The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-02 00:00:00

TIV LiVniiCKM STANDARD.

mystery of God; so great angels desire to know it. No int
el.
lect so high that is given to man but that may be well employed
by subjects such as the, scriptures set before it; no learning so
deep, or so profound, that may not be well occupied in disco-
vering and searching out their hidden meaning; and I trust
there will never be wanting to us those who thus enable their
intellect, and employ their learning. But, still the word of sal-
vation is unto thee. What is it but man saved, and Christ the
Saviour? Must I go through a long course of special education.
before I can show to the thoughtless Godless man, that an account
is to be given of things done in the body? Need I anything but
to know that Christ has been revealed to me, as "the way, and
the truth, and the light," in order to declare that he will be this
to all who call upon him ? For my part I believe the More of
mystery we mix up with the plain truths of the Gospel, the more
we darken the councils of God ; and that the more simple our
statements are, the more they %sill affect the hearts of those who
hear, and the nearer they will approach to the words of inspira-
tion. But, brethren, Igo further, and say, that if we shut out
from spiritual usefulness all persons but those set apart for spi-
ritual teaching, we contradict the plain commands of our reli-
gion. Our scriptures teach us that we are "to edify one ano-
ther." Such are the precepts given by the apostle to all whom
he addressed. We are "to warn the unruly, to comfort the
feeble." We are "to exhort one another daily while it is called
to-day, for the night cometh when no man can work." We are
"to visit the fatherless and widows" in their affliction. We are
not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together to perfect
ourselves in love; we are to speak to. one another on spiritual
subjects. _ So the scriptures say, and we ought to obey God
rather than man. Brethren, we shall never be a Christian
community till this error is dispelled, and till every one has the
knowledge of Christ in his own heart, and believes it to be his
duty to bring to the same knowledge every body with whom he
is connected—his friend, his servant, his dependent, his neigh-
bour his labourer; then, and not before, may the kingdom of
of this w,rld become the kingdom of the.tird. Hete then are
some of the reasons why I think it no disparagement to our so-
ciety, that it admits of lay assistants—soz far admits it as not to
disavow the principle for which I have been contending; so far
admits it as to allow a salary to be paid to such by an incumbent
who may prefer such aid; and some incumbents do, for reasons
suited to their own circumstances, and known to themselves,
prefer such aid. Let it be well remembered that the society
' has no such in its own employ; indeed it has no one in its em-
ploy, properly so called, whether curates or lay agents. the
incumbent alone is responsible, the society fuinishes nothing
but the servant. But in this way, for one, what has it
done?' If I confine myself, as it is natural that I should,
to nay own diocese, it has assisted 27 incumbents whose average
charge amounted 16 9889 persons. In this way it has sent int%
the field 29 additional labourers, and with the Lord's blessaig,
who shall calculate the extent of good ? Here, then, is the
reason why I ask such assistance as it needs and demands;
here I ask for the talent of silver.and gold, which is to be thus
'•ernplayed. •The'society has •an annual expenditure of £218();
the source which is thus strained must receive its supply. Great
indeed, is the debt we owe to that source, not only as members
of our diocese, but as members of this country, and of this
church. They have awakened the nation to a sense of its
wants; they have attracted public attention to the weak point
of our establishment, not that it might be assailed, but that it
Might be strengthened in the only patt where it was really
vulnerable. They have done muc6 nytbese exertions to re-
lieve local spiritual wants, in providing increased ineans of in-
struction, and in employing such as were not absolutely desti-
tute of instruction on inure useful, and valuable books. They
are worthy, not of our good word, and good will only, but of
having those resources furnished to them by which their exer-
tions may be supported, and extended' still more usefully.
Brethren, you know not by experience spiritual destittition.
You have your minister ready to converse with you, more often,
perhaps, than some prefer; you have your place in the sanctu-
ary, where, sabbath after sabbath, your affections are drawn from
things below to things above. When sorrow visits your family,
and Twhendesolation comes, you have one to whom you can
go, from whom you are sure to receive those consolations, which
are alone valuable. The scriptures are in your hands, and in
your ears, which are able to make pm wise unto salvation,
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. You abound in spiritual
things, not less than he did in temporal things, who is described
in the well known parable as clothed in purple and fine linen,
and faring sumptuously every day. At that rich man's gate
lay Lazarus, diseased, and destitute, and desiring to be fed with
the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. And think you,
that in these crowded streets;and lanes, that we pass, as we
, come hither, that theie lanes, and alleys, which teem with hu-
man souls, there is not many a Lazarus labouring under the
calamity which sin has caused, but ignorant of its remedy ;
diseusti,riln,galstookowhnefid with the bread of life, and only the inure
deserving of compassion, because there are means of grace
which he is' able to attain. 1 know that these crowded streets,
and lanes; abound with sin, and ignorance; in ignorance that
prefers darkness to light; in sin that there is no will to abandon.
that where there are mortal bodies there is
also an immortal principle; that where there are men there are
hearts, and where there is a heart, there is a conscience—a con-
science that is not always seated, and a heart that is sometimes
sensible to the voice of mercy, though hardened it may be,
against the reproof which it has incurred ; a heart, which, how-
ever hardened against reproof, may yet respond to the merci-
ful words, " Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy
laden, and 1 will give you rest : for the Son of man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost." Think you not amongst
those who have been long wandering in the wilderness, far
fiom the shepherd's search, and the sacred fold, there are some
who were brought up as lambs and flocks, and fed with milk?
They have strayed into strange pastures, and a corrupt heart
has turned them aside. What now if these might lie sought,
might be recovered, might be brought back? Let us at least
hope, believe, endeavour. Let us not be content to enjoy our
own abundance, or feed upon our sumptuous fare, multiplyour
religious books, and delight in our sabbath ministrations, and
forget those who are blind, destitute, and perishing,. yes, even
at our very gates, and for whom nothing is prepared. Now to
God, &c.
After the sermon, a collection was made on behalf of the
society.

