The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-01-04 00:00:00

how the other (Scripture) should come to be corrupted."
" The authority of these books is not derived from any
judgment that the church made concerning them, but from
this, that it was known that they were writ either by men
tir ho were themselves the apostles of Christ, or by those who
were their assistants and companions."
When, also; it is considered how strongly our Saviour con-
demned traditions and commandments of men, and how he
and his apostles appealed to the written word ; and when
we examine the existing evidence that the paradoseis incul-
cated by St. Paul were those which are embodied in the writ-
ten word of the New Testament, it is strange that with respect
to oral tradition Christians should have fallen, into precisely
the same errors as the Jews. For Maimonides attempted,
in an exactly similar manner, on the authority of the Talinu-
dical writers, to retrace the Jewish traditions to the times of
Moses, and had even the hardihood to name the custudiers,
through whom it descended.
But the first homily has been cited in defence of tradition;
strangely indeed, for it speaks of "the stinking puddles of
men's traditions." An old canon made in 1571 has also been
pressed into the service; but that only mentions " what the
Catholic fathers and bishops collected from the doctrine of
the Old and New Testaments, and what they transmitted
down by oral tradition from the apostles." The canon says,
Aiticuli illi. religionis Christianae . . . baud dubie'collecti
sunt ex sacris libris veteris et Novi Testamenti;" and in the
' concluding part, " Vanas et aniles opiniones, et hwreses et
errores pontificios, a doctrine et fide Christi abborrentes non
docebunt." The adoption of creeds has been as singularly
claimed. as an argument: they were not, however, adopted
on account of tradition, but (as our article says) because
they ought to be thoroughly received and believed, for they
may be proved by the most certain " warrants of holy Scrip-
ture."
Basil excellently said, that it is a manifest fall from the
faith and the clear vice of pride either to refuse any of the
things contained in the Scriptures, or to introduce anything
that is not written. Many of the things called traditions by
the fathers either do not prove or they attempt to prove by
apocryphal documents; yet, as Dr. Wilson affirms, that
which is practically denied to Scripture by the advocates of
tradition is peremptorily required in their own cause, " and
a higher character is asserted of those portions than such ad-
vocates will concede to any inspired fragment that they are
complete in themselves."
Mr. Maurice informs us that the Regius Professor of lie-
brew, in addition to the lectures belonging to his professor-
ship, gives others on the types and prophecies, and that Mr.
Newman has been in the habit of making use of his church
for the purpose of delivering lectures onßomanistn, his as-
sembly chiefly consisting of students. Were such things
done at Cambridge, we are convinced that the University
would interfere. If, then, the principle of tradition, on which
this system is founded, be worthless, who can calculate on
the mischief that will thus be done among those whom Oxford
is training for the church? Who can avoid the conviction
that an extensive division or a great secession must soon take
place? Are not the young nobility, and those intended for
the Lower House of Parliament, who are intrusted to the
University, in equal danger of acquiring an inclination to
Roroanism ? Coupling these things with Mr. Maurice's ac-
count of the increase of' Popery itself in Oxford and its vi-
cinity, we will quote to the clergy once more Dr. Wilson's
words—" Nay, it is our duty, as ministers of a Protestant
reformed church, boldly to raise the cry To your tents, 0
Israel;' and if you see here a fundamental principle of„your
church subverted, one of the strongholds of your Zion be-
trayed, quit yourselves like men, and" contend for the truth,
on which alone the Protestant faith can rest—the absolute,
entire, and full sufficiency of holy Scripture."
The preceding remarks will suffice to show, that Dr. Shut-
tleworth, Dr. -Wilson. and. Mr. Holden must be allowed to
have proved their points in the judgment of every impartial
person; but we shall not in this number conclude our notice
of their works. Our knowledge of abuses has been very much
.increased by Mr. Maurice, and the keen argument and deep
research of " Misopapisticus" have greatly availed us. Dr.
