The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-11 00:00:00

CLERICAL LIBRARIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.4IVD.IRD.
am glad to observe that the subject of clerical libra-
ries is exciting some notice.
The disadvantages which the clergy generally, and students
in particular, labour under is scarcely credible from the want of
access to our literary treasures in divinity. They are, as it
were, sealed books. In church history, for example, the re-
sources are so numerous that it would require a small fortune
for a private individual to make an available collection. I\laey
of our theological students would be found very deficient in Ibis
department were they, like all candidates for holy orders in the
Scottish Church, examined touching church history. Few per-
haps even of our elder ministers could write such a work of
extensive research as A. S. Patterson's "History of the Church
from the Creation of the World to the beginning of the 19th
Century ;" yet its pious and learned author died in the prime
of life, being only twenty-five years of age.
As supplying the necessary weapons to fight the adversaries
of the church and religion, surely ready access to a valuable
theological library would be signally useful The Romish
clergy owe much of their authority to their deep learning, and
are not, therefore, to be met by mere simple good intentions on
the part of their opponents. Something besides:is wanting;
the same weapons, the same learning, the fullest acquaintance
with arguments that have already been advanced, and all the
wisdom accumulated in the luminous pages of the fathers and
all celebrated theologians. To what extent are we familiar with
Calvin, Erasmus, Owen, Hall, the fathers of the church, and a
host of others too numerous to name ?
I was reading the other day an extract from the visitation
sermon, preached at Ampthill, Herts, in September, 1827, by
the Rev. S. Piggott, Rector of Dunstable; as follows :
In these eventful times, we are particularly called upon to
guard ourselyea on three quarters, no which the church of
Christ is besieged and attacked by formidable and deadly foes.
Sentimentalism and infidelity have long attacked one flank of
the host of God : Popery has still longer harrassed the other ;
and now a fair but fatal liberality of sentiment is giving aid to
both, by lifting up its weapons of scorn in defiance of the living
God. The bulk of the refined part of the community are un,
wittingly becoming Socinians in principle, and libertines in
practice. Scepticism is undermining all Christian faith in
their minds, and all religious principle in their actions, till
they become indifferent to all religious opinions, and over-
reach the simple by the niost fratidideet confederacies. Popery
veils the truth and renders it contemptible, and thus prepares
men to embrace Unitarianism or infidelity. We need protest
against the Church of Rome as a system of idolatry. The in-
difference which our legislature has shown to the question of
Popish idolatry. bodes the kingdom no good. The idolatry of
the Church of Rome is a mere question of party among us, in-
stead of an abomination which we should fear to support.
Popery is the poisonous Upas tree which scatters death. No-
thing but the grossest ignorance of its noxious influence could
determine our miscalculating politicians to suffer it to be
planted and flourish on British ground."
How are the false notions of the people to be combatted, and
the false positions of our enemies exploded, except we are pie-
pared, not only with the wisdom which is from above, but like-
wise with all intellectual stores which have accumulated fot
ages to the honour of religion. Are a few modern treatises all
that is required ? Does theological knowledge lie in a nut
shell? Is it wiser to trust to natural talents, and original think-
ing than to be troubled with learning how far our predecessors
have gone, and wherein their strength lies ? Is it time enough
to buckle on our armour, to prepare for the fight, to sound the
alarm—when our enemies are up—in sight—hastening to our
destruction! The Christian soldier should ever be guarded,
whether in season or ontof seasom
It is sincerely to be hoped, that something will soon be done
to effect the establishing of a good library of divinity.
I am, yours,.&e.
A LOVER OF LEARNING.

THE WHIGS AND RADICALS AT HALIFAX.—(From a cor-
respondent.)—The whigs of Halifax, as is well known, had a
feast on Friday last, and after dinner a great portion of the
company drank to such excess that they got beastly intoxicat-'
ed; and, as is usual in such cases, uproar, riot, and disfigured
physiognomies followed; tables, chairs, decanters, and glasses
were capsized, and the guests themselves lay sprawling upon
the floor, in indescribable confusion. The radicals had their
gathering on Monday, and it is but justice to say that they con-
ducted their business in a much more becoming -manner an
th
the whigs. No ladies were admitted at 2s. 6d. a-head—no gen-
tlemen drank brandy until they lost their equilibration—no
tables were upset with all the et ceteras which sparkled on theiro
surface—no cracked heads, tattered garments,- and- distd
countenances; and, lastly, no disgusting and swine-like exhi-
bition of wallowing in the filthy muckiness of their own crea-
ation.—Standard.
THE DUNMOW FLITCH OF BACON.—At the late meeting of
the Dunmow Agricultural Society, Mr. Brewsher said, that to
his regret he had heard that day that appilicchation had been
had come
the wife,
formally and properly made to claim these , but that the
chkmand had been resisted. (Cheers.)
.did not know why
that objection was made, but when there were no such joyous
Nj‘or ay lodue
husband, Society
oincctaosiotnaks
take
n the Dunmow,
place,
and the the
and child, could come as candidates, and be joined with the
Walden and Dunmow Society in harmony and concord.
there Saffron
(Cheers.) This gave rise to a short conversation, which we
find reported in the Essex Herald as follows :—" Mr. Player
said, as the flitch of bacon had been alluded to, he begged to
offer a flitch to be disposed of as the committee of Dunmow
might think fit. (Loud cheers and laughter.) Mr. Brewsher
hoped they would allow him to propose that the Dig should be
fed by a member of the society, and the flitch cured at Dunmow.
(Cheers.) Mr. Fuller said he should be glad to receive pro-
posals front any gentleman in Dunmow to provide a flitch, fat-
tened by a member of the society, to be produced about that
time twelve months. Mr. Wade said, as Mr. Player had given
-them a flitch, he (Mr. \V.) protnised there should be no gam-
mon in giving it away. (Cheers and laughter.) He was afraid
they would not be able to produce a loving couple in Little
Dunmow to claim it, but perhaps they should from some other
place."
Letters from Bombay state, that an Agricultural Asiociation
had been formed in that Presidency, to encourage the growth of
Sugar, the cultivation of the Mulberry, and growth of Wool;
the first report is of a very encouraging character.
A certain
venerable gentleman, an artist, known to fame, and
honoured by the addition of B.A. to his highly respectable name,
was, a day or two since, walking in the neighbourhood of Soho-
square, and became much surprised at seeing a wretched daub
exhibited at a shop window for sale, with a placard fixed upon it,
saying, " This fine original picture of Bacchus and Ariadne,
by (the artist above referred to,) only twenty
.guineas."
This was too bad—the sight of his name to a production which
would almost have shamed a painter of teaboards was too much
for the philosophy of Mr.—. He went into the shop, and wa,!
assured hy the proprietor that the picture was "an original
"Then, Sir," said the old gentleman, " I en-
l not suffer my
ascribed to my p
name to be disgraced by such a thing being the
dl." With these words he dashed his stick through
such effect as
can-
vass of the painting, and repeated the dose with
nearly to destroy it. The picture-dealer stormed,h the artisttook
the ceremony of
it quietly, and his leave, first going through .
leaving his card on the mans counter.—Evening