The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-05 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY

OF THE
PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday the third anniversary of this association,
called forth as a bulwark of Protestantism, was held
in the Amphitheatre, Great Charlotte-street. Im-
mense as have been the gatherings at the meetings of
this association on former occasions, and great as has
been the enthusiasm, never were the meetings more
crowded, nor was the enthusiasm so high, as cha-
racterised the meeting of yesterday. The spacious
interior of the Amphitheatre was crowded in every
part where it was possible for people to stick them-
selves.
The arrangements were very similar to those of the
former meetings. The back part of the stage was oc-
cupied by a raised platform, tier above tier, which ac-
commodated about 300 ladies. In the front of the
stage were about 60 clergymen, amongst whom we
recognised nearly the whole of the local clergy and
many of the clergy of the neighbouring towns. We
ascertained the names of the following clergymen,
though numbers we could not ascertain:—The Rev.
Dr. Tattershall, R. P. Buddicorn, H. NPNeile, T. D.
R. M'Ghee, D. Anderson, F. Barker, T. Bold,
John Gregg,-Jones, J. H. Stewart, T. G. Dritlield, F. Ould,
Dr. Ralph, R. Myddleton, R. Phillips, W. Williams,
Robt. Davies, Richd. Davies, J. E. Bates, D. James,
W. Rawson, Cyrus Morrall, J. 11. Stafford, J. North,
E. Oldfield, C. W. Richards, W. Gibson, W. Carus,
P. Crawford, A. Knox, John Powell, G. Stokes, T.
Gardner, C. W. Lawrence, &c. The pit, boxes, and
galleries were crowded to the greatest density; the
pit and boxes being chiefly occupied by ladies, with a
great number of gentlemen, heads of the most re-
spectable families in the town. The galleries were
filled by a dense mass of human beings, chiefly men
of the middle rams t,r Ilsa. On the whole, we should
thank, at a moderate computation, not less titan rrom
4000 to 5000 persons were present. The general
character of the meeting was that of great attention
and decorum. The excitement of obtaining places
having subsided—and we may instance that so great
was the anxiety to obtain seats and places, that we
saw great numbers of ladies crowding round the doors
and into the Amphitheatre so early as nine o'clock in
the morning—the excitement having subsided, at
eleven o'clock, the hour of meeting,
The Rev. Dr. TA TTERSH ALL was moved intathe chair.
The CHA IRM N then came forwards amidst great cheering
and said, my christian friends—We have a divine direction
which teaches that in every thing, by prayer and supplica-
tion, with thanksgiving, we should make our requests known
unto God. And if this is a direction suitable on all occa-
sions, assuredly it is not less than ordinarily suitable on an
occasion in which we are assembled together for the promo-
tion of true Godliness. I therefore shall beg my rev. elder
brother, the Rev. Mr. Buddicom to open this meeting with a
prayer to Almighty God to ask a blessing upon this meeting.
1 he Rev. Mr. Boontcom then, in a brief and appropriate
prayer, invoked a blessing on the proceedings of the meeting,
and that its object, by the means used, might be attained,
and the purity of Protestantism made apparent, whilst the
impurity and the apostacy of the Church of Rome might also
be made manifest.
The CHAIRMAN again rose. He said, my Christian
friends; we have but this moment risen from our knees in
addressing Almighty God in prayer for a blessing upon this
meeting. I do humbly and earnestly desire and further
pray, that every part of the proeeedings of this day may be
of a nature and character suitable to this first and important
religious exercise in which we have been engaged. If I say
that I am happy to obey the call made upon me, first of all
by the committee, and next by this meeting to take the chair
on this occasion ; I can, indeed, say so with great cordiality,
that it is only because I conceive myself to be fulfilling an
imperative duty ; if it were otherwise, it would be far more
agreeable in every respect to my own feelings to have been
permitted to be only a listener on the occasion, and to be in a
far less prominent position than you have placed the in. But
having experienced your kindness already, I shall endea-
vour to fulfil the duties of the situation in which 1 am now
placed; and in doing so, I desire to rest first upon the aid
of the good spirit of God, without which we can do nothing
aright, and to rely next upon your own kindness—upon your
own good feeling, which I have already experienced; so that
I have every reason to expect that my duties wilt he very
little of a different nature to your own—that of listening with
delight to the statements which shall be made to us
(Cheers.) It will be expected from me, I believe, to
say some very few words—and they shall be very few
—on the nature of the object which has called us
together, and on the design of this present meeting. It
is almost sufficient to answer both the one and the other of
these questions, if I merely announce the name of the asso-
ciation, whose friends and subscribers we are—the Protes-
tant Association. (Cheers.) An association formed for the sup-
port of Protestantism, and it may be perhaps well if I should
give what I conceive to be a definite of Protestantism, on
behalf of which this association is formed, and for the sup-
port of which this meeting is assembled. Protestantism
then is nothing but another name for primitive Christianity.
(Cheers.) It is called Protestatism, but why called Pro-
testantism ? Simply because, in the lapse of ages, primitive
Christianity had became defiled and incrusted as it were
with matter, which was foreign to its own substance—which
was alien to its own spirit, and which was injurious to its
efficacy; and primitive Christianity—could only be restored
to its beauty by removing from it—and by protesting against
those extraneous encrustations. (Cheers.) In defence of
Protestantism we have associated ourselves therefore toge-
ther; and why are we so jealous for the interest of Protest-
antism—why do we think it to be a matter worthy to be sup-
ported by means such as this? My christian friends we have
a twofold reason for it : tie first reason is exciusively of a
spiritual nature. We desire the support of Protestantism—
that is of primitive christianity, because that in it are invol-
ved the spiritual interests of ourselves and of our fellow men;
that is christianity. For what is Protestantism? Primi-
tive christianity or Protestantism is uothing else than the
charter of God's mercy to man; it is nothing else than the
exhibition of a glorious planlby which Almighty God has been
pleased to provide for the salvation of our fellow sinners.
