their guilt who should offend one of these little ones,'-one such humble believer. Now, without referring to the original, the meaning of 'offend,' in this passage, plainly is, he who causeth another to sin.— See 8th and 9th verses. Does not, then, the 7th verse naturally follow? Woe unto the world because of offences!' Woe unto those who cause others to err. 'For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.' For this being a probationary state, such temptations must come, but woe to that man by whom the temptation cometh. In the 8th and 9th verses, our Saviour shews, by a strong metaphor, that it is necessary that every man should use violence towards his own passions and desires, if they offend, if they should cause him to sin. Our Saviour then declares, that little' one, a a man possessing neither rank, talents, nor wealth, but a humble believer in the Gospel, is precious in the sight of his Father in Heaven. - This, Sir, seems to me to be the sense of the passage to which I have alluded, but I know there are great authorities against me. The pious and learned Bishop Middleton, in his work on the Doctrine of the Greek Article (p. 240) expressed his opinion that our Saviour entered upon a new subject at the 7th verse; and that the offences alluded to are the calamities and persecutions which threatened the Christian Church. Such also, he tells us, was the opinion of Voesselt, approved by Schleusner. Michaelis, too, in his version after 'offences,' inserts" which the world will take at the Gospel." Is not this supposed allusion somewhat improbable, especially as it is not continued in the following verses? There is no doubt our Saviour, by offences,' might allude to the public persecutions by which the Church in the first ages was so frequently visited; but looking at the context, I am disposed to think that the offences alluded to are of a more private and general kind. In the two following verses, he certainly alludes to those offences' which proceed out of a man's own heart. I am your obedient servant, C. R. MONTHLY REGISTER. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. LIVERPOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE. THE Liverpool District Committee, in commencing their Report for the past year, consider it their duty first to return their thanks to the numerous supporters and friends of this Institution, and, at the same time, to congratulate them on the present improved state of its finances. Of the important services rendered to it by our Diocesan, they must ever retain a grateful recollection; his kind and zealous exertions excited a general and lively interest in its favour, which has since been manifested by an accession of four hundred and eighty-nine new annual subscribers to the District Fund; besides donations from one hundred and twenty-one individuals, and sundry sums of five shillings and under, amounting in the whole to 1837. 16s. 6d. And, in the course of the year, the sum of 121l. 13s. 11 d. 'brance of a burdensome debt, and also to open a new depository, in Ranelagh-street, for the sale of the Society's publications, not only to its members, but to the public at large, on very low and advantageous terms. In addition, likewise, to the Parochial Libraries enumerated in their last Report, the Committee have established a general Circulating Library composed of the books on the Society's list, to which there are, at present, upwards of sixty subscribers, at the rate of two shillings each per annum ; and there is great reason to hope, that from this new establishment, the lower and the labouring classes of the community will derive the means of both instruction and amusement. The following is an account of the number and description of books which have hitherto been distributed by the Committee: Bd. Books, From its first opening in The Committee have great satisfaction in observing, that the foregoing statement exhibits a pleasing proof of a recent and considerable increase in the demand for the Society's publications, which may justly be attributed to the new arrangements which have been lately formed for the better accommodation of the public. The number of books, &c. issued during the last year, consisted of 806 Bibles, 684 Testaments, 2211 Prayer Books, 20,762 Tracts and School Books, and 18,094 Cards; making an excess of 146 Bibles, 125 Testaments, 767 Prayer Books, 4880 bound Books, Tracts and School Books; which, taken collectively, amounts to 5918 12637 97802 142306 259692 beyond the distribution of the former year. The total number, therefore, of the books, &c. issued by the Committee from the first opening of their Depository in the year 1816, to the 31st December, 1825, will be found to amount to two hundred and fifty-nine thousand six hundred and ninety-two. Of the benefits likely to ensue from so vast and general a dispersion of the Scriptures, the Book of Common Prayer, and of moral and religious Tracts, among the poor of this populous town and neighbourhood for their edification and comfort, it is hardly possible to form a just and proper estimate, since the salutary effects thereby produced