tist;" then to the issuing of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Baxter's Call to the Unconverted; and the addition, from year to year, of the various evangelical works now published by this institution.

The fact that the members of five evangelical denominations united in the Publishing Committee were equally cordial in adopting entire the three prominent works, Baxter's Saints' Rest, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Doddridge's Rise and Progress, filled their hearts with gratitude to God, and seemed a new testimony that he had called them to unite in this service. In their Annual Report for 1830, they say,

"The Committee believe that a faithful and prayerful examination of the publications of the Society cannot fail to result in a firm conviction of the kindness and mercy to a lost world, of that dispensation of Providence which brought it into operation in its present form, and has united in it the hearts and efforts of so many devout friends of Zion from different evangelical denominations. The members of the Publishing Committee, though from as many different Christian denominations as there are members, are united, not speculatively only, but as the Committee believe in heart, in those great fundamenta. truths and doctrines of the Bible which the Society is engaged in diffusing. The unanimous desire of all is, that those truths may be circulated which God shall render effectual in breaking the stubborn hearts of men, and bringing them into a sweet allegiance to Jesus Christ. They wish to be the instruments of exterminating vice in all its hideous forms, and promoting a sound morality

throughout the community; but they hope to do this mainly by showing the ruin of man by sin, and the way of escape and salvation through the atoning blood of Christ and the converting and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. They find in the constitution of the Society and of the Publishing Committee, no obstacle whatever to the inculcation, in their most impressive forms, of all those great soul-humbling and God-exalting truths which constitute the sum of the Gospel; and indeed, they know of no other publications in any language, exclusive of the Bible, in which these great truths are inculcated in a manner more forcible and heart-searching.

"The Committee have found, as they believe, in their own hearts, the blessedness of thus engaging with their fellow-laborers, of different names, in mutual endeavors to destroy the kingdom of Satan and advance the kingdom of Christ. They find another argument for such a union in the present state of our country, especially all those parts of it which are settled by emigrants from different religious denominations and different parts of the world. And in the cordial and general approbation of the publications of the Society, manifested by the evangelical community, and above all, in the tokens of the approbation of God in rendering them effectual in the conversion of souls to himself, the Committee find almost the only remaining evidence they could desire, that the seal of Heaven rests upon the Society, and that God has ordained it to be the means of unspeakable good.

"It is a delightful fact," they add, "that as the institution is sustained by the united efforts of Christians of different names, so the accessions made to the church of Christ, by the divine blessing on its publications, are 1*

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througn all the various evangelical denominations. The object of the Tract is to direct the sinner, not to one denomination of Christians or another, but to the Bible and the Saviour to pluck his soul as a brand from the burning, and save him from the perdition of the ungodly. Churches who have done little in promotion of this Society, have received accessions through its instrumentality; and but for the fulfilment of the promise, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, may have been more richly blessed than many of those by whose alms and efforts the Society has been sustained."

After five years' additional experience of the divine blessing on their labors, they say again,

"While the Committee believe that the ready access gained to multitudes is occasioned in no small degree by the union in the Society of evangelical Christians of different denominations, they feel constrained to add their conviction, that this union, in the sight of God, precludes their publishing no great practical and fundamental truth of the Gospel. A few points pertaining to the ordinances and government of the church they agree to pass in silence; but in reference to the plan of salvation, and the way of the sinner's acceptance with God, they are of one heart and mind. Man's utter ruin by sin; the full salvation provided through the death and righteousness of Christ; the solemn obligation devolving on all immediately to accept of this salvation by repentance and faith in Him, as the first, great, and only duty in which the sinner can be acceptable to God, and that this is done solely through the renewing of the Holy Spirit, are truths which the Committee desire to urge with all the solemnity and force of which language is

susceptible, or which the minds of writers can conceive, or the human heart feel.

“Of this they believe many of the Society's Tracts and volumes bear the surest confirmation. If the solemn appeals of Baxter and Alleine; of Doddridge, Flavel, Richmond, and Pike; of Edwards, Brainerd, Payson, and other American authors, living and dead, issued by the Society, are not of this description, the Committee look in vain to find such among all the writings of uninspired men."

In May, 1833, or about five years after the stereotyping of Doddridge's Rise and Progress, the total circulation of that work amounted to about 12,000, and of that and the other volumes then issued, to nearly 40,000 copies. The promise of usefulness from this department of benevolent exertion arrested the attention of intelligent Christians who were not immediately connected with the labors of the Society. They saw the hand of God in it; its adaptation permanently to bless the souls of men and advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom; and in various ways encouraged the Society to proceed in its prosecution.

The Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D., at this time cheered the Committee by communicating to them the following views of this subject.

"I rejoice to learn, that the Committee of the American Tract Society are turning their attention specially to the preparation and circulation of small bound volumes. These are as really Tracts (treatises) as any of the pam

phlets or sheets which are sent forth from the institution. The Society's Tracts are now bound for such as prefer them in that form. And let other treatises be selected for publication, for which purpose there are many excellently adapted. I have attentively read over the list of books which the Committee have already put into circulation, and the selection meets with my cordial approbation. Works of a more evangelical and spiritual kind do not exist; and I am gratified to see that they are printed and bound in a neat and handsome style. I am deeply persuaded that great public benefit will arise from the appropriation of a portion of your funds in this way; and that the event will prove, that however expensive it may be in the commencement, it will be wise economy in the end. When I consider how many copies of Doddridge's Rise and Progress,' 'Baxter's Call to the Unconverted,” ‘Alleine's Alarm,' 'Edwards on the Affections,' and such like works, will be circulated through the whole length and breadth of this land, I am filled with pleasing anticipations of the good which your Society will be the means of accomplishing.

“I do sincerely hope that the Committee will persevere in the prosecution of this object, and as their circumstances may permit, increase the number of their publications of this description. The success which has already attended your efforts in this way, is calculated to inspire you with confidence to go on in the name of the Lord.”

Again he says, five years afterwards, “I reflect on no part of my life with more satisfaction than any little agency I have had in encouraging and promoting the Society's volume circulation. I do consider the success of this enterprise as intimately connected with the pros