Well then, this is the object and the design of primitive
christianity—and will not that object be more fully furthered
and secured by the instruments that God has provided for the
purpoie of its being presented and employed in all its sim-
plicity, rather than by having if I may so speak, its edge
blunted by rust; and moreover will not the salvation of 'nee
be more effectually secured when the Gospel of Jesus Christ
—the great plan of human redemption, is exhibited in all its
simplicity, as a redemption once made and completely made
for the sins of men, in all its fullness and sufficiency, as
having been wrought out by none other than the incarnate
son of God, in all its tender meekness and graciousness, in
being offered freely to all who desire to accept of it in all its
completeness; in arousing sinners under condemnation, to
the favour of God here, and to the participation of his throne
hereafter. But if for this spiritual reason primitive
christianity ought to engage our affections, we have
also a, temporal reason, for man, if I may so speak,
by the introduction into Christianity of doctrines and state-
ments that belong not to its nature, which belong not to its
substance, is introduced into relations in which he ought not
to stand. He is placed, as it were, in au intricate, in a false
and in an embarrassing position, and it is a matter, as I ap-
prehend, of strict necessity in the consequence, that he must
be less loyal as a subject—that he must be less usecul as a
member of society—that be must be less happy as a man,
than if he were set free from the thraldom of Popish super-
'talon (cheers.) That is what we assemble together for,
and in so doing we are, as I conceive, vindicating the au-
thority of divine revelation. Where shall we find primitive
Christianity? You answer me in a moment—in the Bible.
According to the wotds of Chillingworth—" the Bible only
is the religion of the Protestant," and we may adopt that
language, which has been adopted in other connections, and
which I am sure will express the meaning of Chillingworth ;
" the religion of the Protestant is the Bible, and nothing but
the Bible (cheers) as given by inspiration of God, and as
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction and right-
eousness, that the Man of God may be perfect to all good
works." If any other source—if any other rule of faith
were necessary than the Bible, God would not have given
that in order that the Man of God might be perfect. It is
not consistant with the wisdom of God to use inadequate in-
struments for what lie designs to do (hear). 1 will not de-
tain vou longer than to observe, that we come here professing
to be the subscribers and friends sf the Protestant Associa-
tion. It may be possible that there are individuals present
who do not, in the strict souse of the term, consider them-
selves to stand in that relation to the Protestant Association.
We are happy that they have the opportunity—we rejoice in
it—of listening to such statements as shall be made. I
think it my duty to observe that it is more than probable
that what may be stated may be not precisely suitable to
their own feelings; but 1 must put them in remembrance of
this, that they come here of their own accord—that they
voluntarily place themselves within the hearing of those
statements which cannot reach them, I again observe, except
through their own deliberate choice (hear). I am sure,
therefore, I may call upon the propriety, upon the good
sense and good feeling of every individual present, that the
proceedings of this meeting may he conducted with the
most perfect order and propriety. I shall now beg leave to
call upon the Secretary of the Association to read the report
for the last year (cheers).
MOSES EDWA R Ds, ESQ. the Secretary of the Associatiou,
then came forward, and after apologising for a weak voice,
begged to tender the report to the Rev. H. 111• Neile to
read (cheers).
The Rev. H. McNerse was received with very loud
cheers. He said—lt will Sir, he perfectly understood that I
do not intrude myself for the purpose of addressing this
meeting at this period of the ddy 1 shall, if time be al-
lowed, address a few words to you before the termination of
the meeting. At present I merely respond to the call of the
secritary to lend him my voice in reading this report (cheers.)
He then proceeded to read the following report.—
" REPORT, &c."

"In making this their third annual report, your committee
have the gratification of communicating to you, that trivial
as their labors may seem to those who ate uninterested in
the cause of national Protestantism, the results anticipated
by them at the institution of this association have never been
more progressively realised than during the last twelve
months.
"These results they recognise in the increasing interest
now taken on every side, in the critical and alarming posi-
tion of our Protestant institutions : and also in the more just
estimate which begins to prevail of the true character and
designs of the Papal system, in proportion as the real princi-
ples and practices of that system have become known.
"Your committee feel well warranted in attributing these
results, in a yet); great degree, to the dissemination of the
important documents and facts brought forward by this and
similar associations throughout the kingdom. They desire
also to thank God, and their dear reverend brethren his
servants, fur the Christian zeal, ability, and eloquence, by
which those facts and docu:nents have been rendered both
notorious and interesting to the country.
"Your committee feel that urgent cause existed and still
exists for such labors. Warmly attached to the free institu-
tions of their beloved country, they are cordially desirous
that she may continue free, and would therefore exert their
best energies to warn her of her danger from the ruining
aggressions of a continental usurper. His aggressions come
not in the form of open invasion, if they did, they would be
comparatively harinless. They come under the far more
dangerous disguise of pretended friendship. They are car-
ried on by men professing themselves subjects of the crown
of England, while in heart their supreme allegiance is to a
foreign potentate.
"The liberties of England, both civil and religious are in
danger. The basis of all true liberty is a definite and known
acknowledged code of laws : definite. excludin7 all opportu-
nity for caprice or tyranny in the ruler; and known and ac-
knowledged, excluding all excuse for resistance or insubor-
dination among the people. Such is the statute book of
England—defined, known and acknowledged, the basis of
our civil liberty. Such is the law of God, defined, known
and acknowledged, the basis of our religious liberty.
In opposition to both, and claiming a control over both,
a foreign potentate is exercising in England and over
E,I glishinen,ban undefined, irresponsible, and arbitrary autho-
rity.
" Undefined authority is the open door for a tyrant; ,and
submission to it is the blind prostration of a slave. The
Bishop of Rome is such a tyrant. He' claims authority which
which has never been defined. Be claims it as vicar hereon
earth, of our Lord aud-2asiour Jesus Christ. The indefinite

extent of this claim wears an aspect of the most unmeasured
absolution. He delegates to Bishops and Priests, an unde-
fined measure of this undefined whole: reserving an ultimate
appeal to himself; and not confining himself to his own
diocese, or even his own kingdom, he dares to usurp authority
in other realms, and to employ his delegates to bring and to
keep under his supreme control, the subjects of other
monarchs.

In days of ignorance his claim was basely and slavishly
submitted to here in England. In better days of advancing
instruction, his claim was disallowed. England threw off
the yoke. The usurper, however, though defeated, was not
reformed. He continued to exercise his tyranny in other
lands. He still claimed it over England; but her scriptural
institutions, her national protests, her solemn abjuration of
the tyrant, her circulated Bible, her preached gospel, her
beneficial Prayer Books, her established church, rendered
any attempt on his part more than madness. Yielding to the
necessity of the time, he remained quiescent: changed
in conduct, but unchanged in heart: suspending his de-
mand, but not waiving his claim; quiescent, like an old
and practised tiger in a jungle, watching for a favourable
moment when his unsuspecting prey would be off their
guard.