may, under the Of these, 1823 were bound, 6536 Tracts half-bound, and the remaining 13,003 were School Books. divine blessing, be transmitted to succeeding generations. In regard to the Charity Schools in the town of Liverpool and its vicinity, in connexion with the Established Church, the Committee have only to state, that to those enumerated in a former Report, two more are to be added, the one established by the Trustees of the School in St. James's Road, and the other lately opened at Edge Hill: the former for the recep tion of 105 girls; and the latter of 103 boys, and 40 girls. The schools, therefore, which have been thus far supplied by the Committee with the Society's Tracts and Papers, amount in number to thirty-nine, in which about five thousand seven hundred children are now receiving their education. Of the children educated in the Blue Coat Hospital, seventy-three having, in the course of the year, completed their respective terms, the like number of Bibles and Prayer Books were presented, by an order of the Committee, to fifty-seven boys and sixteen girls, who, by their good behaviour, had recommended themselves to the notice of the Governors. A set of books contained in the Parochial Lending Library, consisting of thirty volumes, was given, by the Committee, to the Liverpool Infirmary for the use of the sick patients; and to the Lunatic Asylum, seven Bibles and twenty-four Prayer Books were also granted for the like purpose. To the Parochial Lending Library at St. Paul's, the books inserted in the supplemental Catalogue were, in like manner, added by the Committee. The Committee direct the attention of the Subscribers to the present promising state of the District Fund. To their Treasurer every acknowledgment is due for his active exertions in behalf of this Institution. It will appear from his accounts, that notwithstanding the extraordinary expenditure of the year, necessarily occasioned by the fitting up of the New Depository, and the considerable addition which has been made to the former stock of books, in order to meet the daily demands of the public; there was not a debt, incurred by the Committee, which has not been discharged; nor is there a single arrear of the annual subscriptions which remains to be called for by his successor. There is a balance, moreover, of 211. 16s. 10d. due to the fund: besides the value of the stock of books in hand, which has been recently estimated at 3177. and upwards. DONCASTER DISTRICT COMMITTEE. Eighth Annual Report, read in the Parish Vestry, on Saturday, the 11th of March, 1826. WE are not informed whether the meeting was numerously attended, or whether the public were invited to be instructed by the excellent Report, and to be encouraged by its cheering statements, to be liberal in their contributions. We are glad to observe the names of many of the laity amongst the subscribers, and that in some parishes small sums of 5s. and 2s. 6d. have been subscribed: this is as it should be; it is the duty of all classes to subscribe, and all should be applied to and made acquainted with their duty. EXTRACT FROM REPORT. The Committee of members of the Society for Promoting Christian Know ledge within the deanery of Doncaster, in presenting the Eighth Annual Report of their proceedings, beg to inform the subscribers and friends of this Institution, that in the course of the year ending December 31, 1825, the following number of Bibles, Prayer-books, and Tracts, have been issued from the local depository:Bibles, 195; Testaments, 182; Common Prayer, 588; Psalters, 113; bound books, 496; tracts, 6730: school books, 2835.-And in order that the public at large may be enabled to form a correct opinion of the importance of such an institution, and thereby to appreciate its very great local utility, the following statement is given of the number of books which have been distributed by its means in the town and neighbourhood of Doncaster, since its first establishment in the year 1818:-1093 Bibles; 1141 Testaments; 2858 Prayer-books; and upwards of thirty thousand approved religious books and tracts. But the Committee have reserved the most important information which they have on the present occasion to communicate to their friends, to the conclusion of their Report. Convinced of the peculiar benefits and importance of parochial lending libraries, they have at all times, in contormity with the directions and practice of the Society, been anxious to render every assistance in their power towards the formation of them. Six years have now elapsed since the Society, by their annual report, and circulars addressed to the parochial clergy, endeavoured to call the attention of the religious public to the advantages to be derived from this mode of circulating its various publications. That the pious intentions of the Society in this respect have not been so generally carried into effect as might have been expected, has, perhaps, arisen from local circumstances; but the importance of lending libraries has now become so plainly obvious, that the Committee hope, ere long, to see them not only established in every parish, however