The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-18 00:00:00

communion ; just as we acknowledge our modern Articles,
Liturgy, and Homilies for the same purpose. We rejoice
again in tracing back almost the whole of our most sublime
and scriptural Liturgy to a far higher period than the rise of
Popery—to the primitive ages of the Church in our own and
every other Christian country. We thus admit, in its fullest
sense, for its proper ends, the rule of Vincentius Lirinensis
—Quod semper, quod ab omnibus, quod übique traditum
est.

And we receive such tradition for this one reason—be-
cause it deserves the name of just and proper evidence. It
is authentic testimony. It is a part of the materials from
which even the external evidences of Christianity itself are
derived. It furnishes the most powerful historical arguments
in support of our faith. It is amongst the proofs of our holy
religion.
" But evidence is one thing ; the rule of belief another.
Not for one moment do we, on any or all these grounds, con-
found the history and evidences of the divinely inspired rule
of faith, with that Rule itself. Not for one moment do we
place Tradition on the same level with the all-perfect Word
of God. Not for one moment do we allow it any share in
the standard of revealed truth. Scripture and Tradition
taken together are not—we venture to assert—' the joint rule
of faith ; but ' Holy Scripture containeth all things neces-
sary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor
may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that
it should be believed as an article of faith.' And Tradition
is so far from being of co-ordinate authority, that even the
Ecclesiastical writers who approach the nearest to them,
and are read in our Churches—which not one of the Fathers
is—' for example of life, and instruction of manners ;' are still,
as being uninspired, not to be applied to establish any one
doctrine of our religion. Against this whole system, then,
as proceeding upon a most false and dangerous principle, and
differing from the generally received Protestant doctrine, I
beg, Reverend Brethren, most respectfully to caution you."
The Bishop of Calcutta goes on to shew the fearful evils
which cannot but result from " this whole system, as pro-
ceeding upon a most false and dangerous principle." On this
subject he says :
" I confine myself to topics of which no dubious intiina.
tions have been given. I say nothing of what may possibly
follow—the prohibition of the unfettered use of the Scriptures
—purgatory—the veneration of relics—prayer to the Virgin
Mary—the intercession of saints—works of supererogation—
monastic vows—the celibacy of the Clergy, &c., &c.
" Already an amplitude is given, as we have seen, to the
word Tradition, which may include anything and everything,
and therefore justly awakens our increased alarm. Already
texts of inspired Scripture are weakened or contracted to the
narrowest and most doubtful sense. Already are expressions
dropped on the subject of the holy Eucharist to which our
ears are unaccustomed. Already are the idolatries and abo-
minations of the Church of Rome spoken of in these very
books and tracts of controversy, with far too much tender-
ness. Already are Tradition and the Church too prominently
brought forward, and Christ and the justification through his
blood and the sanctification of his Spirit too little insisted on;
whilst a feebler language is employed on these and other great
doctrines of the Gospel even when they are introduced. Al-
ready are some rather lowering intimations given, not inten-
tionally I am sure, but conveying the impression to the or-
dinary reader, concerning our Articles and Homilies. Al-
ready are appeals made to documents which were superseded
by the more purely evangelical formularies of our present
Book of Common Prayer, with its Articles and Homilies, at
the definitive settlement of our Reformed Church ; and a de-
sire not obscurely expressed that our Reformation had re-
tained more of the Traditionary model.
"All this is but too natural. The false principle will go
on ' eating as doth a cancer,' if things proceed as they now
do. The inspired Word of God will be imperceptibly neg-
lected ; and the Traditions of men will take its place. The
Church will supersede the Bible. The Sacraments will hide
the glory of Christ. Self-righteousness wili conceal the righte-
ousness of God. Traditions and Fathers will occupy the first
place, as we see in the sermons of the chief Roman Catholic
authors of every age, and Christ come next or not at all ; and
a lowered tone of practical religion will come in.
'• The whole system, indeed, goes on to generate, as I can-
not but think, an inadequate and superficial and superstitious
religion. The mere admissions of the inspiration and para-
mount authority of Holy Scripture will soon become a dead
letter ; due humiliation before God, under a sense of the un-
utterable evil of sin, will be less and less understood ; a con-
viction of the need of the meritorious righteousness of the
incarnate Saviour, as the alone ground of justification, will
be only faintly inculcated ; the operations of the Holy Ghost
in creating man anew will be more and more forgotten ; the
nature of those good works which are acceptable to God in
Christ will be lost sight of : and another Gospel' framed on
the Traditions of men will make way for an apostacy in our
own Church, as in that of Rome—unless, indeed, the evan-
gelical piety, the reverence for Holy Scriptures, the theolo-
gical learning, and the forethought and fidelity of our Divines
of dignified station and established repute at home, interpose
by distinct cautions to prevent it—as they are beginning to
interpose, and as I humbly trust they will still more decisively
do ; and as their signal success in the instance of the Neolo-
gical theories, a year or two since, may well encourage them
to resolve on."