" Yes, the claim of the Italian usurper is unchanged and
unchangeable. He cannot abate one jot of it without con-
fessing that he is not the vicar of Christ, the King of Kings
and Lord of Lords. It is, in truth, an inalienable mark,
stamped upon his forehead, in the word blasphemy.
" Again he is urging it is England, but not as yet by vio-
lence. He is urging it by professing to disclaim it. He is
endeavouring to regain his power by protesting that he does
not desire it. To this end, his mitred delegates in this em-
pire have been solemnly upon oath disclaiming, before the
parliament and people of Great Britain, the perfidious,
and persecuting, and enslaving doctrines of their system,
alleging that such doctrines were wholly obsolete, while, at
the same time, they have been sedulously and successfully
propagating those very doctrines among their own deluded
followers. A remarkable combination has characterised
their course, namely, public diem:own/ uponoath, ;,; alking hand
in hand with secret propagation by authority.
" By such dissimulation they have succeeded in hood-
winking unsuspecting Englishmen. Your committee cannot
but recognise in this delusion the natural consequence of the
apathy into which Englishmen had very generally fallen,
with regard to their holy religion. Careless about God,
argetauj, of his sovereignty over nations, and buoyed rip in
hie preed or sene,a.......e....,—__ataeesiersted with existing in-
stitutions, and enjoyments, and privileges, and wits' to le—
expectation of most extravagant improvements from the
strength and ingenuity of human wisdom, they failed to per-
ceive or feel that political improvements in temporal matters
contain no atonement for national sins, and that in the midst
of the brilliant and intoxicating career of such improvements
there was an accumulating load of offence against God.
Useful knowledge, physical science, mechanical discovery—
these, considered as properties of the Ration, became the ob-
jects of the nation's idolatry. The distinguishing peculi-
arities of vital religion were discountenanced as enthusiasm.
While, for the attainment of superficial unanimity among
men, national encouragement was held out to what is super-
stitious in itself, and, in its demoralising consequences, fatal
to national prosperity.
"A faithful and effectual testimony against this delusion
has been raised and propagated by our Protestant Associa-
tions. Your committee have much pleasure in announcing
that such testimonies are multiplying in the kingdom. In
the spring of this year a Protestant Assoriiition was formed
at Bath, under circumstances which elicited the retaliation
of a Romish Priest, and led to as complete a conclusion, a
discomfiture of fraud and falsehood, as has ever been fur-
nished by the annals of controversy. The whole of the pro-
ceedings have been printed in a pamphlet, entitled Popery
Illustrated.' By the result of the Bath Protestant meeting,
on March 13, 1833, in controversy of Dr. Brown, Principal
of Downside College, with Sir W. S. R. Cockburn, Bart.,
Major Grafton, and the Rev. R. G. McGhee.'
" Last week a similar association was formed at Manches-
ter, under the superintendence of the true Protestant, and
faithful minister of Christ, Use Rev. Hugh Stowell.
That the operations of these associations may be carried
on vigorously and perseveringly, that meetings such as the
present may-be held, that appropriate tracts may be printed
and circulated, that needful journeys may be made and ser-
mons preached, it is absolutely indispensable that the friends
of Protestantism should contribute to the funds: and your
committee would earnestly invite their numerous and warm
supporters in this town and-neighbourhood, not only to swell
the collection to be made at the doors, but also to enroll their
names on the list ofanntial subscribers."
The Rev. T. D. GREGG then came forward to move the
first resolution, which wits as follows :—" 'Chat, being fully
persuaded that Popery is a system of gross apostacy from
God, defacing,Christianity by idolatry and superstition, and
the crimes that are consequent upon these,—being also con-
vinced that this Popish apostacy is spreading its poison
among the people of England, and rearing itself into power
to invade and overturn the best and dearest interests of the
Protestants of this empire,—this meeting considers it the
bounden duty of all who value the sacred blessings of Scrip-
tural truth and Protestant liberty, to co-operate by every
legitimate means, in their several stations, not only to oppose
the further progress of Popery, but to deliver, if it should
please God to bless their exertions, our Roman Catholic
fellow-subjects and our country from the power of this anti-
Christian yoke." Having read the resolution, Mr. Gregg
proceeded :—Mr. Chairman, and dear friends, I consider it
a very high privilege to be allowed to address so large and
influential a body of Englishmen as I see before me. As one
of the humblest of the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, I
feel that my individual weight and opinions are as a mere
nothing. Yet it has pleased the Lord, in the exercise of his
sovereign grace, to confer a certain degree of influence on
those opinions of mine, in consequence of circumstances of
which you are all aware. To Him be all the glory. And
instrumentally I must say that I owe to England what I
consider to be a very great deal of the energy that influences
me in this great cause, and the determination that I humbly
feel within myself, to devote myself, as. far as the Lord may
give me opportunity, to the great work proposed in this reso-
lution—namely, the overthrow of Popery.. (Hear.) You
are aware that I am an Irishman; and I tell you the truth,
that I was a long while a Protestant before 1 felt anything
more than a very strong conviction of the soundness of my
principles. We do nut, in Ireland, see Protestantism in its
practical excellence. Irish Protestantism is at sort of miti-
gated thing. I grant it is a strong—a very strong thing;
and the Irish Protestants are most decidedly against. Po-
pery : but it is in consequence rather of a conviction
of the truth of their principles, and that which 1 like-
wise attribute to God—the transmission of wholesome and
valuable prejudices from father to son, than ism a visi-
ble exhibition of the excellence of Protestantism. Prac-
tically speaking, it is with Protestantism in Ireland as it was
with true religion in the time of the Jews. The Jews were
mixed up with the Canaanites, and in proportion the prac-
tical influence of their own religion was let down. So it is
with Ireland, Protestantism has not yet put on its beautiful
garment ; it does not present itself to the eye of an indivi-
dual who regards practical religion as important, as recom-
mending it strongly to the approval of ail who become ac-
quainted with tt. The Poor Irish Protestant is firm against
Popery, while his practice partakes of the instruction of
Popery. For a long while the Protestant religion in Ireland
was not spiritual in its character. There was a proverb
abounding in the country, that "The Papist had a had reli-
gion, but the Protestant had no religion at all." This was
something like the case. We complain of Protestant ser-
vants not being so good as Popish servants, with a variety of
other similar complaints. A very natural reason may be
given for it. Superstition is an influence, but neglected re-
ligion is no influence at ail. Therefore, while I was very
greatly puzzled, I really felt at a loss when I found they were
not so practicals as I would have desired to find them. I.