TO JOSEPH WALMSLEY, ESQ.
Corn Merchant and Town Councillor, Patron of St. Luke's—
Chairman of the Tradesmen's ReformAssociation—Chairman
of The Watch Board —MeMber of the Education, Church Ex-
penditure, Town Dues, and Borough Court, and Court of
Requests Committees—Member of the Dock Committee—
Governor General and Director of the Angel Inn Committee
—Lord High Admiral of the Police Establishment—Lecturer
on Statistics to the British Association—Author of the cele-
brated work "What have the Council Done ?"

Y DEAR. JOSEPH,---1 regret that a long absence from the
good old town has prevented me paying my respects to you for
a considerable period, and as I am again going abroad, I can•
not depart without " renewing the assurances 'Amy distinguished
consideration."
But mihi ! Joseph, what a string of titles you bavegot. "The
Duke" hasn't half as many, and 1 hope I havn't forgotten one;
for t lain told that you are become so wary of late that you are
highly indignant at any omission of that sort. This, however, is
probably a tory lie. Some men are born to honour, some
so says an igno•
achieve it, and some have it thrust upon them,
rant fellow with whom you are probably not acquainted, for he
wasn't a 'chanics institute man.
Now as in this aristocratic land you were not born to honour,
and as the Vote by Ballad in the council room the other day
prevented honour being thrust upon you, although your friend,
Tom Bean, says its no honour, of course you ate quite right in
achieving it. But having a great regard for you, and being my-
self an old man, whose trifling sum of wisdom is the tesult of
experience, I deem it right to give you a little advice before my
departure, lest you should run too fast, get out of breath, ana
so permit some turtle-faced fellow or other to outstrip you in
the race of honour. Just now, my dear, Joseph, I understand
that you are a very great man, and as every body says so, it
must be true—you are wielding as much patronage in a small
way, as Dan himself. You know Dan, of course, because he
and you were mighty intimate touching that nasty, unfortunate
business of bringing Elphinstone here. But it couldn't be
helped. You rather over-rated your self-importance, to be sure,
on that occasion, but the most splendid characters always cora-
-1 mit splendid Ounders. It only proved that you are no common
man.
But this is a digression. The council themselves stand in
awe of your power—watch every motion of your hand—every
glance of your sparkling eye, and as long as you have the de-
form association at your back you make them do any thing,
•y• they don't vote by ballot! Now take my advice, dear Joseph,
and if you see occasion to use the cat, let your stripes be tern •
pered with mercy, for some of them are high spirited fellows,
and rather pugnacious, and it is not unlikely that they may re-
member your autocracy, and give you a kick when you least
expect it. Not a few of them also are really gentlemen, and
although they may permit you to shake a finger on the hustings,
or to claim acquaintance at a tavern ward dinner, when your
services are wanted, depend upon it, that not a few will resent
to much familiarity from one whose blood cannot be traced as
far back as their own.
At present. from your commanding talents you may probably
assume a little; but I repeat that it is lender ground, and al-
most as dangerous as treading ~n the gouty foot of a turtle-fed
Alderotan, though thanks to the Reform 'Bill, that class of
gentry is consigned to the tomb of the Capulets. Some people
say that our own party is jealous of you, but that I take to be
