Substance of a Sermon on the Bible Society: preached at Beccles, October 29th, and at St. Mary's Church Bungay, on Friday, Dec. 1st, 1815

In Short

This book preserves a sermon delivered in 1815 by the Reverend Francis Cunningham, a staunch advocate for the British and Foreign Bible Society. It outlines the theological and practical necessity of distributing the Bible—without note or comment—to every corner of the globe. By contrasting the limitations of narrow, sect-bound charitable organizations with the expansive, inclusive model of the Bible Society, Cunningham argues that religious unity and the salvation of mankind are best served by a broad, ecumenical cooperation. It remains a vital primary document regarding 19th-century religious reform.

The Story

The sermon opens with the authoritative weight of the Great Commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." For Cunningham, this is not merely a historical relic of the apostolic age, but a binding, perpetual mandate for every contemporary Christian. He defines the "Gospel" as the good news of salvation, a necessary remedy for the human condition of sin and a guide for moral conduct. He asserts that the Bible, as the primary vehicle for this message, is the essential standard for duty and the only valid source of comfort for the weary.

The narrative arc of the argument begins with the premise that the Bible should be circulated universally. Cunningham anticipates the objections of skeptics who believe the text needs human interpretation or traditional commentary to be safe or intelligible. He dismisses these fears, arguing that the Scriptures are sufficient in themselves. He then pivots to the organizational problem: how best to distribute these books to a world in dire need. He introduces the British and Foreign Bible Society as the solution, contrasting it with the older Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which he characterizes as restricted by its rigid, church-only membership requirements. By providing statistics on the staggering lack of access to the Bible—even within England—he illustrates that exclusive, denominational efforts have failed to meet the global demand.

As the sermon progresses, Cunningham addresses the anxiety held by many of his contemporaries: that collaborating with dissenters and non-churchmen would dilute the integrity of the Church of England or facilitate the rise of sectarian influence. He reframes this potential conflict as a benefit, positing that working toward a common, virtuous goal actually softens the "evil spirit of bigotry" and fosters genuine peace between discordant neighbors. He contends that a true church has nothing to fear from the widespread reading of the Bible; rather, the distribution of the word only validates the church’s own foundation.

The conclusion of the sermon broadens the scope from the local to the global. Cunningham presents a vision of an international network of Bible societies, citing progress in Russia, Asia, and Iceland as evidence of a "new era." He paints a vivid picture of the suffering of those living without the consolation of the gospel, using the metaphor of a "cup of cold water" to challenge his congregation to act with immediate generosity. He ends by urging his listeners to look past their own comfort and consider the millions who are currently living and dying without the text, arguing that their support of this society is the only way to ensure that all nations may share in the prosperity and moral clarity that the Bible has brought to Britain.

How It Unfolds

The mandate of mission Cunningham establishes the biblical foundation for his cause, arguing that the command to preach the gospel is a universal, ongoing duty that does not allow for limitation or delay. He frames the Bible itself as the sole, sufficient source of doctrine and reproof.

The failure of exclusivity He examines the historical shortcomings of sectarian distribution models, demonstrating that restricting Bible access to church members alone has left thousands of families in England without a copy. This realization sets the stage for the necessity of a broader, more inclusive organizational structure.

The power of cooperation He makes the case for the British and Foreign Bible Society, arguing that when diverse groups unite for a common objective, they effectively set aside political and religious rancor. He maintains that this union does not compromise church identity but rather strengthens the shared commitment to common Christian values.

The global necessity He presents compelling accounts of the scarcity of Bibles in foreign lands, ranging from the lack of texts in Georgia to the desperate demands in India. He concludes by issuing a direct moral challenge to his listeners, insisting that failing to provide these resources is a neglect of their most fundamental duty to their fellow man.

The People

Francis Cunningham serves as the central voice and guiding intelligence of the work. He is a pragmatic idealist, one who believes that the practical administrative problem of distributing books can be solved through the application of moral and religious principle. He acts as a bridge between the institutional stability of the Church of England and the more energetic, expansive goals of the burgeoning Bible Society movement.

The "opposers"—a group of skeptics within the church—represent the primary obstacle. Their fear is that the Bible Society is a "Trojan horse" designed to undermine the status and authority of the established church by allowing dissenters a seat at the table. Cunningham engages with them not by debating theology, but by appealing to facts, history, and the practical necessity of the work.

The "heathen" or the "untaught" populations of the world, though they do not speak in these pages, are the central focus of the moral argument. They are portrayed as individuals in a state of spiritual starvation, whose basic human rights—in a religious sense—are being denied by the sluggishness and insularity of the wealthy. Their plight is the moral fuel that drives Cunningham to demand action from his listeners.

In Its Own Voice

Cunningham underscores the urgency of the Great Commission, framing it as a command that remains binding in the 19th century:

"The command then extends to as long a period as the support is promised to be continued, i.e. to the end of the world."

He addresses the anxiety that distributing the Bible without human commentary might lead to heresy:

"Thank God that very few have started the notion, that the Scriptures alone should not be spread abroad, and it seems to me wonderful that any should presume to determine, that what God has sent forth for the salvation of mankind, is not sufficient for that purpose."

He challenges the parochialism of those who fear that cooperating with dissenters will weaken the Church of England:

"Can the distribution of the word of truth, under any circumstances, be injurious to a true church?"

What It's Really About

The central theme is the triumph of collective action over sectarian division. Cunningham grapples with the question of whether a national institution can remain "pure" while engaging in ecumenical cooperation. The underlying argument is that the Bible is a neutral, powerful instrument that transcends human disagreement. He poses a challenging question to his audience: if a foreign nation were debating whether to share their religion with Britain, would we find their internal political or sectarian excuses for withholding the Bible acceptable? He concludes that truth is universal, and any institution that fears the scrutiny of the Bible is, by definition, not a "true" or confident church.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious reform, the mechanics of 19th-century charitable movements, or the development of the British and Foreign Bible Society will find this text invaluable. It provides a rare, grounded look at how Victorian-era clergy negotiated the tension between institutional tradition and the modern, globalized reach of evangelical work. The writing is warm and earnest, reflecting a period where public rhetoric was heavily laden with biblical allusion and a sense of moral gravity.

Modern readers may find the text challenging due to its dense, rhythmic, and highly repetitive prose, which is characteristic of the sermon format of the time. The author's assumption of a shared, unquestioned Protestant framework can feel exclusionary to a contemporary audience. However, for those who can navigate its period-specific attitudes, the work offers a fascinating window into the "missionary spirit" that defined 1815. It remains a poignant reminder of a time when the simple printed page was considered the most revolutionary and unifying technology available. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of how the Bible transitioned from a protected, ecclesiastical text to a mass-distributed global commodity, and the intense, often bitter, debates that this transformation ignited among the faithful.