said within myself, "After all, if our religion be not practi-
cal—if it do nut produce results superior to those performed
by Popery, we should be rather quiet about it, I think "
Well, I came over to England, and I tell you truly, that for
a long whiled was puzzled with new difficulties. There is a
great deal on the surface of English society, especially in
certain localities, calculated to make an Irish clergyman ra-
ther hesitate. In Ireland we meet with a great deal of
respect. It is " Phase your riverence" on all hands. , (a
laugh.) I am coming to England ; I expected to find
the people as ready to do us honour as the people of
Ireland. But 1 found you a sturdy race. (Laughter
and cheers.) An Englishman stands bolt upright before
every man who does not give him a downright reason
for exercising any influence over hint. (A laugh.) For a
while what I considered the rudeness and want of submission,
and sundry other onpopish attributes of your Yorkshireman,
made me rather hard-hearted against Protestantism. (A
laugh.) But when I saw Englishmen stand upon their feet
and drew in something of their spirit, ray mind chanced. I
perceived in the lowest orders an inquiring disposition. I
found every man taking me to the scriptures, and giving me
his reasons from the Bible. Every man, though 'he might
neglect going to church, imagined he had a good reason for
it. and read his Bible at home. I found that reading the
Bible made them rational, thinking, independent, honourable,
free, decided, and, in fact, invested them with such attributes
as, when I became acquainted with them, did really cause me
to glorify God, and to say within myself, "I have found it
out! Here is the grand point. It is to Protestantism that
England owes these qualities, and it is to these qualities that
England is indebted for her amazing superiority." (Loud
cheers.) They talk of Ireland being ground down to tyranny.
They talk of 7,000,000 of people having been kept down for
700 years. I believe it is that Mr. O'Connell is so famous
for harping upon, by English
,tyranny. I defy all the ty-
rants in the world to grind down to the earth seven millions,
or two millions, or one million of men, as the Irish Papist;
are ground down, if they had the qualities that Englishmen
have. (Cheers.) It is to their qualities, derived from their
religion, that Englishmen owe their liberties. (Hear.)
Give me a nation with the qualities of Englishmen and Pro-
testants, and they may laugh to scorn the power of all the
tyrants in the world. They will stand erect in the attitude
of liberty, and civilisation, and national glory, notwithstand-
ing every obstacle that may be opposed to them. (Cheers.)
Why, I tell you, I defy the whole world to grind down me,—
(much applause,)—me, a thing grown upon a dunghill, as it
were, comparatively. Why? Because here I have the
standard of my salvation, and the Lord my God—(The con-
clusion of the sentence was drowned by applause.) What!
a single-Englishman ground down, who has the Bible in his
hand, and the spirit of God for his guide! Impossible. It
is a thing out of the question. Capital, and railroads,
and mail-coaches, and gas, and other inventions and im-
provements, are these the cause of the advantages of this
country! No. If I were to put an Englishman, without a
penny in his pocket, in a desert, he would fill his pockets
with money—(a laugh)—and that of a most admirable qua-
, lily, because he would
odi,nvodeiertspiewnnhdhieconhnesty and integrity, and by
1 twhheo d e exercisete r ol it; fe
htoosebeP t.theßiLitoradivceo
s
es
oneoold
o f thish ebre likely
hooks o
nk
dy
jocu this
opened ima fee r eaoenas allto
tfodebveottlisoencasf erweitxha
mErnfrt-,
and found, held out as a pattern for the imitationo of hersub-
jects, a saint, a holy saint, a wonder
of. piety. He died at
Rome, and how do you thinkhe lived! Excuse me for
being very plain. I am in the habit of being lain. He
lived' a lousy beggarman. (Loud cheers andPlauehter )
The most filthy object in the whole city of Rome,
covered
with rags, and so overrun with vermin, that the priest in the
confessional who gives us an account of his extraordinary
piety and amazing merit, was obliged to put a partition be-
tween himself and his penitent, and always to get on the lee
side of him, or the weather side, I do not know which.
(Laughter.) If Englishmen were so blind, so besotted, and
so ridiculous as to imagine that this is excellence, under any
form. I ask you, in the name of God, would they be the
people they • are? (Cheers.) I beg to tell you that these
things occur in Ireland. I will undertake to show you a
thousand saints like this, who, were they in the city of Rome,
would no doubt, be canonised. (Hear and a laugh.) If
you will go along the roads in the south of Ireland, you will
find poor, wretched creatures running out of holes in ditches
—the priests know it well—holes in which they can scarcely
turn themselves—coming forward and clamorously demand-
ing your alms, evidencing, as they fancy, by their prayers
to the virgin, and St. Dominic, and other eminent Deities,
that they are exceedingly pious and adMirable Papists,
through the result of this system. And I ask, concerning a
system producing such results, must it not degrade the
people who live under its influence! Of course. It is plain
common sense that it must. (Cheers.) This being the case
let us be decided as one man against this system. That
you may be decided against it, let me address a few thoughts
from the almost only authority I ever quoteon the subject of
Popery. Fir, I will give vou a brief description of
what Popery Is for the word of God. Remember I do net
stand here as an isolated individual. I stand here as'a mem-
ber of our holy church. I do not give you notions of my
own When I come to speak of the book of Revelations, it
is to my mind, as it must be to the mind of every thinking
individual, a source of great satisfaction to know that I do
not entertain a single idea, respecting this book, which is not
at the same time entertained by our holy church. (Hear.)
So that if you approve the opinions and arguments as such,
which we are addressing to your common sense, they may
find their way still more readily to your convictions, when
you know that they are such as you have already, by impli-

cation, sanctioned, as members of the Protestant church.
