The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-12-08 00:00:00

111lk LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

PROTESTANT AND REFORMATION SOCIETY

The annual meeting of the members of this association
was held on the evening of Friday last, in the Concert
Hall, Lord Nelson-street. The patron of tie society, the
Rev. Hugh M'Neile, presided, near whom there was a
considerable attendance of clergy. Among those present
were, the Rev. J. B. Owen, of Bilston, the Rev. W.
Pollock, the Rev. F. Parry, the Rev. W. Falloon, the
Rev. G. Groom, the Rev. W. Maynard, the Rev. W.
Hughes, the Rev. D. Anderson, the Rev. T. M. Gosling,
the Rev. W. Gibbons, the Rev. W. Warre; Mr. Webster,
Mr. Parker, Mr. Ewbank, and others.
The proceedings opened by the offering of prayer from
the Rev. W. MAYNARD.

The CHAIRMAN, after some introductory remarks, re-
minded the meeting that Protestantism might be received
under three aspects, and with regard to three great sub-
jects—politics, religion, and education. Politically con-
sidered, Protestantism might be thus expressed:
" Liberty for good, with encouragement to do it ; re-
straint from evil, with effectual guards against the com-
mission of it." We held that the civil ruler was the
minister of God, not bearing the sword in vain, but
commissioned to use it for the punishment of evil doers,
and for the praise of them that do well. We therefore
protested against all conspiracy to do evil; we protested
against ell injuries inflicted or designed by others because
of their differing in opinion with us. We protested
against all hypocrisy, against all pretences to what we did
not feel, against all dispensations to profess what we do
not believe. We protested against all combinations to
injure men because of their religious opinions, whatever
those opinions might be. Thus we were found in direct
antagonism to a system which was a great conspiracy for
the injury, in person, and property, and life, of all who do
not agree with it in what was called religious opinion. It
was the persecuting character of the Romish system that
forced us into opposition to it. Viewed in this respect,
our Protestantism was a compelled antagonism. We
wished to hurt no man on account of his creed. If all
felt the same wish, there would be no desire for political
restrictions; but if we found a set of men who avowed
such on account of their creed, then we certainly wished
to save ourselves. Ours was a field well stocked with
lambs not able to run so fast as wolves; and if it must be
that there should be wolves in the field, we should like to
have them tethered, so that the lambs could get out of
their way. We did not wish, on that account, to hurt
th,,, wolves, but only to keep them from hurting the lambs.
(Hear.) This was the precise position of Protestantism
considered politically ; and he for one would not wish
to carry it one whit further. He wished to hurt no one;
but be wished at the same time that no one should hurt
him. We, Protestants. would hurt no man for his creed;
but we detested and abjured that abominable doctrine,
that a man was to be excommunicated because he was a
heretic—for Rome was pledged, wherever and whenever
she could, to exterminate heretics. We were, therefore,
thrown into antagonism with Rome; but Rome denied
everything; and this was what made it so difficult to deal
with her professors; for they would swear to and deny
the very same thing. Their own sworn documents had
been denied I The bishops of the Church of Rome in
England bad signed a document, addressed to the nation,
protesting they never held opinions which .they must
have sworn to before they were made bishops Yet in
declaring these things it was said he was failing against
"-- t Hr ten"- t• 4h, and if .1--

,atholics e was only -.ling the trut.., ine
were railing, whose fault was it? (hear, hear.) It was
high time Englishmen should be made aware ( f the dan-
ger they were at this moment undergoing, not for their
religion only, but for personal liberty. The Tlonei.h
system would never be content with equality. Equality
was its claim until it reached equality ; then, ambition
became its object, and supremacy its aim. The supremacy
of the world was the sworn aim of that system ; and our

with Romanism as if it were nothing but a false theology :
they forgot that it was a practical conspiracy. Every
man engaged in conspiracy ought, if detec,ed, to be re-
strained, that the conspiracy might not be injurious to
his fellow-men. It was on this ground that restraints
were ren ,fired on Romanism, for the safety of English-

men ; and if restraints were not imposed, the time was
not for distant when there would be no safety for Eng-
lishmen. Ttieie must be exclusion of one sort or other.
Exclusion, he knew was an ugly word; but there must
be either exclusion, from political power, of all not