Hook's visitation sermon is one which proves his addiction
to the party at:Oxford, which would introduce alterations
into our system; and his treatment of the defenders of our
institutions and long-received opinions, as if they were the
authors of the schism, as if they too, as watchmen, had no
right to sound the alarm, when they perceived danger, shows
him to be both mistaken and intemperate. When we read,*
"And where are we to look for unity and union, if we find
it not here? And what terms of reprobation can be suffi-
ciently strong to designate the conduct of those Who, by
causing discord among brethren, who in principle are united,
would thereby make music for our enemies ? Alas! in every
community such persons are found to exist, whose element
is strife, who live by faction ;" it is evident, that with the
exception of union in principle, he is describing the church
of England men without Protestantism, who began the alter-
cation and disunion. The charge is absolutely contrary to
the fact : the same might have been formerly as correctly
applied to the opponents of the Wesleys and Whitfields,
who were equally members of the established church. Hence
the principle of the charge would appear to be, that we must
not oppose innovations by members of our own body ; that,
doing so, we cause discord among the brethren, and live by
faction. But if this principle be adopted, what heresies may
we not expect ?
As for ourselves, we are contented to receive the Scrip-
tures an a sufficient and infallible guide. We want not the
aid of tradition to direct us in the study of them. We are
contented, asf we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
to walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and stablisbed in
the faith, as we have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving, careful lest any man spoil us through philoso-
phy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, alter the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Well will
allow no man to judge us in meat or drink, or in respect of
an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath ;§ much
less will we be guiled into worshipping of angels, and, into
those things with which men of vain imaginations and
worldly minds are puffed up. Persevering in the principles
of the Reformation, submissive to the wholesome discipline
of our church, oust discarding all rules of faith independent
of the Scriptures, we are satisfied to continue in that good
old way, in which the word of God has been alight unto our
feet, and a lamp unto our path.

4t See note'K. and P. 169 of this sermon. t Col. ii. 6. 8.
3.- Col. ii. ver. 16. § Ibid. ver. 18.

.
THE COMMON INFORMERS V. THE BOOKSELLERS.—WithiII
the last few.daye upwards of 100 summonses have been taken
out by common Informers at Worship-street and other offices
against ,bookselless for yendiug weekly publications, of a
litcrasy and miscellaneous char:Kase withm,t
name on the first and last pages. A subscription has been
opened, for the purpose of having the question tried in a
superior court. The informers are making a set at the book-
sellers, as being in general inure able to pay the penalties
than he news-agents,_ against whom, in the first instance,
their operations' were directed.
ANOTHER DISGUISE OF MR. 24 ATIIEWS.—The most ludi-
rous instance, perhaps, in, which the disguise was used was
the fullowing:-1 remember, amongst many other, a curious
scene which occurred on a parZicular occasion when we dined
with Miss De Camp (aftei wards Mrs. Charles Kenable, (by
whom we were invited, amongst other friends, to meet Mr.
Stephen Keuible. Before dinner, `sir. -Kemble was told by
Miss de Camp, that the only person she expected in the even-
ing was a friend, who could not come to dinner, but who was
desirous of being introduced to him,.and would therefore drop
in. She prepared Mr. Kenible to expect an eccentric person,
and considerably bespoke his indulgence for the " peculiari-
ties of an amiable and, respected friend, whom she had known
for many years." To the hostess's surprise, however, "Mr.
Pennvinan" was announced before the cloth was removed ;
for, at that period, dinner-cloths were really removed, the
English being extremely proud of displaying a well-kept table
after, as well as at, dinner. After the preliminary introduc-
tion, he took the place offered to him, opposite to Mr. Keinble,.
having previously squeezed the great man's hand between
both his own, declaring his gratification at being introduced
to him. Then followed a series of ludicrous remarks, in
voice and manner of the stranger, who fixed upon him as his
mark, and entirely engrossed Isis notice. At length Mr.
Kemble's gravity was so overset as to render it impossible for
him to support any longer an appearance of decent attention
of Miss De Camp's guest, and lifting his ponderous body from
his chair. literally shaking with laughter, he rushed out of the
room. My husband, instantly dropping his assumed charac-
ter, followed him, and.found Mr. Kemble searching for his
hat in'the hall, to go away. Mr. Mathews, of course, would
not permit this, and begged him to enter a sort of cloak-room
for a few minutes, while he contrived to get rid of the person
from whom Mr. Kemble had run away. While Mr. Kemble
sheltered himself in this room, he heard an animated conver-
sation in the adjoining one which he had left, ending in Mr.