The Bishop gives in his notes extracts corroborative of his
statements. Thus, in illustration of his remark, that " al-
ready texts of Scripture are weakened, or contracted to the
narrowest and most doubtful sense," he quotes as follows,
from Mr. Keble's Visitation sermon on Tradition :

" The ' good confession made by Timothy' can only mean
the Apostles' Creed, or some corresponding formula recited
at Baptism. The good thing committed' to Timothy was
' the treasure of Apostolical doctrines and Church rules,' the
perfect Apostolical body of government, doctrine, and sacra-
mental grace.' This is a faithful saying, is an expression
indicating a Christian proverb. Ancient Catholic tradi-
tion sets the Church's seal, as it were, upon one among many
possible expositions, as that Melchizedek's feast is a type of
the blessed Eucharist.' The Holy Ghost dwelling in us'
can only be Apostolical or episcopal grace;' the treasure of
sound doctrine was to be guarded by the grace of the Apos-
tolical succession. It is the Spirit that beareth witness, be-
cause the Spirit is truth,' or ' the truth,' that which causes
the reality and substance of the Sacraments, and hinders them
from being mere signs or shadows."
In the same discourse, which is far from being so un-
guarded in its statements as the Remains of Mr. Froude, and
some other publications, the Bishop finds such unscriptural
language as the following, respecting the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper :
" ' The oblation and consecration of the Eucharist.' Its
virtue as a commemorative sacrifice.' Its being a real, life-
giving miracle,' including a' mystical, spiritual, true and posi-
tive presence of Christ's blessed body and blood,' and being
of a thoroughly mysterious nature both in Scripture and
Tradition.' "

(To be continued.)

CONSECRATION.

On Thursday, the 10th instant, the Lord Bishop of Chester
consecrated the new church at Newton, in Mottram, which
is dedicated to St. Mary, and contains upwards of 800 sit-
tings, 400 of which are free. A great number of clergymen,
and many of the most respectable families of the surrounding
neighbourhood were present. A most admirable sermon was
preached on the occasion by the bishop, and the sublime
morning service of our church was most impressively read by
the Rev. W. Johnson, vicar of Mottram. To the surprise
and great gratification of the bishop and all who were present,
a rich service of communion plate, consisting of a large flagon,
two large cups, silver gilt, and two beautiful silver salvers,
was presented to the church, by Mrs. J. Sidebottom, of
Harewood Lodge, whose benevolence on this and many other
occasions deserves the highest praise. Two surplices, made
of the finest linen, were also presented by Mrs. John Ashton,
of Newton, who entertained the bishop, clergy, and ma►ay
friends with a most sumptuous and elegant repast. The su-
perior manner in which the church is fitted up reflects much
credit upon the wardens and those whom they have employed.
The bishop gave directions for the heating of the church du-
ring the winter months, and offered in the most handsome
manner to defray the expense of the whole apparatus.
The land upon which the church is erected was given in the
kindest manner by James Ashton, Esq., Newton Lodge,
whose liberality on this occasion cannot be too highly eulo-
gised, inasmuch as the gift of a portion of land for the build-
ing of a temple to be dedicated to the service of Almighty
God may be said to pave the way of all those deeds of bene-
ficence which are subsequently required for the completion of
so important and laudable a work. The Rev. G. W. Bower,
curate of the parish church of Ashton-under-Lyne, has been
presented to the incumbency by the patron, the vicar of
Mottram.