"a weak invention ofsthe enemy."
Another hint I wish to give you is—not to make yourself too
cheap. lam told that you are galivanting night after night, in
tavern after tavern-making speeches, and hip hip hurrahing
at fiddle pitch—that you are continually on the run from
one committee to another—that you are in a sweat from morn-
ing till night—that the day is too short—that you are loaded
and discharged fifty times a day—and that your brain is so full
of politics, that when you do snatch a few minutes to " attend
market" every body is afraid of going near one who is so
lammed and primed that he may at any moment go off. Now
don't do this, I beg. Recollect that your place couldn't be sup-
plied just now, and you will lose power if you are always on the
„stretch. Besides, there is not a more ungrateful hydra either
on earth or in imagination than that belauded personage " th e
public." An old almanac, called history, states that several of
,the French senators, who, like you, did all they could to en-
large the franchise, and so assisted to set a machine in motion
which they hadn't the power to slop, were in a few months after
their votes bad been given denuded of their own liberty,
ordered off to the swamps on the Gulph of Mexico, and as they
passed on in Iron Cases through the towns which they had for-
merly represented, were pelted and bemudded in the market
plaCe by the very mobs they had assisted to enfranchise.
I merely wish to refresh your memory with this fact, for I am
sure you have no reading time at present-1 have no fear for
you if yoti are only discreet, and'don't suffer yourself to he car-
ried away by popularity. Therefore, I repeat, don't be so very
cheap, nor suffer any body to take you

for a tool
"That knaves d 9 work with, called a f001.,'

Another hint I wish to throw out is that you should cease
reading your speeches from your hat. It has a bad look and
may make ignorant people think that you are not able to de-
liver a speech. Always lay your hat down when you speak—
and if you have time, get speeches off over night. Shiel of
Tipperary does so, and it is a good plan. You should also give
them to the reporters beforehand, for these gentlemen can make
you speak whether you do or not, and as no tory ever thinks it
worth while to attend our meetings, you may rest assured that
nobody would peach. Now, I think, if you will but attend to
these points and be a little more humble withal, that you will
be elected a magistrate by the time your fingers are all of a
length—that is as I said before, if you cart only sink the ballot
box.

I am concerned to see you looking so haggard and care-worn,
I think if you were to retire for a few months—or go somewhere
to imbibe chalybeate, it might restore the colour to your cheeks,
and disperse some of your anxious looks—do consult our friend
Blackburn. Perhaps' if you were to lie in bed for a few days
take a little opening medicine, (not the Russell purge, that's a
quack mixture), put your feet in warm water, and swallow
some sudorifics, it might do you good—you really are looking'
fagged, and no wonder. There is little news stirring—our
friend Evans was knighted the other day, and is shortly to go
to the Upper House as Viscount Iron. Our friend Dan is fast
going the way of all demagogues. I fancy the fellow never was
himself an O'Cunnellite. The easterly winds have prevented
many arrivals. Irish wheat about Bs. 3d. Oatmeal, 235., a
little bonded Wheat has changed hands. Beans are sta-
tionary. I know you like a little news, and how the markets