Pennyman's declaring that lie must go to another party, and
that he had merely come for the purpose of being introduced
to Mr. Stephen Kemble, and slytuld take an early opportunity
of improving an intimacy he had so longdesired. Mr. Penny-
man then left the dining-room, talking to Mr. Mathews, who
accompanied him to the street door, which. being closed, he
returned and released Mr. Kemble from a contemplation of
the various patterns of the ladies' shawls, 8:c. and they toge-
ther
rejoined the party, Mr. Kemble declaring that "he
would not sit in that man's compauy again for a thou Sand
pounds. Sir," said he, turning to my husband, "he would
destroy me. I should be suffocated by my efforts not to affront
him." An explanation of all this took place (as may be
guessed) at the end of the evening, when Mr. Pennyman re-
appeared ; and before Mr. Stephen Kemble could escape as
he was trying to do, he found Mr. Mathews standing in the
stranger's place.—Memoirs Charles Mathews.
ST. ELMO'S FIRE, &c.—The meteorological phenomena
caused by simple communicated electricity are somewhat
interesting, and are quite harmless, but often give rise to
groundless terror among the ignorant or superstitious. 'They
are two kinds—the accumulation of electricity upon the ex-
tremities of bodies which are insulated conductors, and the
communication of electricity to showers to such a degree that
the drops become luminous. The former kind, which is the
more common, was known to the ancients as well as to the
moderns. It depends upon. the proximity of a cloud highly
charged, or upon an approaching- change of weather, in which
the increase of the humidity. is the first visible sign. Its ap-
pearance is that of a pale-coloured flame quivering upon the
tops of spears and other-military weapons, helmets, the manes
and tails of horses, and generally upon all bodies which are
nott good cotiducturs, but have sharp points upon which the
electricity concentrates, without finding a passage to the earth.
During storms at sea, the electricity often assumes the ap-
pearance of a ball of lire upon the mast-head, or at the ends
of the, yards. and sometimes runs along the moist surface of
the spars and rigging; it is then known by the name of St.
Elmo's Fire, or Corpo-Santo. Pliny says that he could trace
the ramparts of a fort, by night, by the gleam from the
weapons of the sentinels; but what he affirms of the vocal
sounds emitted by the meteors, which settle upon the yards
and-masts of ships, has not been wituessed• by any modern
naturalist. Bianchini mentions a remarkable instance of the
electricity which may precede a storm before any threaten-
ing appearances are seen. On one of the bastions of the
Castle of Duino,
on the shores of the Adriatic, there bad ex-
isted from time immemorial a pointed iron rod, placed verti-
cally. In the summer, when an approaching storm was ap-
prehended, the sentinel in the bastion presented a halbert to
the iron, and when he perceived it emit sparks or display a
small gerb of fire, he rung a bell to give notice to the country
people in the fields, and the fishermen at sea, to seek shelter
from the approaching storm. Luminous showers are of more
rare occurrence than the foregoing appearance, but some of
the instances are quite well authenticated. In the month of
January, 1822, Professor Lampadius, at Freyberg, obtained
the state of the electricity during the change of weather
brought on ITY a shift of wind from S.W. and W. to N.E.
There had been a small rain at intervals; but the shower
changed into sleet, and ended in a thick fall of snow. The
electricity was so strong that one of the gold leaves of Bennet's
electrometer was torn off, and there was a peculiar smell at-
tending intense charges of electricity. At the same time
there was a thunder-storm at Leipsic, and the professor was
informed by a gentleman who was travelling in the neighbour-
hood of Freybere, during the snow, that there was a strong
phosphorescence at the extremities of the branches of all the
trees along the road. 'l' lie light was very distinct, and of a
bluish-white colour; it continued when he touched the tree,
but ceased for the time when the branches were made to touch
the ground by bending them down. Some miners who were
upon the road when the storm began, said that the sleet ap-
peared luminous as it fell. A similar phenomenon took place
on the east coast of the United States in January, 1817.
There were thunder-storms with hail and snow, but not so
much lightning as might have been expected in the circum-
stances. A luminous appearance was witnessed by those out
doors. Their hats, gloves, and ears, and the manes and tails
of their horses, the bushes along the road-side, and the trunks
of trees, were all surrounded by a lively vacillating flame, in
different shapes, which at the same time emitted a slight noise,
like the simmering of water over a fire. 'When drops of rain
impinge on a solid body, not very porous, a reflecting surface
is formed at the distant of contact, which throws hack a flash
of light to the eve of the observer. We are inclined to re-
fer to this the luminous appearancewhich is said to have
been noticed during heavy showers when the drops reached
the ground, —Companion to Allitanack, 1639,