Furthermore, I tell you that these opinions are brought be-
fore the world in their strongest, and most striking, and most
convincing form, by persons at whose feet I have been glad
to sit,.-those admirable defenders of our holy church—slange
lishmen who are the very light of the world. I mention with
honour, for example, that great living divine, the exemplary
Mr. Faber, and likewise the eminent and excellent Joseph
Mede. I pray God, in his infinite mercy, to deprive you-of
that high-inindedness which is too common amongst us,
which leads people to say, like Father Maguire, any runaway
opponent-, (laughter and cheers)—" there is nothing certain
in the book of Revelations—no one understands it." I thank
God, I believe I could find five hundred old Englishwomen,
whe would be able to teach Mr. Maguire the book of Reve-
latitins. (Laughter.) I am going to give you extracts from
this holy book: 1 was beginning witkpa prayer, and it is
this—that God, in his wisdom, may humble you to become
diligent students of this bock. For, in proportion as you do
prayerfully read and understand it, you will feel yourselves
animated with a peculiar degree of love for the truth as-it is
in Jesus, and become a blessing to .your families and con-
nexious. God has promised his special blessing upon it;
and if it be only read by the light of those invaluable guides,
Faller and Merle, every one may understand it; and Popery
will never be overthrown till the great mass of the people do
understand it. (Cheers.) God has condescended to becOme
a painter for us. He has painted Popery ; and here is the pic-
tute he draws Come hithemand I will show unto thee the
judgment of the great whore, that eitteth upon many waters,
with whom the ki.rgs of the earth have committed fornication,
and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with
the wine of her fornication. Lo he carried me away in the
spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a
scarlet-coloured beast, full of voices of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in
purple and scarlet colour, and decked with Gold, and pre-
cious stones, and pearls, haying a golden cup in her hand,
full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: and
upon her forehead was a name written, Menem's', BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF iIARLOTS AND ABOMINA-
TIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with
the blood of the saints, and with the blond of the martyrs of
Jesus : and when I saw her I wondered with great admira-
tion." Mark, I assert, and our holy church asserts, that
this is a picture of the church of Rome. Can anythine be
name awful? It is admirable, and 1 bless God for it. When
I was truing to the late discussion, people said to rue, " Sir,
your arguments from the bock of Revelations will not tell."
esms !snow better than you—they will tell. When God
has given me arguments 11,14,, L, is eseeer than you,
and 1 will go in simplicity according to what he tells We, ann
not at:coming, to your advice. It is with the vulgar that I
have to do—with tinkers and tailors ; and fhey can understand
a picture, when they cannot understand a theory." *And is
not this a living picture, speaking to every soul? Is wit the
church described as the bride at Christ ? It is the constant
language of Scripture. When the bride, the Lord's wife, is
faithful to her husband, she is represented as a beauteous
woman; dotted with the sun and moon, and crowned with
twelve stars. When the bride, the church, becomes unfaith-
! fill, what can be more appropriate imagery, in describing
her, than that of a faithless, foul, abominable woman ?
" I beheld the whore drunk with the blood of the
saints,"—persecuting them to the death. She was a
faithless spouse to Christ : she went after other hus-
bands, whom sire admired, and bowed down to, and
served, more than her lawful husband. He requires the
whole heart. " My Son, give Hie the heart.'' And he will
not be satisfied with half a he:rt. " She sits on a scarlet-
coloured beast, haying seven heads and ten horns " A pre-
cise image of the Roman empire. Rome had ,seven forms of
government, and she was ultimately divided into ten powers
—weapons of attack—ten kingdoms. It is remarkably plain.
But while it commends itself to our reason, by its plaiuness,
we like to have assurance doubly sure in such a case as this.
And here we are not left in doubt; God gives us a sober ex-
- planation of his imagery : " The woman thou sawest in that
great city, which reigneth over the Kings of the earth."
What city but Rome ? What city reigned over the kings of
the earth? And who affects, in modern times, to reign over
the kings of the earth hut papal Heine ? Not one God ex-
plains the whole matter. Having given us a picture of the
apcstacy, he gives its attributes elsewhere: " forbidding to
marry, commanding to abstain from meats." What form of
of apostacv does this but the Romish apostacy ? In sober-
ness, is not this satisfactory? Does not this commend itself
to your reason ? I put it to you, seriously to ask yourselves,
looking round the whole world, if anything else can be found,
answering to the description of the great whore, who puts a
hook on the nose and a bridle in the mouth of the nations?
There is evidently none. (hear.) Turn now to Deuter-
onomy, the 28th chapter. Hear what is denounced as the
consequence of apostacy from God: "Cursed shalt thou be
in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed
shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit
of thy body and the fruit Of thy hand, the increase of thy trine
and the flocks of thy sheep. 'Cursed shalt thou be wheis thou
comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou guest out.
The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and re-
buke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until
thou tie destroyed, and until thou perish quickly, because of
the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hest forsaken
me. The Lord shall wake the pestilence cleave unto thee, until
he have consumed thee from off the land whither thou goest to
possess it. The Lord shall snide thee with a consumption
and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an ex-
treme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and
with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
And thy heaven that is over thee shit:: be brass, and the
earth that is under thee shall he iron. The Lord shall make
the rain of thy land powder and dust: front heaven shall it
come down upon thee until thou be destroyed. The fruit of
thy land, and all thy labour, shall a nation which thou know-
est not eat np, and thou shall be only oppressed and crushed
alway." Are not these the words of the living God, before
whom we stand and whom we serve ? If I- were to engage a
writer to give a description of Ireland, it could not be more
exact. Is it not the same with every Popish country in the
world ! Is it not the case with Italy ? " Are not the lower
orders there ground down, and oppressed, and reduced to
bondage, as in lreland? Are they not the same degraded
class of beings? Is it not the sane in Spain ? Is it nut the
case that there is in that country, in the present day, neither
security for property our order of government, or anything
else. In Portugal—in every country where Popery predo-
minates, does it not create an aristocracy which is not of the
people, putting it into the Fewer of that aristocracy to plun-
der the ueople, so that the lower orders are ground to the
earth through their darkuess, their ignorance, and their fatu-
ity, while the others are lifted into the position of plunderers
and robbers. (Applause.) .When this is the case in every
Popish country in the universe, should it trot decide us as to
what is the truth of the can? Was it not so in England her-
self in Popish times? Englishmen were not then free. Mag-
na Charm wars wrested from the King, as I proved in the late
discussion, in spite of the Pope. The Pope anathemat:zed
it. He commanded it to be given up. Were not the
lower orders then in a state of bondage ? Their name
implies it. They were called villeins. But look at them now,
I tell you that the lower orders of England are fit to be the
aristocracy of other lands. (Loud cheering.) Therefore, in
God's name, be sober, and practical, and recognise.where the
truth is; -recognise the origin of your privileges and liberties,
and as your forefathers won them for you, be determined to
keep them. for yourselves. All I ask is this,—do not let us
be extinguished in Ireland. Do not allow your voices, or
those of your fellow-countrymen, or that ot' tire government,
to countenance the priests of Behial and Antichrist, the-plun-
derers and enemies of the liberties of the people.—(Cheers.)
