estant Nations, is matter of astonishment and sorrow. They, who had boldly asserted and triumphantly vindicated the liberty of conscience, the duty of private judgment, and the simple, fundamental truth, that the Bible is the religion of Protestants, they, yes, even they overlooked the grand, practical improvement of their victory. Even the controversial spirit of the first age of the Reformation, seems hardly to account for such an oversight. Perhaps the want of education in the people at large, is the only satisfactory explanation, and the only reasonable excuse. Hence the vast progress in general education since that era, more especially in these United States, leaves us without an apology. The many and great improvements in the Art of Printing, in our day and our country, and especially in the stereotype department, place the obligation on still higher ground. The difficulty of distributing Bibles, when manuscript copies only were known, must have been almost insuperable; and it is matter of surprise, not that so many, comparatively speaking, were distributed in manuscript, before the invention of Printing, as that so few printed copies were scattered abroad, after the close of the fifteenth century. It well becomes, then, the people of this Republic, the noblest fruit of the Reformation, the fairest star in the galaxy of Protestant nations, to scatter the Scriptures with a liberal hand, throughout their own, and all other countries.

Two considerations decide my opinion on this subject. First-The analogy, gathered from received opinions and practices, as to political institutions, convinces us, that the distribution of the Scriptures is a duty equally clear, in its obligation and expediency. All must admit, that an ignorance of their own institutions, becomes slaves, and not freemen. To have a Constitution, and not to know and understand it, may well characterize the subjects of a tyrant, but not the citizens of a representative democracy. And what are the Scriptures, but the constitution of our country, as a religious community, acknowledging obedience to the law of the Scriptures, as our best, and safest, and most honorable guide. Banish from our land the knowledge of our political institutions, and how soon would our boasted freedom perish! Take away from us our religion, and not only our liberty would die, but we should be a changed people, in domestic and social happiness, in public and private im provement.

My second reason is found in the fact, that the people of this country are striving with enlightened zeal, and unwearied diligence, to carry into practice, a scheme of general instruction. And what book is adapted, like the Scriptures, to every stage in the progress of education? What volume fits the human mind equally, in all the various forms of its capacity, and all the various states of its knowledge? Where shall we look for such a collection of history, the most important and authentic; of eloquence the most dignified and affecting; of philosophy, the most comprehensive, profound and useful; of poetry, the loveliest and purest, the most sublime and pathetic? In vain may we search the treasures of ancient and modern genius and learning, for a volume equally important, to the old and the young, the wise and the ignorant, the prosperous and the unfortunate, the happy and the miserable, the great and the humble, the ruler and the citizen. In every state of society, under all forms of government, in peace or in war, during national happiness or national adversity, and amidst all the variety of revolutions, to which States are subject, the Bible is the only book, that is equally indispensable. How, then, can we doubt for a moment, the obligation and expediency of scattering it far and wide, as the precious manna, provided for us and our fellow men, in our journey through the wilderness of this world? And must we not concede, that the Bible is the only true foundation, on which to build, whether we look to the mind or to the heart, to principle or example, to character or conduct? Who then, is prepared to question, who, indeed, is not prepared to admit, THAT THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY TRUE BASIS OF ALL EDUCATION, in the infant and the primary school, in the Academy, the College, and the University? Well may we mourn, with mingled shame and remorse, since we must confess, that even our country, the land of Religion, pure, simple and free, of enlightened reason, and sound practical sense, has never yet realized the SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF THIS GREAT TRUTH. May the Teachers in all our Seminaries, reflect on this solemn truth, the Bible is the only true basis of all education. May the Clergy, on whom rests so large a share of the responsi bility of instruction, and of all our schemes of mental improvement, meditate on this neglected truth, the Bible is the only true basis of all education. Let them, and I speak emphatically to them, as the noblest order of teachers, let them

remember, that the Bible only can fit us for the company of angels, and the presence of God; that man is educated in the school of Time, to fit him for the concerns of Eternity; that life is to be spent here in preparation for heaven; that the Bible, therefore, as the only true basis of our ETERNAL, must be the only true basis of our TEMPORAL education. Go on, then, ye friends and servants of the Bible Cause. Rest not from your labors of faith and love, till the pious wish of George the Third, incomparably more noble and benevolent than that of Henry the Fourth, shall have been accomplished and not a family within our borders, shall be destitute of the Scriptures. Be it then your delightful duty, to go forth as pioneers in the cause of Christian improvement: to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight in the desert a highway for our God: and to lay the foundations, broad and deep, durable and extensive, of a purer and better, of a more practical and harmonious scheme of Christian education.

