same to be read, not only in the family, but also in the congregation, "that they night hear, and that they might learn, and fear the Lord their God, and observe to do all the words of his law." Defend, protect, and love the Bible, and the God of the Bible will cause his presence to be your glory, and upon that glory shall be the defence of his own almighty arm! God grant to you all the blessings promised in his word to them that love his truth, and ever save our country from the blasting mildew of infidel folly and falsehood. My opponent may deride the faith of Christians as sheer submission to the frauds of a Protestant priesthood, but as long as ministers of the gospel enjoin upon all men the duty of searching the Scriptures, we can let this assertion pass, with others alike unfounded, and leave our faith and character to the ordeal of that day when the fire shall try every man's work, what it is, and the ways and the word of God shall be finally and for ever vindicated.-From an American Paper. Bible. 1539 Cranmer's Great Bible. 1560 Geneva Bible. (Rom. Cath.) In speaking of the different translations of the Bible, such expressions are frequently used as would lead those unacquainted with the facts to suppose that they formed so many independent works; but there is, in fact, but one version of the Protestant English Bible in print, altered and improved by different hands, and which has received the subsequent amendments of many learned men, but from the first to the last there has been but one actual translation. Let any one compare the earliest and the latest, and he will find a diversity indeed of words, but such a similarity of expression as cannot be accidental. Let him then look at two independent translations of the same book, of Thucydides for instance, by Hobbes and Smith (or Homer, by Pope and Cowper), and the difference will be very visible. The resemblance in the versions of Scripture is so great, that it might safely be maintained that none of the authors of a new one undertook the task without the full assistance of such previous translations as had been made. The wisdom of such a procedure is obvious, unless there be some actual error of translation, and the mere fact that the version has been already received, and is familiar to the ears of the people, is a strong reason why nothing should be altered.-Short's History of the Church of England. ROBERT NEWTON, D. D.-This eloquent and excellent minister, who has devoted a long life to the interests of Methodism, died in great peace, on Sunday morning, April 30, at Easingwold. His last words were, "Praise God. Farewell sin and death." ACTION. Up to action! Lo the morning That in idle dreaming lies! Let it seek its native skies; Let the glory of the morning Wake thy spirit's purest joy, In a deep and true devotion; These thy waking hours employ. On to action! Life is passing! With a strong and fearless soul Go to meet the day's first duties— Seek thy spirit's unreached goal. Strive to have the morning's beauty All reflected in thy life; Try to keep its holy calmness Undisturb'd by passion's strife. On to action! Lo, unwearied, Still ascends the glowing Sun! Oh! like him, be thou untiring; Cease not till thy task be done. Let thy conscience bear thee witness, When thou lookest back at night, That thy motives have been noble, And thine actions pure and bright. On to action! for the spirit Loseth lustre while at rest, On to action! still unwearied, And its sad repentance o'er, Thou wilt need to rest no more. Yes! in action, higher action, Thou wilt spend that endless day, And the joy of firm, right doing, Still will bless thy cloudless way. All thy weary striving over, All thine erring deeds forgiven, Thou wilt find that sinless action Is the noblest joy of heaven. CONNEXIONAL DEPARTMENT. The THE near approach of Conference has caused a dearth of Connexional intelligence for the present month. cause in London continues to present an encouraging aspect. Our friends in the north part of this circuit have commenced worship in the large vestry of their beautiful chapel in Britannia Fields, Islington, and the attendance, so far, has been very encouraging. In the month of June the chapel will be opened, when we hope the prayers and liberality of our friends will be crowned with encouraging tokens of divine approval. The communication of our excellent friend Mr. Denham will show that our cause at Watney Street is progressing. We would respectfully invite attention to the truly excellent letter of our friend Mr. Barford on the Jubilee fund, and the generous proposal he makes for the completion of the amount originally contemplated, and the accomplishment in good faith of all the important objects desiderated. He would not have us to fall short in a single item of those objects so necessary to the consolidation and prosperity of the Connexion; and while he contends for the fulfilment of every engagement, and the realization of the entire plan originally developed in the programme of the Jubilee fund, he is ready