Be determined to allow no such thing. If Protestantism be
the glory of your land, and the source of all your privileges,
assist us in lighting- the battles of true religion, and give us
your countenance that we may have victory on our side. (Loud
cheers.) Go back to the imagery 1 have brought before you.
1 will make a new image. Imagine seven millions of men,
women, and children, bowed down into the dust of the earth
—seven millions are commonly given as the amount of the
Popish population of Ireland—imagine them on their knees,
and their Nees in the dust, and a priest elevating before them
the host, a hit of pastry, and the seven millions lifting up
their hands and eyes, and saying, "Deliver me, for thou art
my God!"—imagine the Gott of heaven, angels, and arch-
angels, looking down on the scene,—and can there be other
than a curse upon the laud where such a system is practised?
—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) Does not Cod control circum-
stencess? He does. Let us attempt to do any thing the
Lord will not have us to do, and he will knock the lees froth
under us, as it were: we shall be met and obstructed on the
right hand and on the left, and where we want to succeed we
shalhnot be able. Why? Because the Lord orders circum-
stances so as to defeat its. The Lord is a God that bideth
himself, and he conteots circumstances so that his finger can-
not be seen, and thereby he blinds the eyes of his adversaries.
I remember old Cobbett.—(A laugh.) He was a fine old
fellow, considered as a man,
shut unworthy cf his position
considered as a Christian. Old Cobbett said that it was im-
possible Ireland could be the victim of Popery, and be under
a curse, because there land was fertile, and because corn, and
pige, and oxen, and sheep were exported to England,—Gad
could not be the cause of it. Pour old man ! I wish he had
had the wisdom of Joineßunyan the tinker.—(A laugh.) He
would have seen that the Lord can give a land rich harvests,
and cause them to be eaten by the enemy ; that he can
give prosperity in one sense, and withdraw it in another.
At the sane tune he keeps back the working of his finger,
so that the cause is not discovered by those who will not how
in simplicity before his•holy truth. By thus controlling tit,
cumstances, he makes everything done for Ireland turn into
duet and ashes, and a curse. Go to the Protestant parts of
Ireland—go to Belfast, for instance, and YOU would almost
imagine yourself in England. (Cheers.) I was. in Belfast -
the other day for the first time: I was delighted, and I said
within myself; "Blessed he God, our evils are not Irish, but
Popish." (Cheers.) Protestantism, and Protestantism
alone, can take Ireland from her excessive misery, and lift
her into her true position among the nations. (Loud cheers.)
It must be so, from a consideration of the respective results
of Protestantism and Popery, and of the picture God has
drawn. The difference between Protestantism and Popery
may be reduced to a sinehs item ; salvation by faith in Christ
alone, without the works of the law, which is the Protestant
doctrine,-=and salvation by faith in Christ, with the works
of the law, which is the Popish doctrine. There is the' sim-
ple principle that divides lIS. Considered in the light of
nature it seems a mere trifle, and Popery looks to have the
best of it. It appears wiser, and more favourable to virtue,
to preach salvation by faith and works, than salvation by
faith nines. But the preaching of salvation by faith alone,
exceptis excipiendis, with a proper exception, is that which
alone is suitable for appealing to the human heart. The
man who makes Jesus Christ alone his foundation, abjuring
all dependence on his own works, God will look on him with
favour, will send his Spirit to make him virtuous, in conse-
quence of taking that simple truth. But God will in jea-
lousy keep away his grace from him who depends on his
own works; he will give him up to blindness, darkness, and
stupidity of mind, so that he will take the grossest absurdities
for proved truths. This is the simple principle that divides
us. It is not easy to see the difference. But there is be-
tween faith and works, and faith alone, the same difference
that there is between the window alone, and the window and
the window-shutter. Suppose a man to say, " I get light by
the window alone;'' and another to say, "'I get light by the
window and the shutter, when closed,"—it is obvious he
would never get light at all. Observe, then, what an im-
mense evil may arise from a false addition. ( Hear, hear.)
Popery wi 1 give up anything but this, because it is as
the window-shutter to the window, and enables them to
succeed in keeping the people in darkness. Thii is
the separating principle. And what do we mean by
principles ? Beginnings. If you compare beginnings,
you never can see what their proper results will be. Let
me illustrate this by a lesson in nature. Seeds are prin.
dples—heginnings. Look at them: compare them. You
will say, "Is not this seed just as good as this? This is
bigger than that." But plant them, and the lesser will bring
forth the glorious oak, while the greater may bring, forth the
mere stunted herb. So, in looking at principles or begin-
nings, one does not ree what they lead to. Eggs are prin-
ciples. Take two eggs: regard them in the abstract. You
will say, "0 they are ovally white and equally big." Get
them hatched, and uric sill yield a good wholesome hen, the
other a fiery flying serpent. So with our principles. And
here was the advantage I had in the late discussion—in the
great discussion, as I may venture to call it. I adopted such
a line of conduct as enabled me to see the eggs hatched.
(Laughter.) I determined I would not contend about prin-
ciples. Mr. Maguire said, "0. let us dispute about doc-
trines." I replied, "No, I shall dispute about churches.
Your church is the church of the devil, and leads the people
to hell (Cheers.) Our church is the church of God, and
leads the people to heaven. (Cheers.) Let us look at the
results of the two churches." So I had the advantage of hav-
ing eggs hatched. I ask, in the presence of thefosiolrtthl
think
kfohree
whom we stand, what sort of religion is that which enabled
me to bring forward one of its saints,—how do y
was employed? A useful man—the admiration of the
world ! He was stuck upon the top of a pillar, with a chain
round his leg, naked; and he had to wind up the food which
was brought to him from the ground to his resting place, if
so it could be called. And this valuable member of society,
—(a laugh)—this marvellously diligent man,—it was very
well that he belonged to the corporation of batchelors.—

(Cheers and laughter.) I can tell you that this sort of. holi-
ness would not answer—with Englishmen, or, at least, with
their wives and children. (A laugh.) This holy saint,
stuck on the top of a pillar, got a great ulcer in his foot,
and he was so amazingly holy that he would trot get it cured
till it became full of maggots. (Laughter.) Soberly and
seriously, this is given iu the Popish bieviarv, which the
priests are obliged to read under penalty of mortal sin.
