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Tr there be any one who maintains that the Holy Scriptures should not be universally distributed among the people ; any one w%» hinders the Word of the Lord from having free course, that it may be glorified — let him read the following letter, extracted from the narrative of the conversion of Mr. James Reeves, of Quebec. Ret. Sir, ''* As you desired to know the reasons that induced me to leave the Romish Church, and the means which God adopted to bring mo out of darkness into his marvellous light, I hasten to communi- •ate them in few words. I was born at Montreal in 1777. My parents were Roman Catholicii. I was baptized and brought up in the Romish Churcli, and long thought myself in the true way to everlasting life. .JMy hope, however, rested on no other foundation than this — that the Romish Church is the only one on which a person should depend for salvation. Under this impression I passed many years in ig- norance and sin. I nevertheless possessed the Holy Scriptures during a period of thirty years — but never read them — because my priest forbad me, and also hindered me from shewing them to my children. By obeying man, rather than God, I was kept all that time in darkness and impiety, addicted to superstitiouM practices, and ignorant of the pure doctrines of the Gospel. About two years ago, I came to a resolution to read the Bible, which was in my possession ; and. I bless God daily that he put it into my mind to search the Scriptures ; and that he has thus made me acquainted with his holy will and commandments. Daily do I praise him, that he has not only discovered to me the grievous distemper of my soul, but has also led me by his grace to the true physician, who gives this invitation : come unto me all ye that labour and ' heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The moi ;udy the Sacred Volume, the more my heart feek its truths— . ;he more I discover the errors of the system wliich J have renounced. Why was I hindered from drawing from the fountain of living waters, which our God and Saviour offers without money to all who thirst for them ? Why do the Rulers (if the Church of Rome forbid the reading of the Holy Scriptures, but because they fear the discovery of their erroneous doctrines by tuose very persons, who now believe ignorantly and without ex- amination whatever is taught them ? Do not read the Holy Bible, say the Priests of that Church ; but the Great God says, John v. ZSi—Search the Scriptures, for in them ye have the words of eternal life. And in Deuteronomy, vi. 6, 7 — Tliese words which I commarul thee shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently untQ thy children. And in Joshua, i. 8 — Tht #««Ac tf me liH0 ahoH mt depart out of thy m9Uth, b\tt thqu A )i^- .■%^ ,. « i . :-\^ Le Semiridut. .; 3, rue de I'Univarsiue, Qu6bec 4, QUE. , aMt meditate therein dajf and night, that thou mayeet obeerte to do according to all therein. And in Isaiah, xxxiv. 16 — Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read. The Apo3tles urged iJl persons ta read the Scriptures. Acts, xvii. 11. Colossians, ir. ]V---and also Acts, viii. 27, 2S. The Romish Priests may haver their reasons for depriving the people (who hunger and thirst af* ter heavenly riehteousnesa and wisdom) of the Bible ;. but I will rather believe the words of God himself, than the falsehoods of men, who corrupt the truth. My fuith is confirmed by St. Pe- tsr's prediction, (Peter, ii. 1, 3) that fahe teachers, through eovetousnefi, tluill with feigned words make merchandise of you. As soon as my conversion- was known, some persons, silly enough to believe fables, came to talk to me of the miracles per- formed tiy their Saints, as. if I had never before heard x>f those fa- bulous tales. But God has taught me by his Word, that there i$ only one Mediator between God and Man, Jesus Christ, the righteous ; who was once offered as a satisfaction for :,innersi and who is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto Oodbyhimi I therefore renounced the worship of Saints, be- eause it is impious : since it robs our only Mediator of tlie glory, which is due to him. I gave up the Mass, because Christ suffer- dcath but once, and being risen from the dead, can die no moro for my soul, and for those who believe in-^him ; and he is now seated upsn the throne of grace, to finish the^work of reconcilia- tion for all, who come unto God by him^ I am the door, says the Redeemer, John x. 9, by me if any man enter in, he shall he saved. Acts, i v. 12. Tfiere is no salvation in any other; for there is none other JVame under heaven given among men whereby toe must be saved : (not even by saints.) See also Hebrews, ix. 25, 28. Seeing that their solicitations were ineffectual, the Priests threatened to take away my children from me, and they persua- ded my daughter to leave her father's house, telling her that the Bible,. which I love, and study, and endeavour by God's help to practise, had disordered my mind. The Godfather of my daugh- ter aldo wrote me a threatening letter, that if I did not allow my daughter to leave me altogether, some serious thing would hap- pen. This change in my principles is not the result of any per- son's influence, but effected solely by Divine grace, through the perusal of the Scriptures of Truth. I never persuaded my daugh- ter Adelaide, farther than to read the New Testament, which would bring her to the knowledge of the truth ; — and in this I have done what was rny duty, as her Father — assured as I fully am, that the Sacred Scriptures are divinely inspired, and that the knowledge of the Holy Bible is profitable to teach, to convince, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness and the way ofsaU ration, by faith which is in Christ Jesus, that the man of God 'n.ay be perfect, and fitted for every good work. 2 Tina. iii. 15, 17. My daug;hter Adelaide, smce the death of her mother, has •It^ ays lived comfortably mth Bi« — and it- Is only iincc ray tm^- ./ f iflig to the Lord, that she haa gone away from me, vielding to thA persuasions of men, who well know, that she would uot lone coq< Unue a Romaniit, if she read the Holy Scriptures. I applied to the proper legal authority, to demand that my child should not he withdrawn from the rightful controul and protection of her Father. Thanks be to God, we do not live in the land of the Inquisition, bat under a just Sovereign and Government, having the fear of God. My daughter was therefore restored to me, and I bless tho God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for it. I am acquainted with some other Canadians, whose eyes are opened to the truth. I wish they would not keep it to themselves, b«t make it known, and not let worldly motives prevent them from glorifying the Gospel. I entreat them not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for whoever is ashamed of the Son of Man, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, and disown him at th« last , Great Day. I implore them not to indulge that fear of man which bringeth a snare ; but to trust in the Lord Jehovah, and b« safe. Proverbs, xxix. 2.5. I call upon them to avow the truth, to declare this all-important subject ; the one thing needful — tlra only way to life everlasting. For ray part, 1 am determined openly to declare what is the joy of ray heart, — that I have escaped this dangerous snare. I bless God that he has, in his infinite mercy, prolonged my life, un- til it pleased him to shew me the difference there is between the wide gate and broad road leading to destruction ; — and the narrow way which conducts to Eternal Life. I pray God, that all those who read this account of my conver- •ion from Popery to Christianity, may seriously reflect upon it ; — and no longer mind the prohibition of reading the Holy Scriptures, but rather search in that Divine Bonk for the knowledge of Salva- tion ; and then they will not fail, by the grace of God, to know the truth. Then will they find by faith the only Saviour of souls, and be able to say with Saint Peter, Lord, to whom shall toe go, thou hast the words of Etbrnal Life 7 I give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ! may he make his face to shine upon us ! may his grace and peace be witli us ! O Lord, send out thy light and thy truth \ and let thy Kingdom come ! Amen. I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir, Your obedient servant, JArMES REEVES. Rev. ' , Minister i of the English Church, > Qucbce. 3 *,* While the reader will make his own reflections upon the foregoing letter, we cannot but express our approbation of this man s aonduct, who sought ia the woid of God for th« coajohtioo n •4- aad kQowl«-%- -<■•<»^