of the heart, which can first reach the ear of mercy. This must be offered. Whoever heard of a dispensation of mercy, that extended to those who did not ask for mercy, and who despised both the gift and the Giver.

The writer of this article is well aware, that they who make the honors and pleasures of this earth their idols and gods; that they who vainly attempt by their own reason, to resolve the mysterious organization and inscrutable economy of the universe, into fate and fixed laws and properties of matter, may deride and despise this humility. Neither is he unconscious, that they will tauntingly say, that this feel ing is the peculiar and privileg ed disposition of a sickly soul; that it is the distinguishing characteristic of soft and effeminate minds. Such persons may boast of the fire and splendor of their own genius, the dignity and lof tiness of their own feelings, the force and comprehension of that reason, which deprives the universe of a God, and blinds the possessor to a discovery of that intelligence, wisdom, and perfection, which are every where displayed over the face of creation, They may pretend, that should their characters be endued with this grace, all their magnificence of learning and their grandeur of conception would be annihilated; that the generous affections and noble passions, which swell in their bosoms, would be destroyed. Though these men

shall extol the dignity of their own natures, till they scorn to tread this base earth, and are lost amidst the clouds, yet in a day Lucifer may fall.

Place this miser, this votary of ambition and sensuality, this disbeliever of every thing divine, into some deep and impenetrable forest. Leave him here alone, far from the residence of man, to walk in this solitary wilderness; let midnight darkness hover over the woods in terrific gloom; let a solemn silence reign around. Then should all the wild beast of the deserts and mountains, in an instant commence their nightly howl; should that insatiable spirit of carnage, with which they pursue their prey, lead them near our hero's path, announcing their approach by a hungry yell and the glare of fiery eyes; should an impenetrable cloud now envelope the heavens; the air be rent with a tempest, and the oaks fall prostrate by the fury of the blast on every side; should the Mightiest put forth his voice in thunder from the skies; and the lightning descend in unceasing flashes into every part of the forest; would not horror seize his soul, and the belief of a God be extorted from his lips? Would he now arise and bow before his own majesty and reverence his august destiny? Confess O! man, that thou appearest as a flower, fleest away as a shadow, and continuest not.

PLAN OF A

GENERAL BIBLE

SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the Panoplist.

Dear Sir,

If you shall think the following communication worthy a place in your useful magazine, you will please to insert it. M.

THE attention which the religious public, in this country, have paid to the subject of distributing the Sacred Scriptures among the destitute, is a cause of joy to all, who wish for the happiness of their fellow men. But will not all admit that as yet the American Churches have done but very little in this good work, compared with their ability. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland expended the last year, in aid of this blessed object, nearly four hundred thousand dollars. The most that we have collected in the United States, in the same term of time, amounts but to a few thousands. No doubt the resources of our several Bible Societies are gradually increasing; but by no means in proportion to the increasing wants of the destitute, which are exposed to our view, even in our Own country.

Several months have elapsed since a representation of the destitute state of the numerous French Catholics, in the State of Louisiana and the Missouri Territory, was made known to the managers of several of our Bible Societies in the different states. It is ascertained, that between 40 and 50,000 Catholics reside in that portion of our country, and

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that nearly all of them are destitute of the Sacred Scriptures. It is likewise known, that the Catholic Bishop, and the principal Priest of the same order, residing in New Orleans, approve of the circulation of the Scriptures in their several parishes. The Bishop, at the time of the formation of the Bible Society at the last named place, expressed his willingness to contribute in favor of the institution. At the same time, there were many applications for the Bible in the French language by the Catholics. But no Bibles were to be found in the city, either for tuitous distribution, or for sale. There were a very few copies of the Testament, the prime cost of which might have been 50, or 75 cents. These sold at four dollars a copy. There was no prospect that the wants of the needy could be supplied, unless by the active exertion of the Bible society, whose funds were considerable. The above statement, as has been observed, was some months,since made to the managers of several of our Bible Societies; but what has been done worthy the character of these religious charitable societies, the writer is not able to say. He cannot learn, however, that any step has been taken, which promises to relieve the necessi ties of the inhabitants residing in the portion of country now under consideration. And it still remains a question, whether, with the resources of our numerous Bible Societies, established in almost every state in

At the

the Union, we have the disposition, or ability, to obtain 4 or 5,000 copies of the Scriptures in the French Language, to bestow as a partial supply for the 40 or 50,000 French Catholics who are destitute; many of whom are ready and anxious to receive such a treasure. Four thousand copies of the Scriptures for this purpose, printed in this country, would cost, perhaps, 6,000 dollars. The same number of copies might be obtained, it is likely, at a lower rate by applying to the Directors of the British and Foreign Bible Society. This supply of Bibles might be printed here, or obtained from abroad, as should be thought expedient. present time, to accomplish our object, we have to go or send to the several Bible Societies from Maine to Georgia; and to wait until we receive information from the directing Committee. Four, five, or six months must elapse, and perhaps a year, before we are able to make a report. And by this time the most favorable opportunity for distributing the Bible may have passed by. And although it may be found, that we are possessed of ability to effect the desired object, yet if we are obliged to conduct in this way, we shall be very liable to be defeated; and, after all our efforts, we may have to send to the Directors of the British and Foreign Bible Society, requesting that they would make a donation of Bibles for the supply of the destitute within the limits of the United States.