(Hear and laughter.) I said, "What would be thought of
Father Maguire stuck on the top of a pillar, with a hole in
his foot and maggots in the hole! (Shouts of laughter.) Your
friends about you will, I said, think you better employed
fighting against me on this platform." (Much cheering.)
Mark, Popery is revealed to us by God us an abomi-
nation, its practical results are devilish and abominable,
and it is a holy thing to oppose it even unto the death. (Loud
applause.) Not by fighting with carnal weapons, but by
giving testimony against it, and if needs, as the result of our
testimony, being turn limb from limb by the papists. (Re-
newed applause.) Allow me to occupy your attention a
little longer. I must tell you that lam a very practical man
of business; and really I like, when I see an association
formed, to know what it is going to do. Because there are so
many associations in the present day, meeting together and
doing nothing—simply spouting clubs—it is essential that we
should have before us a definite line of view, and a definite
point to be aimed at. What, then, should we do? We should
root out Popery from the United Kingdom. (Loud cheers.)
Is this practicable? I say it is practicable. But how ? I
shall teal you one plan. By Christian legislation. If odr
legislature, our government, were truly Chtistion, and would
enact laws truly Christian, would not this have a tendency to
uproot Popery? (Cheers, and cries of " Yes !") I would
not propose persecution in any form r shape, but Christian
legislation, having a tangible and useful object. Popery is
a system of darkness. It prevails by keeping light from the
minds of the people. It does this most effectually by the
machinations of the priests. They wo'nt let their people come
het'e. It a papist were known to come here his priest would
take and flog him, or get angry ; and when the priest went
into the man's house the people would whisper, and say,
"The priest is very angry, because Paddy went to such a
place," and they would fly in all directions, so that they might
not touch the skirts of the angry priest, imagining that sore e-
thing like death would happen to them iftheyilid,through some
electric effect proceeding from the priest. (Laughter.)
They effectually excluded front men organs of information,
such as newspapers, anything that would enlighten the
people's minds. I was told by a friend, some time since, that
he had thrown a few tracts in the way of souse little children
—these they are instructed to regard as something evil—and
ono of theist at length, after crossing a tract, took it to its
parents, the parents showed it to the priest, nun to,
rove it up, saying it was not fit for them to read. (Hear.)
The people were getting light by the system of education in
progress. The schools were decidedly scriptural—the na-
tional schools: the priests did all they could to keep away
the Popish children, but they went in despite of-the priests.
They could get no other edueation, and Eng!andein a spirit
worthy of-a Protestant people, would give them no education
but what was scriptural. They had an opportunity.oaread-
ing the Revelations, as wellas other books: they might have
seen the term " scarlet whore," and it Might have struck
theta to inquire what this could mean. The priests saw that
such education was likely to undermine their influence, and
therefore, by means of the Romish members of parliament,
they got it done away with. (Hear.) They have succeeded
in getting schools established which keep back the dangerous
passages of the Bible, so as not to touch their particular er-
rors. (Hear.) 'These are among the various plans by which
the priests keep light from the people. 13ut could not a Chris-
tian government, by Christian legislation, break through
these barriers. • ("Yes!" and cheers.) how did England
become Protestant? Was she dragooned into it? No: she
was enlightened into it. (Cheers.) The reformers took
pains to- enlighten the minds of the people, and to prepare
them to embrace the truth. That truly great and determined
man, Cromwell, vicegerent or viceregent to Henry the
Eighth, found Ire could not stir a single step till he hail en-
lightened the minds of the people. There was therefore
preaching at Paul's Cross, and preachers were sent
through the land, and idols, and images, and cheats,
and frauds were exposed before crowds of people. (Hear.)
Thus it was that England became Protestant. And
could not Christian legislation be conducted on the
same principles? Go back to the time when Christian legis-
lature was carried on in England. The Bible was translated
by government; the parliament sanctioned that translation ;
and that very same aa:li intent published homilies, and in
various ways diffused inteiligence among the people. Could
not the same be done for Ireland? (Hear, hear.) English-
men are not to be caught by
flash. I put the question to
your own judgments. (A laugh.) lam the last man to ad-
vise persecution; but when I find a community of owls
lodged in my chimney, I am too much of a sportsman, though
not so great a one as Mr. Maguire—(a laugh)—to take and
shoot them; but it is a very fine thing to let the light in
upon them. (Applause.) Let light in upon Irish owls, the
Popish priests, and their poor, unhappy victims, and let
Irishmen stand forth in the attitude of placeinen. But this
van only be done by Christian legislation, and how can we
expect Christian legislation when there are Papists in parlia-
ment? (Rapturous applause.) 'We cannot. I rejoice to
see the gentlemen of the press here ; I trust it will go abroad,
that when I merely made an allusion to Papists being in par-
liament, the spirit of which was, that they ought not to be
there, it elicited a shout of applause from this vast meeting :
I tell you the Papists must be turned out of parliament.
(Loud and prolonged cheering.) I thank you for that cheer.
My brethren, they shall be turned out. (Renewed applause)
I have stood before many assemblies of Englishmen, and, I
bless God, have seen. Papists beaten down who came to beat
us down; but I never saw enthusiasm so much excited as it
has now been, when 1 said we should have a Christian par-
liament. It is nonsense to think it can be otherwise. If
there were a society for promoting virtue, among any class,
would it be legitimate to have prostitutes iu it ? ( blear.) If
a society were set on foot for promoting honesty, would it be
legitimate to have pickpockets in it ? (Hear.) lf, then,
there is to be a society for enacting holy laws—and I.
presume you think' your laws holy and Christian—should
you have idolistors and apostates in it? No, no.) I
thank you for this meeting. It will teach wisdom ..to the
Duke of Wellingtun, and a fine old fellow he is. (Cheers.)
But he had not so much wisdom as the farmers and-masons,
and the great aunts of the English people. They told him
he was going to do a most flagrant act, in breaking in upon
the constitution, which our forefathers had established end
cemented with their blood. (Applause.) I will not con-
clude without endeavouring to make the public opinion of
England tell on one of the causes of our grievances in Ire-
land—the conduct of our Protestant Irish landlords. They
who should know better,- are very commonly found support-
ing Popery,.giving money to build and repair chapels. Co-
lonel Conollv, one of our. Protestant wiseacres, gave no less
a sum than kaO, the other day, to repair a Popish chapel, or
mass-house, a synagogue of Satan, while he refused to sub-
scribe for repairing his own church, which was in a falling
state, or building a new one. (Hisses.) 1 thank you fur
that hiss, and I hope it will he wafted across tire waters, and
peuetra:e to Colonel Conolly's ears. If Protestants .stand
undecided, and halt between two opinions, Popery will
continue to spread on every side, arid the grievous conse-
quences will be multiplied to a fearful extent. '(Much
cheering.)