small, but attached to every school within the deanery. "labours have not been in vain," but that some of the good seed, so plentifully sown, has fallen on good ground," and will, by the Divine blessing, "bring forth fruit unto everlasting life." While, therefore, your Committee pledge themselves with renewed activity and zeal "to plant and to water," in the firm but humble hope that the seed thus sown will be matured in God's good time into a rich and plentiful harvest, they consider themselves justified, from the highest motives, in recommending this venerable and truly Christian Society to the zealous and affectionate support of all who have at heart the present and eternal welfare of their poorer fellow-creatures-a Society in which "simplicity and godly sincerity" have ever been conspicuous, and which by the most temperate aud unobjectionable means has ever been found steadily pursuing its benevolent object, "the promotion of true and genuine Christianity throughout the world." Treasurer's Account of Receipts and Payments from January 1st, to December 31st, 1825. RECEIPTS. £. S. d. Balance in the Treasurer's ........ The Committee, in closing this the feel assured that the information which on Society's Account Collection at Doncaster Church PAYMENTS. .... 93 16 6 1 11 6 52 0 0 9 3 41 14 11 8 3 6 6 16 6 102 11 6 £459 19 8 Remittances to Society .... £. 8. d. 245 3 9 27 9 7 187 6 £459 19 8 SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL. DONCASTER DISTRICT COMMITTEE. WE have great pleasure in presenting our readers with the First Report of the Doncaster District Committee of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, held in the Parish Vestry, on Saturday, the 11th day of March, 1826; and we trust we shall receive many similar communications. We must, however, express our regret, in having noticed the names of only twelve laymen amongst the subscribers. We should, indeed, have been glad to have learnt that the meeting had been numerously attended by them, as well as that their subscriptions had been liberal. The Society cannot be supported in a way worthy of the Gospel which it propagates, unless the members of our Church are made to appreciate its high claims and importance. Patron-The Venerable Archdeacon Markham. President-Sir W. B. Cooke, Bart. Treasurers-Sir W. B. Cooke, Bart. and Co. Secretaries-The Rev. P. Ashworth, and P. Naylor, Esq. EXTRACT FROM REPORT. The Doncaster District Committee beg to lay before the public the subjoined statement of their receipts and expenditure during the past year. Since the establishment of the Committee in December, 1824, they have the pleasure to report, that thirtynine subscribers have been obtained, and that upwards of 70l. have been transmitted by the Secretaries to the Society. The Doncaster Committee anxiously entreat the friends of the Established Church within the deanery, to cooperate with them in obtaining additional subscribers to the funds of the Society, being fully assured, that the more its truly Christian objects and labours are known, the greater support will it receive from those who, having themselves felt the blessings and consolations of the Gospel of Christ, are anxious to diffuse the knowledge of the same, in all its native purity, among the unconverted nations of the world. If, as we are assured by God himself, speaking by the mouth of his Prophet, "that from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, his name shall be great among the Gentiles," and that "all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ "-happy surely are those Christians, who shall be the instruments of accomplishing what Providence so graciously intends; and who, sharing in the heavenly work, shall share also in the glorious rewards promised to those who "turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." True, the particular "times and seasons we know not," for "God hath reserved them in his own power;" but this we know, that 66 go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," was the last solemn injunction of our Lord, not only to his then disciples, but to all who should hereafter believe in his name; and, therefore, the joint obligations of gratitude and of duty imperiously require us to endeavour, by every legitimate means in our power, to enlarge the borders of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and to refresh with the day-spring from on high those who yet sit in darkness and the shadow of death." Nor let it be for one moment imagined, that this Society, during the long time it has now, under the blessing of heaven, been employed in "Propagating the Gospel," has, in any degree, interfered with that "for Promoting Christian Knowledge." As the revenues of the latter Society are principally expended in providing Bibles, Prayer-books, and other books of religious instruction, so those of the former are entirely devoted to the support of missions and schools among the heathen, and the dispersed of our own brethren in foreign parts. Formed nearly at the same period of time, and founded by the same benevolent individuals, these societies have ever been |