The American Churches are, at the present time, called upon to favor the destitute, in a certain section of our country, with

the Bible. Although these people are called Christians, they have not the Bible in their possession; and of course are not acquainted with its contents. We may reasonably expect, that applications of a like kind will be made, if not from within the limits of the United States, from other parts of our own continent. A large extent of country will probably be opened in New Spain for the circulation of the Scriptures, in the Spanish language; and, no doubt, pressing applications from that quarter, will shortly solicit our attention; even before we have suitably noticed those which are now before us.

To the writer it appears a perfectly plain case, that as a Christian nation we are not likely to labor at all according to our abil ity, (I would charitably hope we shall not want a disposition,) for the relief of the needy in our own country and abroad, until we have some general bond of union; and can, upon an emergency, as circumstances may direct, bring some portion of the resources of our several Bible Societies to one point. By this mean we may be enabled to ac complish with case, that which in our present disjointed state, costs us so much labor, and is attended with so much delay, and perhaps, eventually, with a disastrous defeat.

At this time, Sir, permit me to present to you, and through you to the public, the sketch of a plan, which, it is heped, if adopted, will enable Christians of the different religious denominations among us to act in character upon the subject under consideration.

I would propose the forma tion of a General Bible Society, open for the mission of all persons, of wh tever religious denomination, in the United States, who are disposed to take an active part in this good work. A day should be appointed for the formation of the Society, and delegates be requested to attend from the several religious denominations.

It would, most probably, be thought expedient, that the Society should be formed in Phila. delphia, or, at least, that the Directing Committee should be long to that city.

The time for the first meet ing might be in the month of May, at or near the time of the sitting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which place and time would accommodate many of the delegates, who might be appointed to attend..

The Institution now contemplated should not interfere with any Bible Societies already established, though it is hoped, should it succeed, its funds would be increased by donations from these societies.

It might be provided that delegates, after the formation of the Society, should be sent annually from the several Bible Societies in the different states.

I will now enumerate some of the reasons, which have occurred to me in favor of the proposed plan.

1. The destitute portions of our own country from the northeastern to the south-western extremities of the Union, would be more fully known to the religious public; as the information would be contained in the Re

ports of the several Bible Societies and included in the Report of the General Society.

2 By means of this information, funds might be collected to a greater amount, and a more general distribution of the Bible be effected.

3. Bibles might be obtained at a lower rate, and executed.in a better manner, by combining our efforts for this purpose.

4. Should an opportunity present itself for the distribution of the Sacred Scriptures, in any other than the English language, either within or without the limits of the United States, we should be able to ascertain our ability, by applying to the Directing Committee of the General Bible Society.

I would hope, that as a friend to the kingdom of the Prince of peace, as a friend to the immortal souls of my fellow-men, their temporal as well as their eternal felicity, I have been constrained to offer the preceding thoughts. upon this greatly interesting and important subject.

For the Panoplist.

ABUSE OF THE LATE HARVEST.

tion of grain and other valuable productions of the soil into noxious ardent spirits.

The first reflection which oc. curs to the mind is, that such an abuse is a heinous act of ingrati tude to God. It will not be contended, I suppose, that rye and potatoes are converted into whisky as a medicine, and from a pure regard to the health of the community. If this should be urged, it will be admitted by all that the quantity necessary as a medicine is extremely small; so small that a single distillery would supply all the apothecaries' shops in the United States. It follows, then, that the distillation of immense quantities of baneful spirit from grain, which was bountifully given to support life, is an act of heinous ingratitude to God Whatever might be said of conducting distilleries of grain on a small scale, it is beyond all question extremely pernicious, when the business is carried to such an extent, as to raise the price of provisions, fill all our retailers' shops with a noxious liquor, and furnish the vicious with the means of ruin ing themselves and their families. What can be done to remedy this evil is not so easy to specify, as it is to estimate the magnitude of the evil itself. In its first beginnings, the price of several most important articles of food was nearly doubled. If it should progress as it has begun, a very large proportion of the industrious and temperate members of society will be severely straitened to procure bread for their families; and all this after one of the most abun dant seasons which this country ever experienced.

Let us seriously consider how odious and abominable it must appear in the sight of God, that the rich supplies of his bounty should be immediately converted into the means of sinning against him-into the means of increasing and perpetuating sin and misery without limit and without end. The sound part of the community should see and lament this ungrateful and unnatural conduct; they should regard it as a national calamity of no ordinary magnitude, and as a national sin which sheds a melancholy gloom over our future prospects. From a share in the guilt no individual can be free who does not engage zealously in every promising scheme of counteracting and suppressing so great an evil. It is difficult, as has been intimated, to prescribe adequate remedies for so dangerous a malady. The following are suggested as as the only practicable means of effectuating a change for the better, which have presented themselves to my mind.

1. All who regard this evil in the same light with the writer should unite in petitioning Congress to lay a heavy tax on domestic distilled liquors. If a tax should be imposed, it would operate to some extent at least to suppress the evil. I take it for granted, that the tax now imposed upon stills is so extremely small, as to have scarcely a perceptible effect. If the petitions should not be successful, they would at least awaken the attention of the public to the nature of the subject; and this would of itself be a great achievement.

2. Moral Societies should be formed, wherever they can be