The Rev. Dr. RA LYE!, in rising to second the resolution,
said it was couched in strong language, but language which,
he believed, on inquiry conducted on scriptural principles,
would be found no stronger than truth. (hear.) It was
language as familiar as household words to our early refor-
mers—language which leavened their writings, and whit
pervaded also those creeds and confessions,, which had been
handed down to us as the binding rules of the church iu after
years. If the language, therefore, were too strong for
lcrthem-
selves, it was because they had altered, and nut because
etrxuptlhainw,asdiadltheerefedel . (Cheers.) It would riot be difficult to
e
at liberty to do so,. how this difference in
sentiment had come about—how it was that, in Merging all
peculiarities of creed, man had conic to be indifferent about
truth. (Hear.) But Christians were not the creatures of
times and circumstances. 'rile record by which they were
guided was independent of these ; and moored -fast as they
were -to that record, they were prepared to ride out every
storm. (Cheers.) The simple outcry he had proposed to
himself, as a very humble link in the line of speakers on that
occasion, was just to ask a candid and patient hearing of
their statements. It S not enough to invalidate their ar-
guments that they had been ridiculed by individuals deeply
committed to party. It was for thensto test those arguments.
by the simple word of God, and to abide by its decision.
(Hear.) And he would further ask, that they Would carry
into practical life the convictions their minds were -then im-
pressed with. It was one of the unfortunate necessities of
these times, that as soon as they mingled in social life, 'they-
found themselves so deeply pledged to party, that truth had
not fair play.ansong them. He wanted them to let truthhave fair play, And if they should be perivaded by the evidence
laid before them, that Popery did exercise so destructive an in-
influence over mankind as they were told it did, they ought to
do everything in their blower to deprive it of that influence
which .it exerted in this kingdom. The Protestant Asso-
ciation he had always considered as going in the forefront of
those many efforts now snaking to form a strong line of dna
marcation between light and darkness : on this account he
had always given it his unhesitating support; it delighted
him to perceive the enthlisiasin of that meeting—a meeting
so large in its numbers, so determined with one heart and
soul to stand by the truths of the word of God, to whatever
obloqus, it might expose them in the peculiar times in tvliich
they were called to live. (Cheers.) Duty rose in proper.
Lion to the difficulties by-which they were suriounded in the
performance of it. (Hear.) And duty, of the nature of
that which they had undertaken, was indeed encompassed
with considerable difficulties. But they trusted to the power
of truth, which was great, and must prevail. Thee could
not but be satisfied that, wherever they moved, there was
altered tone in society around them on those important sub-
jects. (Hear.) With these few remarks, made merely to
give place to a speaker from a distance, he seconded, with
great pleasure the resolution proposed by Mr. Gregg.
The Reg. Romany JAMES AFGHEK then came forwards,
and was received with great applause. He spoke as follows:
—Mr. Chairman; in considering how I might first improve
that privilege with which I have the honour to be entrusted
in addressing this vast assembly, I have thought it best to
select that topic which I thouglit, under the blessing of God,
might be most calculated to awaken my protestant brethren
to a sense of that double duty Which presses upon them as
cbristians and as hems. The first and most important duty
that presses upon Protestants, and must especirslty upon those
who hold the sacred ministry in that church which God has
graciously established in these realms, appears to me to be
useit,er
ifoovuir
gbeeer sss t,
vt exertions, rwet ihno3n:
enjoy,
,sfollowareingindebted time
for
tare e,x
bless-
ings a r n-
rf
the popish
to rescue our poor Roman
l e
catholic oaf
no
countrytnen from the awful collar o
this—toud
apostacy. (Hear.) The next and must important duty ap-
pears to be, to use the utmost vigilance to endeavour to arrest
the progress; the rapid strides that that papacy is making by
secret machinations to corrupt our population, and by open,
insolent audacity to usurp a creel despotism over our liber-
ties, our properties, and our lives; to undermine all the in-
stitutions in our country for the tnaintenanance of that sacred
cause of the truth of our God, for which our forefathers were
content to be led to the stake, and to expire upon the field.
And, therefore, the topic which I have selected to address
you on this day, as a continuation of the subject on which I
had the pleasure to address you at our last anniversary, and
that is, the doctrinal and priktical perjury of the chtirch of
Rome—(hear)—which the church of Rome hears upon her
brow, a mark which God has stamped upon the apostacy of
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having her conscience seared with
a hot iron. What can more effectually awaken the ministers
of Christ to endeavour to deliver the people from the yoke
than the solemn conviction of this, and knowing that that
apostacy is in everlasting oppositions to the word of truth, anti
bears on its brow nothing of the statnp of the word of ever-
lasting truth, but the impress of the father of lies? What
can lead us more to endeavour to arrest the progress of
popery, in our own country, against our own liberties and
against our own religions.than to know and to be convinced
that we have to deal with the agent of a foreign tyrant who is
eigleavouriag by every myans it. his power to overturn
all 'btu' itiatitotinns—whom na contracts- can -bind; tiOrdeithi,
no sense of moral obligation; who appears in every sense,
indeed, to be like die unjust judge, to have no fear of God
and no regard for man? I shall, therefore, without further
preface, recall your attention to the subject on which
I hail the honour of last addressing you. You will re-
t shheo rytesapre iofo do u ofr Lootis.rd hliBs2t oBr.yh—o
hots
ve n
allshort
YmeenTsbearg,o—wistab,frnina
Protestants of this empire were divided into two classes on
the subject of grants of political power to Roman Catholics.
One party" objected to it; and amongst other things, one
great point of their objection was this, that the Romish
Church had no regard for oaths. 'rheiradvocates contended
that this was illiberal, uncharitable, unchristian. Their op-
ponents quoted canons and councils unreepealed, and they
appealed to the page of history. This was met by the state-
ment that some of those canons were obsolete;
.those com-
ments belonged to the dark ages, and as to history, we were
told by a noble and learned lords " those who appealed to
history on the subject, read history like an old almanack."
The Romanists themselves, clamorous for power, and 'for