The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-01-01 00:00:00

'~ ~J

and enforced the necessity of a general diffusion of
Holy 11'rit among the nations of the earth. St.
Prod had truly praised the Bereans, because " they
sought the Scriptures doily, to see if the things
were so as they were taught to believe." The Aicts
and pmtice of the Redeemer of Mankind should
be the great models for human imitation. He unit-
ed the sweetness of the rose to the modesty Of the
lily of the caller, and presented a line example of
patience and suffering. The'Hon. Gentleman con-
cluded with contrasting the belief of the man, on
whom the light of the Reformation had been shed,
with 'that of the Catholic collier, who, on being
licked what was his faith, replied, " the same as the
Church." What is that of the Church ?—A. The
same us mine. What it that of you both ?—A. We
believe alike.—(Lartghter.)
Mr. GEORGE MYER proposed the fourth ReslO•
" That, equally intrusive and unworthy, are all effustA att-
thoritativtly to impose any expositions of those Holy Scrip-
tures, which every man fur himself is entitled to investigate,
and to expound :—and which every Ma should ' read, mark,
learn, and inwardly digest'."
in every word of which he entirely concurred.
The Rev. Dr. itterbn, in seconding this Reso-
..
lution, passed Souse high comphuients on the liberal
and tolerant character of their Royal Chainpum.
He dwelt with much gratification on the celebrar
title of this triceutenary commemoration, and re-
ferred with warm satisfaction to the celebration of
another Reformation at s lair *period—he meant
the Revolution of 1688, at which he was present its
1788, when Dr. Rees drew an admirable and im-.
relative character of King William, who was edied
to the Throne at the era to which he alluded. The
Father of the Royal Chairman hid *hewn himself
during his eventful life to be the most blessed of
enrthly Monarchs, by his toleration to all classes of
Christians, and his firm attachment to the princi-
ple* of theßeformation.—(Applarre.)—He had
well upheld his Coronation Oath, and that ad-
mirable and most excellent saying of his Majesty
would never be forgotten ; it embraced in one line
the most noble of all sentiments—he meant the
royal wish—" that every child throughout his do-
minions should be able to read the Holy Scriptures."
—(Applumse.
Mr. Titust.ss CliaxsTir. proposed the fifth Re-
solution.

* That the experieuce of Europe, from the 3d to the 16th
centuries, leastlensonetraied that these great principles arc as
.

lispariant its their practical operation, am, theory, they
are cornet :--and that to 'hear violation arc mainly attri-
belubhp timer multitudinous ills Which, for that hang period,
misled kninanity--defornted the Christian Faith—and op-

pressed lbe world:"
This was, he observed, an historical resolution,
and declaratory of those great principles on which
the right of private judgment was founded, and
originally asserted against authority, however vent- •'
ruble fur its antiquity, respectable for its charac-
ter, or powerful for its weight. He hoped the time
was at length come when the Holy Scriptures
could be universally digested, and the labours of
the early Reformers matured and universally ac-
knowledged. Inquiry was progressive in its infor-
mation and value. Christianity itself was a proof
of this—whii; was it but a Reformation ?—(Ap-
plastre.)—" Let then the spirit of the Reformation
go on until even it reform itself."
This Resolution was seconded, and unanimously
carried.

The Rev. Mr. BowLEs proposed the sixth Reso-
lution
That this Meriting enuld not enumerate all those evils
which floated from that abundant source—but t►at the
Neriptiim were forbidden their sacred troths were
displaced by corrupt traditions—and simple, true, and
spiritual worship by superstitious forms:-11tat Crusades
were imbstiteted for the peace announcing Gospel--iigno-
ranee for knowledge—and persecution for good-will to men :
—That Priests, 'periling by their dogmas on the fears and
sna the hopes of thedeludcd and untaught exclusively amass-
ed both wealth and power:—Thal abet:lotions and indul-
gent:its, perchaaeable fnun them, encouraged crimes :—That
admission even into heaven was made dependant on their
dear.bought masses and their prayers:—That the people
groaned in wretchedness, and that Monarchs trembled ow
their thrones :—And that a domination, interestrd, arbitrary
and injuriuus, extended ever the fortunes, the intellect, and
consciences of men." _ _

He described the power and influence which be-
longed to the Papul Church in former times, and
fur a variety of reasons. Man was at ull tunes quick
to feel, but slaw to reason ; he was easily end
often strongly impressed by external objects. Thus
the brilliancy of the Papal form of worship, the well-
directed application of the seductive arts of music
and Filming, were all employed to seize his ima-
ginal mid direct his Principles. The mental
power of mute yielded to ibis chewy delusion, and
his wealth enriched the coffers of the Priesthood.—
Will was Inw,and in whose time the Bible, the
stamp of Divine Truth, lay entombed in sepulchral
darkness. Ignorance, cruelty, and vice were the
otf.prisig of this hydra, and their evils were terribly
,The iiifluence of this baneful system was ob-
servable in the loth and 11th centuries. Then the
mystery of the beast in the Apocalypse may be truly
said to have satiated itself with blood. At that
time the 'Crusades burst forth in Europe, and
the chieftains of the world sought to pierce their
way to heaven by the sword. They carrie4l
fore them the sign of the cross, which was borne
by their Saviour with patience and resignation,
as the emblazoned standard under which 'anions
marched to sar and alaughter. They made the
olive-branch light up the torch of war, to lead
milliets to premature death. Dreadful was the
retook of this system. But fsom Oils tune of
darkness a morning stir time in the person of
Wick WY, who, followed by Luther and others,
shed a ray of iutellectual light, which pierced
through the thick gloom of darkness that then ob.
scuredthe world, and burst the Veil of ignorance
which encompassed a great portion of
ickbil appeared, in the laognuge of Milton—

" Likc en east' Inuring in In. 'nighty youth."
The principles of the Reformation were happily
long since firmly established iii this et istil'. They
had Blow nothing to thrall. as they ‘% I e placed cru-
der the protection ot slit blond shield ul the House
of I lanuver.—( Great applause.)
This mourn was unanimously curried.
Mi. Juan WlLkes propubil the ltesolu-
tint) :

" That, afflicted at thr rviroopect of evil:. *Ovoid, to he
d.•plorcd, this, Meeting In trace even Wont gleams of
1111 l rsil light %hick rii the liinittentli (enemy partuall) than.
a gloom :or i.ppna•ive and profound: and that the
ultimo-ha of %licklilf, of Jriente, and Huss, ■nd of the
11:.1deusrr, arc .H. 6111111 Ni.Liu I lit ir heat lii."

He atiuitti to the lulu. of doll:lass, for the