AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 66, 5 September 1846, Page 2

AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

On Wednesday evening last, a numerous and highly respectable Public meeting was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, for the purpose of foiming a New Zealand Auxiliary, to the Biitish and Foreign Bible Society. Several of the Officers of Government, and many of the respectable Tradesmen of the Town were present. The Rev. Walter Lawry, who occupied the Chair, commenced the business of the evening by giving out the hymn " Jesus shall reign where'er the sun," which was sung, and after an appropriate prayer, he explained the objects of the Meeting, and gave a concise, but interesting account of the origin and formation of the Piircnt Society. The Chairman remarked, that he felt unusual pleasure in being surrounded by so nrnny persons met for so noble and important an object. To have any share in promoting the objects of the Biitish and Foreign Bible Society, was no small honour ; and to him this was an occasion of solemn satisfaction ; for who could estimate the happy results of the formation of the New Zealand Auxiliary Bible Society ? (hear, hear.) It was not a Sectarian Society, and did not belong to one denomination of Christ's Church, but to all Christians, of all lands and of all the varied shades of views which obtained in Christendom. If his religion would not accord with this Society, he might justly fear its agreement with the Bible. On all sides the true Christian Catholicity of the British and Foreign Bible Society was acknowledged. Very many of those who heard him were well acquainted with the Parent Institution, and no doubt had been its supporters ; but there probably might be some who would like to hear a word or two on the constitution of the Bible Society. The case was this : about the year 1794, it was found that in "Wales there was a great scarcity of Bibles, and there were none to be had for money in the Welsh language. A correspondence arobe between clergymen in Wales and London, on this subject, but without any immediate beneficial result. The Rev. Thomas Chirles, who was formerly an erdained minister of the Established Church, but who was at the time officiating in the congregation of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, happened to meet in London with the Rev. Joseph Hughes, a Baptist minister, and Mr. Joseph Tarn. In the couise of the evening, an outline of the plan for the general circulation of the Scriptures was suggested, and Mr. Hughes was called upon to prepare an address in which the subject might be presented to public consideration. The matter was soon after laid before the late Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Charles Grant, now Lord Glenelg, and other men of like views. The Rev. Dr. Steinkopff offered to make inquiries, in the course of a continental journey he was about to undertake, as to the circulation of the Scriptures in that quarter. In March, 1804, a public meeting was held at the London Tavern, now the Wesleyan Mission House, in Bishopsgate-street, to discuss the means of forming the Society. About 300 individuals were present, and the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed of the various denominations. The sum of £0700 was raised on the spot, and a Committee formed, consisting of 36 persons, of whom 15 were Churchmen, 15 Dissenters, and 6 were Foreigners. This constitution still continues. And the object of the Society is, to spread the Holy Scriptures through every nation under heaven ! (hear, hear.) The receipts of this noble institution vary from £1 10,000 a year to £120,000 ; but then much of this sum is derived from cash paid as the purchase of Bibles ; more than half, however, may be considered as free contributions. He was not in possession of minute details, as it was three years since he had left England, but he believed he might safely say, that there now exists, at least, 400 Auxiliary Societies, with twice as many Branch, and Ladies' Associations. Probably not fewer than 25 millions of copies of the Sciiptures, or portions thereof, have been circulated by the Society, in more than one hundred languages. New Zealand is deeply indebted to the Bible Society, which has printed and sent out many thousands of copies of the New Testament; and to the perusal of this Book we owe, under God's blessing, the high sense of justice entertained by the natives, (hear, hear.) Their honesty and tone of truth, and their sacred observance of the Sabbath, may be traced to the same source. They used.not to be as they now are. When he visited them, twenty-three years ago, their theft and lying was notorious, and the Sabbath day they did not then keep holy. Our common ground of union, both with them, and among ourselves, must be the Bible. Those whose zeal for their sectarian views keep them apart from fraternizing on Bible grounds, with their fellow- Christians, may possess very many excellencies ; and a close attention to tlie Sacred Wiitings will, we hope, increase