protestants, or exclusion from earthly existence of all not
Romanists. (Hear.) Religiously considered, our Pro-
testantism was expressed by the Christian Church as
reformed and established in England. We &sired no
better expression for our Protestantism than that given
by our own church. And here, for a little enlargement,
he gladly availed himself of a newspaper [the Leamington
Spa Courier, of Nov. 28, 1846,] which bad fallen into
his hands, where a writer upon this subject declared what
the doctrines of our Protestant Church are, by contrast—
that was, by telling what they are not. In telling what
they are not, he told what the doctrines of the Romanist
church are, in a few particulars. " First, our church does
not teach that modesty, if brought to confession, is a
crime that renders a woman unworthy of absolution."
(hear.) Yet this doctrine was taught in one of the
class books of the col'ege of Maynooth, which last
year had been endowed by the:British Parliament ! This
doctrine was taught at the 164th page of Dr. De La
Hogue's Traciatus de Penitentia. (Hear.) " Second,
our church does not teach that such pleas as the
following are 'a scriptural ground for absolution :
" May the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits
of the blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, what-
soever good you may have done, or evil you may have
suffered, be unto you for remission of sins, increase of
grace, and reward of eternal life, Amen." Our church
taught that Christ was "the end of the law for right-
eousness; " that " there is nri,forgiveness of sin but by
the blood of Christ." (Hear.) Again : the Church of
England did not absolve the dead. (Hear.) Whoever
tried to absolve the dead ? Listen.to this : "If the body
is not buried of one who has died without absolution, it is
to he lashed with stripes and then absolved, and after
being absolved is to be buried in holy ground." This
was to be found in the Rituale Romanum of Paul V ,
printed at Lyons in 1517 ; so that their work was not
finished with the living. (Hear.) 'Was it not a hard case,
the R ,manisra having themselves made the truth concern-
ing them so abominable, that when Protestants told that
truth it should bs called railing against their neighbours?

. •
England were so excessively kind,- that they would not
even tell the truth when it was unkind. So the rogue
escaped because it was unkind to say he was a rogue; and
so these corrupters of divine truth escaped, because it
was held uncivil and uncharitable to call them corrupters.
(Hear.) In contrasting our Protestantism with these
corruptions, his object was not to excite any unkind
feelings towards the poor people who were involved itt
the corruptions, nor towards those priests who introduced
them ages ago ; but to instruct the meeting so that
they might know upon what ground they stood, and that
they might have a guard against being betrayed into the
corruptions themselves. There Nere not a tew emissaries
of these corruptions going about, endeavouring to en-
tangle the protestant poor ; and they boasted of the
converts they were making. Free course had been given
them to try their hand in England; no longer under any
restraint, they were trying what they could do. Was it
a crime in the clergy of the English church to warn the
pe ple of England of what was going on ? Was that
meeting prepared to embrace the opinions he had de-
scribed ? (Cries of " No.") Was it fitting that the
emissaries of the Church of Rome should have free course
over the whole kingdom, tampering on every side with
every one they chose—that some of dew should go into
garrets, some into cellars, some into drawing-rooms, and

" liberal " press thought it quite right they should go
everywhere making converts: and the momenta Protestant
clergyman said a word about it, the Protestan►s were "the
worst men in the world," they were" the most abominable,
bigoted, narrow-minded, persecuting wretches that ever
were bcrn." (Hear.) He was exceedingly sorry so many of
his reverend triends seemed to be so tbin•skii
the "liberal" press. (Cheers.) For his part

the only
is he very

regret ne nan, wnen ne s
often did, ( for som. kind friend generally sent him a

strongest feeling be had on such occasions, was com-
passion for the writer who had so exposed himself.
(Cheers.) Another item of our Protestantism was set
down in the fourth place, viz., "the Church of England
does no. teach that any sin requires the fire of purga ory
to cleanse ir." The Church of Italy did so teach (hear),
and there was a gross case mentioned in the same paper
arising out of it. The San new-paper contained the r. port
of a lswsuit in a book entitled " Lite and Death." [Sun
of Fehrpary 3rd, 1832.] The lawsuit related to a curious
Spanish con.est