again to help. If the sums now promised be paid up, he will supplement them by an extra contribution of £200. If, through death and altered circumstances, they should fall short by £200,he will make up that deficiency. If the subscription list should be augmented to £20,000 by friends who have not yet done their duty, he will add to that amount an extra £300; or if the effort after all should fall short of that sum by £300, he will make it up to that figure. We have thus the generous challenge presented in various forms, and we shall rejoice to find it met by a generous response, so that this Jubilee effort may redound to the honour of God and the welfare of the Connexion through generations yet unknown. "The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand."-Isaiah xxxii. 8. We heartly thank Mr. Barford for his kind offer. REVIVAL AT WATNEY STREET. DEAR MR. COOKE,-We have just been holding the special services to which reference was made in my former letter, and I hasten to communicate the result. While attempting to record the events of the last few weeks, my heart overflows with gratitude to our Heavenly Father, for the wonderful things he has done for our little cause at Watney Street. Sinners have been saved; whole families have been soundly converted, and brought into the Church; the Church is fully aroused, and on every hand we witness a holy striving and emulation among God's people, as to who shall be most in- earnest to snatch sinners from hell. It is especially delightful to witness the bold and fervent zeal of some of the young converts, coming fresh from the Saviour's merciful arms, with the savour of salvation in their hearts, labouring and praying to bring others to Jesus. Indeed, some of us, who have been long in the way, have cause to blush for ourselves when we see these lambs outstripping us in the heavenly race. May God grant us a fresh baptism of heavenly influence! While we feel deeply that it is the Lord who has been making bare his mighty arm in our midst, we are also constrained to recognize and honour the instrument by which he has been pleased to work. We count it no small blessing that God has sent to us his dear servant, our beloved brother, W. Booth. The labours of this devoted man of God have been signally owned and blessed to us at Watney Street, and many who have there found salvation under his faithful and affectionate preaching, will never forget the honoured instrument of their salvation. May that God, who is a debtor to no man, abundantly reward him for all his labours! Our special services commenced on Sabbath-day, April 30th, but previous to then a Society Tea Meeting was held on Wednesday, the 26th, when a plan of operations was laid down, and measures taken to secure the hearty co-operation of all our members. I mention this, because I believe that it was the thorough and hearty union of preacher and people that secured God's blessing. Those amongst us who think that chapels cannot be filled, and that sinare not so likely to be saved on ners wet days as on fine ones, must have felt their hearts sink within them as they rose from their beds on the morning of April 30th; that morning was ushered in with clouds and rain, and outward gloom-there certainly was the "promise of a shower," but not of such a shower as we anticipated and longed for. Faith, however, somewhat cleared the horizon, and, nothing daunted at the weather, our people met to pray at seven, and again at ten o'clock-and both were precious seasons, at which the presence and power of God were fully realized. At eleven o'clock the place was well filled. Mr. Booth preached with much fervour and unction, and all found it good to be there. We met again at half-past two to hold a love-feast; the body of the chapel was well filled. Many spoke of what the Lord was doing for their souls, and altogether it was a most refreshing and heavenly season. At six o'clock we met to pray for God's blessing, and at halfpast six the chapel was crowded in every part, although the rain continued without intermission. While without God was watering the earth, within the chapel he was refreshing our souls with a shower of heavenly influence. The solemn topics of death and eternity, of heaven and hell, were handled by the preacher with much skill, producing a powerful effect on the congregation. It was a practical illustration of the truth which declares the word of God to be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; for as the various classes of men were described and appealed to, you might see, by the emotions manifested, who was the infidel, the worldling, the backslider, and the Christian; and I firmly believe, could we have read the heart of each individual present, we should have seen one desire uppermost in all, and that a desire to die the death of the righteous. At the prayer meeting held after the preaching, we had the penitent seat filled, and many found salvation. There were some very interesting cases: fathers rejoicing over their children, backsliders returning