between them and this Society the bond of union. Union, on Scripture grounds, is surely Christian, and so the Maori understand the matter. The Chairman concluded by calling upon the Rev. W. Comrie, Presbyterian Minister, to move the first Resolution Mr. Comrie, said. I rise with very great pleasure to submit the following Resolution to the Meeting. — Ist. — " That while on common and ordinary grounds this meeting very cordially approves of the British and Foreign Bible Society, it is highly gratifying to have witnessed in a multitude of cases throughout New Zealand, the beneficial effects of reading the New Testament, printed and sent out by the Parent Society, and now so generally in use among the maori, or native, population : and that an Auxiliary Society be now formed, to be called "The New Zealand Auxiliary Bible Society." I do most cordially agree with the sentiments of this Resolution. We know that the pure and unadulterated ' woid of the living Jehovah, has proved the savour of life unto life to thousands in generations that have passed, and it is destined to be the salvation of thousands yet unborn. The word of God is given to guide us in life, to be our consolation at the hour of death, and to prepare us for eternal glory. It sheds a beam of glorious light down the dark avenue of human existence, and conducts j us towards the radiance of eternal day. The word of God without note or comment is sufficient for the use for which it is intended, and the man who studies the plain texts of Scripture is more likely to be firm and immovable in his faith, than he who consults every commentary within his reach. For instance, place the word of the living Jehovah, in the hands of an unenlightened man, he reads at the conimencment, that "the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." What can he understand by this ? But he reads on, and finds the sentiment illustrated and explained both in figurative and plain language. As be proceeds, he reads, that the people of God are to triumph over the powers of darkness, and finds that the early disciples returned with joy to their Master, exclaiming " Even the

devils are subject to us through thy Name;" and in perusing the account ofjithe labors of the first Missionaries he sees that they had power "over unclean spirits, and that no deadly tiling could hurt them ; and subsequently he marks the assurance of the Apostle, that God will bruise Satan under his people's feet shortly. Thus he is instructed that it is God who will bruise the serpent's head, and he is irresistably led to the conclusion that He who was possessed of two Natures, who is " the seed of the woman," and the Son of God, is the Almighty Redeemer of fallen man. The Scriptures withoufcomment are like the Cherubim and the flaminggword, placed at the Garden of Eden after the expulsion of o»r first Parents from Paradise. In the original, the sword is described as "turning upon itself," so the word of God may be said to turn upon itself pointing every way, probing to the recesses of the heart, '' divi-^ ding between the joints and the marrow,'^ and inflicting deep wounds upon the conscience of the sinner, leading him to repentance and to faith. The object of this Society is not to circulate the Bible, with Calvanistic comments upon the meaning of some of its doctrines, nor with Arminian views of the same truths. Christians are not all possessed of the sime degree of light and knowledge, and therefore do not see eye to eye on some of the minor points of doctrine ; but they all agree in .this, that the word of God is the sole} rule,, of faith : and practice. Controversy has existed in the Church in all ages ; and though in itself an evil, has been so ! over-ruled by the providence of God, as to be productive of much good. When the Jews returned from captivity, a controversy commenced about the proper place . at which the worship of God should be celebrated. The Jews affirmed that Jerusalem was the only proper place of worship, but the Samaritans maintained the superior sanctity of Mount Gerizzhn, and so hotly was the contest carried on, that in our Saviour's time, we read, that the Jews would have no dealing with the Samaritans. . Now what good has resulted from this controversy 1 I answer, much. This diffeience of opinion was made instiumental, to the preservation of the purity of the sacred oracles. The Jews watched the Samaritans with jealous vigilance, lest they should inteipolate or abnse the sacred text, and the Samaritans were equally determined to guard against the introduction of any spurious matter by the Jews, and thus the Word of God was preserved in its original integrity. But we must not forget that the object oithc Society is not only to circulate theScriptures, but to teach men the obedience of faith. Faith, and obedience, are sometimes used as signifying one thing, for one cannot exist without the other. W e may have u speculative belief in the Word oi God, but it is valueless ; it may illumine the understanding, but will not affect the heart. Our aim should be to