2. The second object of this building is, to provide a suitable Depository for the Tract Society. When we consider, that until the institution of such Societies, pamphlets were chiefly employed in controversy, we rejoice to find that they have thus become instruments of so much good. Voltaire employed them for the destruction of religion, we employ them in the cause of piety and benevolence. Allow me to recommend the object of this Society, to your approbation and patronage, by several reasons, derived from their nature. The great improvement, which has taken place within a few years, in the style and subjects, in the form and appearance of Tracts, justifies a warmer commendation, than would otherwise be correct. The adoption of narrative Tracts, to so great an extent, in preference to those of doctrinal, sectarian, or merely preceptive character, may well be mentioned with the highest satisfaction. Such as those are written after the model of the Savior's parables, so beautiful, touching and practical; and many of them are admirably fitted to engage the attention of the young, and indeed of every age and condition in life. Thus teaching, after the approved mode of the Scriptures, they contribute to form an early taste for reading; and to fashion the youthful mind and heart, in conformity with the pure and simple standard of the Gospel. Nor must it be forgotten, that they are an excellent auxiliary in education, and do much to train

the understanding and affections, for the instruction and dis cipline of schools. They exercise also, a most salutary influence on the young, by exhibiting so many practical proofs of the excellence of Christianity, by winning them insensibly and persuasively, to the love and imitation of scriptural sentiments and conduct, and by so preparing the mind and heart, that the young grow up unconsciously, with a settled belief in the truth and divine authority of revelation. Nor must we omit to mention, that Tracts are a great advantage, not only to children, but likewise to persons of every other age. Those, who have neither time, nor patience for the perusal of a volume, readily and willingly spend an hour, in the reading of these little pamphlets. In how many instances do we not know, that they have produced a happy change in the lives of those, who had read them! And, can we doubt, that, like all other sources of virtuous influence, they have enlightened the ignorant, encouraged the desponding, strengthened the weak and confirmed the wavering, in thousands of instances, unknown to their Patrons and Benefactors. this point of view, we desire to place the cause of the Tract, on the same ground, on which experience places the example of a good man. He himself but rarely knows the blessed effects, resulting from the model of living excellence, which he continually presents to the public; and even his friends and acquaintances have but an imperfect knowledge of the benefits, that flow from his virtuous conduct, within his social circle, much less within the sphere of the community, in which he lives. Yet, although we neither see nor hear of them, we have no doubt that a blessing has been shed. upon numbers around him, by the faithfulness of his obedience to God, and the benevolence of his services to Man.

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3. The third object of this building is, to furnish a Depository for the Sunday School. The general adoption of this system, among Christians, is a satisfactory proof of its many excellences. Like every other scheme of instruction, which prepares the way for the succeeding part of the course, this fills up an important blank in the education of most young persons. Some, it is true, would be as well informed in religious matters, though not a Sunday School existed; but the number of these is unquestionably small. I believe, I err not in the opinion, that numbers would remain untaught, where one would be what he should be. How admirable, then, is the scheme, which rescues the many from ignorance

and wickedness! which makes them models of virtue, in stead of examples of vice! How worthy of our veneration and patronage is a system, whose purifying, ennobling influences, cling, as with a mother's love, to the character of children: and, exerting through life, an unexampled power over their habits and affections, have saved them, almost invariably from the degradation of folly, and the misery of sin! I shall not dwell on the various arguments in favor of Sunday Schools; for the fact just mentioned, and the hundreds of thousands of children, brought under their blessed operation, sufficiently attest their capacity to do good, and the actual benefits derived from them.

Let us not be impatient as to the results, that may be expected to flow from the institutions, of which I have spoken. That noble, extensive, durable effects will arise from them, cannot be doubted. Let us reflect on the few and simple elements which constitute our admirable state of society and form of government. Let us remember, that our people continued a century and a half, as it were in a state of probation, under their influence, before they began to produce those visible fruits, which now adorn and bless our native country. Let us consider, how imperfectly we ourselves comprehended our actual situation and prospects, even after the great principles of our society and government had begun to develope themselves. Let us look back on the prophetic sketches of Edmund Burke, either not understood in their day, or ridiculed as visionary. In all these things, we may behold a happy illustration of the future progress of Society in these United States, under the religious, and moral, and literary influences, of which I have spoken. Even now, when we behold the glorious triumph of our experiment in government thus far, we find it impossible to trace, through all their changes, and under all the various forms of their subtle agency, the principles that have worked together for our good, in a manner unexampled in the history of Nations. How then shall we hope to discover by anticipation, the results that must arise from the select and all-pervading influence of the Bible, the Tract, and the Sunday School? That they must and will produce deep and lasting effects on the heart and mind, and through them on our entire character, social and domestic, private and public, cannot be questioned. That their operation will be eminently beneficial, must be conceded; because they harmo