"Arising out of the circumstance of a rich man having left
money to the Church, sufficient (at the usual rate) to purchase
twelve thousand masses for his soul. The Church gladly ac-
cepted the whole bequest, but demurred as to the labour re-
quired. In this emergency, those on whom the services actu-
ally paid for more immediately fell, interceded with the Pope
for curtailment, and he, under his own hand, certified and de-
clared that twelve masses would have the same effect as twelve
thousand. So far,*therefore, as the Romish Priests' case was
concerned, enough had been done, if we are to believe the then
Pope: for the counsel of these priests urged, that the end or
purpose being obtained, evidence of which he held in his hand
(the Pope's infallible certificate)? it came to the same thing—
the value, in short, was given in return for the money—the
soul having actually got free for twelve masses 11l The heirs,
however, who had paid the money for the 12,000 masses.
claimed restitution, on the ground of the stipulated work not
being performed. This lawsuit surely explains the present de-
plorable condition of unfortunate Spain. No marvel that she
should now be amongst nations that are fallen, and enrolled
with kingdoms whose glory is departed. Icabod may be writ-
ten on her Church, and infidelity is rank in her land7-may the
truths of the Catholic church yet flourish there—for these
blessed truths teach no Romish- uoctrines ; but, contrarywise,
that it is by His stripes we are healed, who being the brightness
of his Father's alar.V,and express' imageof his person, and up •
holding all things by the word.of has power when he had BY
HIMSELF eititoeo OUR SINS, sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty on high."
(Cheers ) H,re then was our protest. Hold fast to it I
(Grew cheers.) Nothing availed in heaven but the work
of.,Him who came down from heaven—the Son of Man.
*ho is in heaven. (Hear.) Vain tbe'toits, vain the
sinpro-
fessions, the labours, the penances, the masses, of poor
fallen
the guilt Llul U'n". They touched nor the high place wl,;ch
sin had infected and left a stain (hear) ;_•they
touched not She tit rnitig• poi, t of the government of God
--the law of God ; they touched not the majesty of that
God which requires "the soul which sinned), it shall
sure-It' (lie," which proclaimed "the wages of sn is death "
N.. ! lie whip el,. old touch 'hat high point must, in his
nature, be as high as Git-d in the majesty .of .his moral go-
verntrent. He wt o could rescue us from sin must, in
his nature,
he one with us, touched with a feeling of our.'
infil mine, oppress• d under the penalty that we deserved,
hiuiselt whilst he obeyed the law we had vio-'1

fated. Thi. was the II gh, the Mighty One and the Just.
the flivine t),., arid t l.e ilutnan, the Son of God and
the S. n ..f Man, Jesu4 Chi int the Lord. (Cheers.) This
Wag our protect; this was OPT linty Protestantism;
thi9 was our religion. (Cheers,) Connected with this-

corruption, he would read a curious paper which was also
given in the same book, "Life and Death." It was af-
fixed some years since to the chief churches in Madrid.
It had reference to the Monte di Pietad, and it declared
that the

" Sacred and royal Monte di Pietad of Madrid, has relieved
from Purgatory since its establishment, in 1721, till November,
1826

1,030,396 souls, at an expense of .t 7,720,437
11,402 ditto, from Nov. 1, 1826, to Nov. 1, 1827, 14,276

1,041,797

£1,734,703

(hear, hear). Here was a marvellous account for the de-
ceiving of the poor people. 'Wretched, wretched people,
to be deceived by such pretences as these! Should it ever
be that the people who walked the fair streets of England
would be ground down by such absurd superstitions as
these ? (l o, no, and cheers.) Yet the Itomanists were
creeping on ; and he called on all Protestants to take care
of the education of their children. (Cheers.) There was
another feature of our Protestantism he wished to speak
about. We were content with the Holy Scriptures. We
wished neither to take away from nor add to them. Our
glorious Protest declared before the whole world—" Holy
Scripture contains all things necessary to be believed for
salvation, so that nothing is to be required of any man
as an article of faith unto salvation but what may be
found therein, or proved thereby." (Cheers.) But had
any professing Christian body been found to say other-
wise, and to deal otherwise by the Scriptures? Yes: and
he could tell the meeting of a great many who said, and
of some who had sworn, that they received the tra-
ditions of the Fathers with equal piety and reverence as
they received the Scriptures. (Hear, hear.) These
same traditions were very hard to be found, for the writ-
ings of the Fathers were in as many books as would reach,
close-packed, to the other end of the room. (Hear.) He
could tell ot men who had sworn they would never take or
use the Scriptures except according to tile unanimous con-
sent of the Fathers, although that unanimous consent could
not be found. But these men did more. The meeting had
heard of the index Expurgotorius—tbat was a list of
books kept at Rom- which were to be forbidden to the
taithlul. They would be rather surprised when he read
the following :

" ' The Bible of Robert Stephens, with about two hundred
places in the margin, and one or two in the text, was com-
manded to be purged by the Inquisition of Spain and Rome.
I will show you a taste thereof, that you may know whereof the
purgation is made, and what ingredients are in it.' Then he
gives numerous instances of inquisitorial purgings, and from

-
amongst them I only select a few, to explain the why and
wherefore these men, with the authority of the Pope, expurgated
this edition of the Bible. They blotted out the text, " ABRA-
HAM WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH." And again, "The Lord
our Righteousness." Nay more, that very text which our
blessed Lord himself made use of to beat down Satan, in his
temptation in the wilderness, this they ordered to be erased,—
mark the passage, ' Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and
him only shalt thou serve.'"

Once more. The bishop of Poictiers, one of the famous
writers of the Church of Rome, called the Bible " an
inanimate and dull thing." Ekius called it " a black gos-
pel and theoloey of ink." Sylvester Prierisa, in contro-
versy with his opponent, declared
" That indulgences have not been made known unto us by the

authority of .kcripture, but by the authority of the Roman
Church, and of the Roman Pontiff, which is greater."