propagate ",the faith that works by love, that purifies the heart," and the circulation of the Scriptures is an effectual means towards this end. And what we do, let us do cheerfully, of a willing mind, and not as of constraint: whether we give of our substance, or our time, in promotion of this Society, let us do it without grudging, for " God loveth a cheerful giver." The Rcvi Gentleman was warmly cheered oil resuming his seat. The Rev. T. Buddle seconded the resolution; and, after congratulating the chairman and audience on their connexion with the formation of an Auxiliary Bible Society, said — it is a good thing to have confidence in one's subject, to feel persuaded that the Book we wish to distribute is of Divine Authority. The remarks of the preceding speaker have reminded me of the unity of design that inns through the Holy Scriptures, and that unity and harmony of the different paits presents a powerful argument for their authenticity, (hear, hear.) I have also been reminded of the remarks of Dr. Camming, an eminent Scotch minister, at a Bible meeting iv London^- a year or two ago, on this subject.- Speaking on the Evidences of the Authenticity of the Scriptures, he remarked, they bear internal evidence that they are Divine ; and one remarkable and striking proof is, in the unity and harmony of the different parts. " Suppose," said the Rev. Doctor, " that a piece of statuary had been formed one thousand yeara ago, by different individuals— one cut out one finger, another a second, another some other limb, and so on ; and suppose that at a distant period all the different parts are brought together, and all exactly fit and correspond with each other, and form a complete and harmonized whole — what would be the conclusion, but that the whole was the work of one great presiding genius, who had directed and controlled the different artists. (Hear, hear.) This is the fact with regard to the Bible. The Prophets, the Apostles, and all the different writers were employed, in different countries, in different ages, in different circumstances ; but when the whole are brought together, they all unite and harmonize in a perfect levelation of the will of God to man ; and a grand testimony to the redemption of our species by the sufferings and death of the Son of God." So that the Bible is its own witness, and we rejoice to have such conclusive evidence that the Book we circulate is the Book of Godt (Hear, hear, hear.) We cannot, Mr. Chairman, but most cordially approve of the Biitish and Foreign Bible Society.— lts object is so noble. Can we conceive of an object more noble, than that of giving to every member of the human family a copy of the revealed will of God, The Bible is heaven's best boon to man ; and this Society proposes to cairy out heaven's purposes, by giving to man this Book j by giving it to every nation under heaven in their own tongue. It has already printed the Scriptures in nearly 150 different languages, and has poured a flood of spiritual light on our world. To what is New Zealand indebted for its light on divine subjects, but to the Bible; this Society has sent, through the Wesleyan Missionary Society alone, to these islands, 15,000 copies of the New Testament, part of which have already been distributed — as many, if not more, copies have been handed over to a kindred Missionaiy Society;'e ty ;' (hear, hear ;) so that we cannot now, Sir, say, as a New Zealand Chief, at Kawhia, said to your excellent, and now immortal; predecessor, in the superintendence of the Wesleyan Missions, Mr. Waterhouse, — "Ka nui to koutou whare." You have a large house. " Otiizi kahore he rama, hei wakamarama j" but you have no lamps to/jput in it to enlighten it. Meaning, you have a large church, but no scriptures to illuminate it — for we had not then received the noble grant of New Testaments. Thank God, the house is as large as ever, and larger ; and, best of all, it is well illuminated by the word of God. (Cheers.) It is great cause for thankfulness, Mr. Chairman, that this distribution of the Scriptures in New Zealand took place before Popery found its way hither, for the word of God has prepared the minds of the native population against the errors of that form of religion. The British and Foreign Bible bociety is directly opposed in principle to that corrupt church. Popery systematically strives to keep the Scriptures from the people; this Society labours to diffuse them : and the New Zealander is not so easily imposed upon, as to take the dogmas of an individual who refuses to give him a reason for his faith. Hence, those tribes who have embraced Popery, want from their teachers a " take," a foundation tor their faith, and urgently ask for "the Book," and won't be satisfied without it, as they know that the Protestants are furnished with the Scriptures, that they may read for themselves. I recollect some time ago, when travelling in the interior, passing through a village at the foot of the Rangitoto mountains, where the natives had embraced popery, and found that the priest had left them but a day or two. I enquired of Ngawaka, the chief, " Well, has he left you any books?" "0, yes," was the reply. "What has lie left you ?" «o ; the New Testament." " Will

