Star.
London, England, 1825-05-17 00:00:00

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-CATHOLIC
CIL.dI3IIL

Friday evening, a Meeting took plaice at the London
Coffee-house, of the Members of the Established Church
of Scotland. The hour appointed was seven o'clock,
and about half-past nearly two hundred Gentlemen had
assembled.
On the motion of Mr. DAVIS, the Chair was taken by
Mr. J. G. &miaow. After thanking the meeting for
the honour thus conferred on him, be begged to observe
that the object of the present meeting was to consider
the propriety of presenting a Petition to the Howe of
Lords, in favour of the claims of their brethren—
the Catholics of Ireland. The present meeting had
not been the spontaneous act of the Presbyterians
of London, but a measure into which they had
been driven by the conduct of others. They felt
that their opinions were compromised by the Peti-
tion which had been presented by the Presbytery
of London. That body consisted of ten very honour-
able men, still they were but men, and subject to the
mistakes and frailties of others. The communicants in
London were not unanimous in the opinion expressed
by the Petition sent up to Parliament, and therefore
the present step of summoning a meeting had been
taken, that by presenting AI Petition to the House of
Lords, their true sentiments on the subject might be
known. The nature of the Presbytery of the Church
cf Scotland was not very well known, and this was an
additional reason for adopting the present course. Now
that they had met, be would observe, the subject be-
fore them was a very grave and important one, and
therefore he hoped that if any difference of opinion on
the subject should arise, Gentlemen would speak and
feel as Christians, and when they departed, they should
depart as brothers. The worthy Chairman concluded
by requesting that the Resolutions intended to be pro-
posed should be read by
Mr.Roserrsow,who then rose and addressed the meet-
ing. He said the present assembly had met together,
not, as citizens, to discuss the exrediency of a civil or
political measure, but as Christians, to consider what is
their duty under existing circumstances. If a measure
be viewed in one way, the evil and the good are often
so equally balanced, that we know not how to decide
—in any other point of view, the same difficulty arises,
and we are tossed to and fro like chaff before the wind
In all such cases, whether of a public or private nature,
if we seek counsel of GOD, and approach the Throne cf
Grace to guide us, we shall and some principle of duty
involved, and all that remains for us is obedience. If
we obey not, woe be to us—obedience is the duty of
the Christian, not expediency ; which is the principle
on which are founded the abominations of the Jesuits.
In proportion as a nun permits expediency to super-
sede principle, or duty and obedience, is that man a
Jesuit, however little he may suspect it, and however
much he may hate the Jesuits. Our duty as Christians
may be comprised in one word—Love. ". Thou shalt
love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, with all thy
soul, with all thy strength, and with all thy mind—
and thy neighbour as thyself." Again, we are told to
love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do
good to them that hate us, and to pray for them that
despitefully use us. Do unto others as they do unto
you ?—No. As they have done unto you ?—No ; but as
you would that they should do unto you. These
Commandments we shall disobey at our peril, and woe
be to us if we obey not. In this spirit did our LORD
and SAVIOUR send forth his Disciples did our
SAVIOUR send out his Disciples armed with pains
arid penalties ? No—He said, " Preach the Gcspel
—preach the Gospel—to every creature." Did
he inflict pains and penalties on Jerusalem for se-
ceiviug him not ?—No ; he wept over that ill-fated
city., Our duty, as the disciples of CHRIST, is simply
to preach the Gospel, in public and in private, in our
homes and by the wayside ; and if our brethren will not
receive the Gospel, let us weep over them. But, alas
policy and expediency raised a barrier in former times,
for the defence of the State, against a powerful faction,
beaded by a Pretender to the throne, supported by fo-
reign Powers, in laws now happily no longer necessary;
.but which we have continued to uphold for the defence
of Religion The Church is said to be in danger I The
Church of CHRIST in danger! Monstrous presumption!
The almighty power of GOD indebted for the support
of his Church and the Gospel, to the laws of worms
crawling on the face of the earth 1 L ruts, whose prin-
ciple of pains and penalties is rebellion against GOD.
Did power ever propagate truth ? Yes—but only by
persecuting it. Witness the progress of Christianity, in
all ages, in the face of persecution. Has not the blood
of the 'Martyrs ever. proved the seed of the Church ?
Witness also the history of our forefathers in Scotland,
nay, even the progress of error and delusion in Ireland,
solely through oppression. When law would promote,
it impedes—and when it would impede, it promotes
truth. To profess a 'regard for the immortal soul of a
fallen enemy, who feels himself chained. down by pains
and penalties, he will only consider as an insult. We
may assure him that he is very well off—that he. has
freedom of speech, that he may eat and drink, and to a
considerable degree use his limbs, if we again endea-
vour to deliver him from error and delusion, will not
his !text be ready to burst with indignation? On the
contrary, set him free, raise him to the erect condition
of a. man, on a level with ourselves; he will then listen
to our admonitions and to. truth. It may be answered
that this case does not apply, that there is no persecu-
tion in Ireland. Ask him only whom the Shoe pinches.
No persecution ! Where is it not ? Even a difference
.of opinion on this question excites hostility and pro.
scription in this very country. What is this claim of
infallibility but Popery, whether Political, Episcopal,
Presbyterian, or Methodistical? This question comes