An Address to the Members of the Senate of the University of Cambridge, occasioned by the Proposal to introduce in that Place an Auxiliary Bible Society.

WE have at present two very extensive Bible Societies,

the one founded in 1699, the other in 1804. Both of our Archbishops and all our Bishops (with the Prince Regent at the head) are members of the former: neither of the two Archbishops, and only a small proportion of the Bishops are members of the latter. The members of the former, now amounting to about five thousand, are exclusively Churchmen, no one being admitted to it without testimony of his attachment to the Constitution, as well in Church as in State. The members of the latter are much more numerous, than those of the former; but they consist of Churchmen and Dissenters indiscriminately. The two Societies agree in the very laudable object of distributing Bibles, both at home and abroad, though the number of Bibles distributed by the latter, especially abroad, greatly exceeds the number distributed by the former. For not only are the funds of the latter much superior to those of the former, but those funds are employed in the distribution of Bibles only, whereas the funds of the former are employed partly on Bibles, partly on Prayer-Books, and partly on Religious

Tracts, which are in unison with the doctrine and discipline of the Established Church.

From this short statement it appears, that the former, or the ancient Society, is not only a Bible Society, but likewise (what the other is not) a Church-of-England Society. With the former it is an invariable rule, in promoting Christian Knowledge, to keep in view the doctrines, which the members of the Society believe and maintain. Especially, where the Church of England is established, they consider it as their duty to promote Christianity, not under any form, but under that particular form, which, above every other, they are pledged to support, which alone is the tenure of ecclesiastical and even of civil preferment. In conformity with that rule, the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge (the ancient Bible Society) distributes, in its home circulation, as well the Liturgy as the Bible: for though, in the spirit of true Protestantism, it acknowledges the Bible as the only fountain of religious truth, yet, it knows, from the experience of all ages, that the waters of that fountain will be clear or turbid, according to the channel into which they are drawn. And as the members of the Society believe (though without reproach to those whose belief is different) that the doctrines of the Liturgy are correctly derived from the Bible, they consider it as their indispensable duty to unite the one with the other. Indeed, uniformity of doctrine can never be produced without an adherence to this rule; for every Christian party either finds, or supposes that it finds, its peculiar doctrines in the Bible.-But this salutary rule, so necessary to promote uniformity, so desirable therefore by every true Churchman, cannot be observed by the modern Bible Society; for such a rule would not only be contrary to its present avowed object, but absolutely inadmissible from the very constitution of the Society. For it not only consists of Dissenters as well as of Churchmen!

but an equality of power and interest, between the two parties, is the avowed basis, on which this modern Society is built.

It is true, that those members of it, who are attached to the Church, may so far correct the evil, that when they have obtained Bibles for distribution from this Society, they may of themselves add Prayer-books, and Religious Tracts in unison with the established faith, and that this correction will be rendered easy, if (as frequently happens) they are members also of the other Society. But, to say nothing of the question, whether it is not more advisable for Churchmen to adhere wholly to a Society, which, in proportion as its numbers increase, will supply their wants without the necessity of correction, the dissenting members have the same resource with their brethren of the establishment, it being equally in their power to distribute Bibles in company with such Religious Tracts, as favor their own opinions, and are always at hand, whenever they are wanted. The principle of equality therefore, on which the modern Bible Society is formed, and which places Christians of every denomination on the same level, is, upon the whole, preserved : and in this constitutional equality there is evident danger, that the pre-eminence of the established religion should be gradually forgotten, and finally lost.

It is far from my intention to be unfriendly or disrespectful toward those, whose religious opinions are different from my own. Though sincerely attached to the Established Church, and desirous of promoting its welfare by all fair and honorable means, I fully recognise the natural, and in this country legal, right of private judgment in matters of religion; and I should be ever ready both to deplore and to oppose every effort to abridge the freedom of religious opinion, or religious worship, which is exercised in this country by Dissenters of every description. But though I respect