you shew it me?" 0, yes." When he brought a small Latin Testament, (laughter), with a portrait of St. Francois inside it. « Why," said I, "of what use is this-you can't read it?" "0, the pnest has promised to return and teach me to read it. I shall soon be able to do that." Thus, the New Zealander, when he refuses to remain without a Book, is imposed upon by Jesuitical piomises, never intended to be fulfilled ; and I am fully persuaded, that with the Scriptures as a "take" for his faith, the New Zealander will prefer Protestantism to Popery. (Cheers.) While corrupt churches would roll a stone upon the mouth of the fountain of the waters of life, and so hide it from the perishing children of men, this Society proposes to roll away the stone, and, taking its stand by the fountain, reiterates the invitation of the Prophet — " Ho, every «ne that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." (Hear, hear.) And then we cannot but approve of this Society, when we look at the simplicity of its object — to give the Bible to every man, " without note or comment." It does not propose to teach men Armenianism, or Calvinism, or any other ism, but Christianity, pure from the fountain of truth. It is founded in the light of private judgment ; and here again it is opposed to corrupt churches that contend for an authoritative interpretation of Scripture, tint say, the water of life is in the keeping of the church, and she must give it out just, when, and how, and in what form she pleases, and interpret it as she likes,— and so invades the right of private judgment, and puts men's consciences in trammels. This Society puts the Bible as it is into the hands of every man. " Head it for youself, and seek the light and guidance of that bpirit, under whose inspiration it was penned. It is promised to guide you into all truth." This is the language of the British and Foreign Bible Society. How simple its object— we cannot but approve. And then its anti-sectarian character. It embraces in its constitution, Christians of every denomination ; it unites all who receive the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, in one grand cfibrt to spiead the knowledge of God. (Cheers.) The resolution I hold iv my hand, refers to the effects that have followed the leading ot the New Testament by the New Zealandtr. Having been a few years iv the land, I can bear testimony to the good elFects of Scripture doctrine among the New Zedlauders ; and I bid defiance to all the little scribblers who who have chosen to go to England, and write a hook on New Zealand, to prove the truth ol statements they have had the effrontery to publish to the world. A book lately published, says, " that the worst natives are always those who have leccived missionary instruction;" and that the crime of stealing- was almost unknown among them, before they had missionaries. How a mau could write such a barefaced falsehood, lamat a loss to conceive. (Hear, hear.) "Why, sir, what was the custom of the New Zealauder some 25 years ago, in reference to vessels that happened to be wrecked on their coasts. Did he not rob, and plunder, and murder? And what, I ask, would have been the consequences at that period, of the same number of Euiopeans taking up their abode in New Zealand, and bringing such a large amount "of property to these shores ? Would it have been prudent, would it have been safe, without a very large military force to protect them ? 1 believe not ; and if the Bible had not preceded, colonisation could not have been accomplished. The diffusiou of Scripture knowledge done no £ood ! What has terminated the sanguinary wars of the New Zealander? William Naylor, a powerful chief of Wain^aroa, known to some of you, told me that it was an argument drawn from Scripture, that first induced him to give up fighting. He was on the eve of departing on an expedition of war, to seek revenge for some of his friends that had fallen in a previous contest ; a Missionary arrived at his "kainga," and just as they were going to start, he reasoned with him, and tried to dissuade him from his purpose; and it was this argument that prevailed—" Leave it," said the Mis sionary, " till the day of judgment, and the Great God will avenge the death of your friends, ior he will judge every man and reward every man according to his works!" That fastened on his mind : he called to his friends, <• Listen, the Pakehsi says, that God will utu the death of our friends— let us leave it with him ;" and from that time to this, he has never engaged iv war. (Cheers.) What saved the few remaining aborigines ot the Taranaki district, that had betiti well uigh utterly depopulated by successive yeais of war and bloodshed? The diffusion of Scripture pnuciples has preseived them alive. Some may say that war has not entirely ceased. It has not. New circumstances, into which the half-civil-ized New Zealander has been thiown, have, m