to God, gospelhardened sinners broken down at last; and even children coming to the Saviour, and obtaining pardon and peace. So great was the work, that we found it impossible to conclude the meeting until ten o'clock, and even at that late hour the body of the chapel was crowded, and all seemed reluctant to leave the place. On the Monday following, Mr. Booth preached in the evening, when the chapel was again well filled, as also during the whole week (Saturday excepted). Indeed, the interest was well-sustained to the last; and every evening we had the happiness of seeing some sinners brought to God. Considering the size of the chapel, and the very low state of the cause prior to these services, we are fully warranted in saying that the work has been very great and glorious. During the last six weeks, about forty persons have professed to find peace; and as near as we can ascertain at present, we reckon that upwards of thirty souls have been added to the church, and are now meeting in class. We have thus nearly trebled our number, and as our chapel is but small, we shall be obliged to get a larger one, for the present one is altogether too strait for us. We intend to try, and have full confidence that the Lord will open up the way for us; indeed, we cannot believe that God will thus multiply the number of his children without enabling them to secure a house large enough for them to worship in; besides, we expect to see many more sinners converted amongst us, and we must have a chapel not merely large enough to accommodate our members, but also with plenty of room to spare for as many sinners as we can get there. To stand still where we are, is quite out of the question. God is plainly calling us to go up and possess the land; and, by his help, we mean not only to go to heaven ourselves, but also to take with us as many more as we possibly can. Our chapel is situated in the midst of a dense population; vice and sin abound in the neighbourhood; many families are living in the darkest ignorance, so that the providence of God has placed us just in the right spot, and where a great and glorious work may be accomplished. We want a chapel capable of holding 500 persons, one adapted to the densely-populated locality, and one that shall be creditable to the Connexion. And surely it is possible to get such a chapel-at any rate, we are resolved to make the attempt; and may that God who has already done so much for us, smile on and bless our efforts. As before stated, some of the cases of conversion were of a remarkable and deeply interesting character. In one instance, a mother and her three sons were brought to God, and are now actively In another case, a working with us. man who for ten years had been in and out amongst us, but who had never been truly converted, was fully broken down at last, and found peace with God. One young woman, who was enabled to give her heart fully to the Lord, challenged her sweetheart to follow her example; and plainly told him, that unless he made up his mind to go to heaven with her, they must part company. This man is a Papist, and we firmly hope that he will soon be brought to find salvation. It would be easy to multiply instances; but suffice it to say, that towards the close of these services, the scene before us strongly reminded one of what President Edwards has stated respecting the revival in his time, when it was hard to find an ununconverted person in the town where he laboured; for as we looked around the chapel, we could scarcely see one unconverted person amongst us. We have thus every encouragement to persevere, especially as our converts stand by the cause, and eagerly attend all the means of grace. In proof of this, it may be stated, that to-night (I am writing Sunday night, 7th of May) we had the chapel again crowded to excess; and at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, the entire body of the chapel, from one end to the other, was filled with communicants. It was indeed a season of power. Mr. Lordon had previously preached a most excellent and profitable discourse; and while we partook of the emblems of our Saviour's dying love, he was present in our midst, grace flowed like a river, a wave of salvation seemed to pass over every soul, and the precious blood of Jesus was applied to every heart. Our prayer meetings are well attended, and the classes also. We have formed a new class, with our excellent Brother Atkinson as leader, who, in the providence of God, has lately come to us from another part of the circuit. We shall commence openair preaching as soon as the weather will permit. Our tract distributors are fully employed, and we are taking a room in the immediate locality, for a Sunday-night prayer meeting, and with a view to form a preaching station. The people have a mind to work, and God is working with us. May the walls of our Zion speedily be built up, and become a praise in the earth! To the untiring labours of Mr. Booth we are mainly indebted, under God, for the present state of things. God has |