some cases, led to war ; but lam fully persuaded that their late wars have been much les-. sanguinary than they would have been, it they had not had the Scriptures among them. 1 was struck with this on one of my visits to Manukau. During the late quarrel, when on my letum from the Ngatiteata, to Bunting's camp, I found them all on their knees, in solemn piayer to God that he would interfere, and prevent the threatened "kino." Instead of charging their muskets with which to receive the other party, they commended the affair to God, and met them ■with empty guns ; and who can tell but that Divine Providence, in answer to their prayers, prevented bloodshed on that occasion. What was it that taught ihem this, but the Word of God? (Cheers.) As to the general good effects of the reading ot the Sciiptures on the mind of the New Zealander, 1 can give you another fact, that transpired not 100 miles from this place, nor six months a^o. Some Europeans had engaged natives to accompany them on a journey, and carry 'their luggage. The Sabbath overtook them on the road ; tue Pakeha wished to proceed,-— the natives said, " No, it is Sabbath, we must res>t." The Fakehas went forward without them, and when the natives accomplished the journey, they refused to pay them ; assiguiug as a reason they would not travel with them uu the Sabbath. The natives enquired, " What are we to with the law of God V " What have 1 to do with that law, — what is that law to me V was the reply. The native rebuked his friend, by saying, " You have much to do with that law. Were it not for the law of God, we should not have exercised the forbearance we have, on your refusal to give us payment ; we should have robbed you, and taken ail you possessed, and sent you about your business. You have that much to do with the law of God." (Cheers.) In the face of such a fact, will any man dare to say, much less publish to the world, that the New Zealauder is woise for the instructions he has received ? Or, that the Scripture has done him no good ? They have greaily impi oved his mural condition ; and we cannot hesitate to give our support to a Society that proposes such objects, and the labours, of which aie followed by such effects on the moral conditiou of mankind. [ beg, most cordially, to second the resolution. The Speaker sat down amidst prolonged applause. The Chairman then put the question, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted. He said, before I call upon the mover of the next Resolution, 1 will inform the Meeting, that in all probability, our Excellent Governor will become the Patron of this Society. I have been favoured with an interview with His Excellency, »nd on stating my conviction that he would sympathise ■with the principles and objects of the Bible Society, he

expressed his coidial approbation of the cause, and believed that he had acted as the Patron of a similar Institution in a neighbouiing Colony, but requested a little time before lie gave his consent to sustain the same relation here, as lie always liked to think over any thing he was about to do before he did it, — I therefore hope that we may reasonably anticipate the future patronage and co-operation of our Governor. Before I sit down, I will relate an anecdote of a good old lady who attended a Bible Society Meeting at Penzance, upon an occasion when there was agreatmany speakers, and a great deal of mteresting information communicated. When it was all over, a friend asked her how she liked the Meeting, "Oh very much, said she, but blessed are the men of short speeches." (Laughter.) The Rev. J. Buller, then rose to move the second Resolution :— 2nd. — That the following gentlemen be the Officers and Committee, namely — President — The Rev. W. Lawry, General Superintendent of the Weslcyan Missions in Nev/ Zealand. Treasurer — The Hon. Alexander Shepherd, Colonial Treasurer. Secretaries — The Rev. W. Comrie, and the Rev. T. Buddie. Depositary^- Mr. John Williamson. Committee — Messrs. Forsaith, Hughes, Eliott, Coney, and Gorrie, with the Officers of the Society, and with power to add to their number. The Rev. Gentlemau having, read the Resolution) said,— Sir, 1 am sure it may be fairly presumed that each andallthe respected individuals herein named, will feel themselves honored by being thus connected with an Institution so noble, so catholic, so divine, as that of the British and Foreign Bible Society. It has been often repeated, that the venerable monarch of Great Britain, George 3rd, was once heaid to say, " that he wished every subject of the realm to become possessed of a copy of the Holy Scriptures." We venerate the pious wish of that -excellent King. But the objects of this Society go far beyond it. It aims not merely at the supply of all the subjects of the extensive dominions of the British empire with the woid of life, but, also, that it may be clothed in the language " of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues," until every child of Adam— svery earthly subject of the King of Kings, shall "know the holy Scriptures which aie able to make him wise unto Salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus " (Hear, hear). I cannot, sir, for a moment, conceive that any man who professes himself a Protestant, or who would contend for the principles of Protestantism, can withhold his influence or refuse his co-operation with such a Society as this. Never can we forget the memorable saying of the immortal Chillingworth, " the Bible — the Bible alone is the Religion of Protestants." And who Sir can calculate the I amount of good which that man effects who is, in any way iustrumental in the conversion of a single soul. The preaching of the Gospel, it is admitted, is the grand instrument of man's salvation; but subsidiary to this the circulation of the pure and uneomipted word of the living God is of the first importance. (Hear, hear.) Nor can we as Protestants, in this day of the strenuous exertions of the man of sin, offer a more effectual antidote to that corrupt and dangerous form of Christianity known to us by the name of Popery, than by an extensive chculation of the Bible. Why, Sir, it was but a day or two ago that I was reading a well authenticated account of an intelligent and respectable family in France having been converted from the errors of Popery to the truth of Protestantism, and still more to the saving " truth as it is in Him," by the simple reading of tho Bible without note or comment by accidental, or rather I should say, by Providential means. And, Sir, do you require further proof of my position, then I would beg you to ask the Popish Priests now in New Zealand, why they realize so little measure of success among the natives. "Ah," they will tell you, " that book the Bible was here before us." (Cheers ) Again, go to those disappointed Priests in the Friendly Islands and ask them why their Mission is unsuccessful, "Oh," they will tell you, " the Missionaries were here before us, and the people had received the Scriptures." (Hear, hear.) Then go to Wallis's and Gambier Island, and enquire the reason of that success which has enabled them, on the foundation of heathen superstition, to erect a fabric more dangerous than was heathenism itself, and they will tiiumphantly inform you that the Bible had not forestalled them, yea, and they appear determined that the Bible shall not follow them, for they have resolved not only to proscribe the Bible, but that no one who believes the Bible — and who is called a Protestant, whether of the English, or any other nation, shall find a resting place on the shores of those ill-fated isles. But, Sir, the Bible aims at more than the removal of error, its object is the eternal salvation of precious immortal souls. Had the Bible Society done no more than it has accomplished for New Zealand, it had done much. You have heard, from my excellent brother Buddie, something of the good which the Bible has wrought here. Sir I would send you to the most unexceptionable witnesses — I would send you to the natives themselves. Let any man go among them and enquire —Was not your land, but a few years ago a land of murder, of cannibalism, of war ? — and they will answer, yes. Then ask them what has effected the change in their character ?— and they, to a man, will ask you " What ! do you not know that the word of God has done it]?" (Cheers.) And I could, Sir, were it necessary, produce upon this platform many of the once heathen natives of New Zealand who have proved in their own experience, that " the Gospel of Christ is the power of God, unto salvation to every one that believeth." But there is an awful consideration that suggests itself to my mind, in association with this tiain ol thought, and that is, that the Bible was not here before. I was one day discoursing with a heathen chief upon the Wairoa, on the great subject of Christianity, when he observed, — "But if it be so, and if you, (meaning the nation of Great Britain) really felt so concerned for our salvation, as you profess, why then did you not send us the Bible instead of the Musket, when Hongi returned from England. Then you might have found a people here who would listen to your words. But Hongi brought the musket, and our now depopulated kaingas bear a silent witness to its desolating influence." This closed my mouth-; and I felt, and now feel, that a heavy responsibility lies at the door of the Christian Chmch. May we, then, Sir, as a community of enlightened Protestants, now do what we can and testify the sincerity of our lepentance for past guilt, by employing our most vigorous efforts in order to the universal diffusion of the Word of Truth. (Cheers.) With these observations, I beg to move the second Resolution. The Rev. G. Kevern, in seconding the resolution, said — I should not feel justified, at this late hour, in detaining the meeting by any lengthened observations upon the reolution ; I will therefore endeavour to inherit the blessing of the good old lady of Penzance, by simply giving it my cordial support. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously, and the meeting concluded with singing and prayer.