He urged the people therefore to read for themselves, and
maintain the liberty of private judgment. He Rad men-
tioned a third item—education. Our protestantism, in
reference to education, was against one particular thing ;
it was against Indifferentism. (Hear.) It was in favour
of a definite creed. (Hear.) Children should be taught
a definite creed. Do not let their young minds be left
fallow aithout some distinct teaching. (Hear.) We
were protesters against indifferentism in education;
therefore protesters against what had been called
" godless education." We were protesters against the
extravagant and atrocious sc

leme. the system of national
education without religion. He was for "no surrender"
on this point ; and if the Chancellor of the Exchequer could
levy an education tax, and direct the collector to put
down to what sort of education the tax-payer would wish it
to be applied—Church of England, Romanism, or Dissent
—he knew on which side would be a preponderating
mojority ; and it would be shown that the Romanists and
Dissenters were guilty of what they charg d uprn Pro-
testants, namely, that they want our money to educate
their children. (Tremendous applause ) The reverend
chairman concluded by saying the next business will be to

• V sl
read the report.
Mr. HARDY read the report, and also the treasurer's

FICCOUTIIS

The Rev. W. POLLOCK in an elcvent speech moved
the adoption of the report, dwelling earnestly upon the
necessity lor a bold perseverance in the pi inciples of the
Reformation, as the best means of preserving the people
from popery.
The Rev. F. PARRY seconded the resolution, and it
was carried unanimously. -
aa

The Rev. J. h. OWEN, of Bilston, moved the next
resolution, which was for the appointment of the usual
officers of the association. The rev. gentleman delivered
a most effective address, marked by a humourous felicity
of illustration, admirably adapted for popular controversy.
What, he asked, were the hest weapons with which to
li controvert popery ? The constant introduction of the
Scriptures, and the spirit of prayer. The Bible, as "the
bread of life," was the true commisariat of controversy ;
and without prayer there would be neither success nor
progress. Next to these, the best weapons to assail the
strong-holds of povery, were thirty-six, at least, ont of
the " Forty stripes save one," by which the world distin•
guished the doct,inal standard of the Church of England.
It he wanted to s-e popery,• and every other form of
Anti-Christ, Ceyeloped, contradicted, exposed, where did
he go? To the thirty-nine articles. If he wanted to kit w
what he must believe, and what he must not believe, for
his catholic symbol, as well as his Index Expurgatorius,
be found it in the thirty-nine articles. If he wanted to
see a church. reformed, without being revolutionized,
divested of tho accumulated errors of ages, without losing
a fragment of the truth, and acknowledging, in all its
parts, the great Head of the church, he went to •the
thirty nine artier s. If he wanted to bring palpably be-
fore the eyes, the abstract precious truths for which the
noble army of martyrs resisted unto blood, striving
against sin, and in defence of which truths, if the argu-
ment of the faggot was to be lighted again, whenever the
national darkness became so deep, others would be found
to take their place by Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley,
those truths

would be found embraced in the thirty-nine
articles. (Cheers.) Just then, as be could collect from
the lessons of the evangelists, the prophets, and the
apostles, what were the peculiar heresies of the Sad-
ducees, the Pharisees, and the Gnostics, so, the bane and
antidote being together, he could obtain all the informa-
tion he required of the heresies of popery, from the thirty-
nine articles. (Cheers.) He was not going to preach a
sermon in thirty-six divisions. (A laugh.) His object
in drawing attention to these thirty six articles was, to
to follow out the admirable remerks of the chairman, and
give brief instruction what those articles contained. The
second 'trick. was a protest against the Romish heresy,
that Christ atoned only for original sin, leaving
actual sin for the -meritorious expiation of indi-
viduals. The third article was, a declaration of
our Lord's descent into Hell in order to com-
plete all the conditions of a human being ; and
it contained an -implied protest against the doctrine
that Christ went to preach to the spirits that are
in prison—the first link in the doctrine of purgatory: The
sixth article .( which was the next on this subj-ci) de-
clared the scriptures to be the sole rule of faith, against
the consent of the fathers. The seventh article declared
the unity of Christ's mediatorship against the multiplied
rnediatorships of the Church of Rome; and declared it
to be the uniform doctrine of the Old and New Testa-
.ishth sirt named that thrPa Csithnlin

sourioua and modern symbols of the papacy. The ninth
article condemned the Pelagian view of ortginial sin, and
the Rornish view, that man, of his own mind, was not
inclined to evil. The tenth article was a protest against
the ultimate Pelagianism of Rome, that men, of their
own free will, can do good works acceptable to God. The
eleventh. twelfth. thirteenth, and fourteenth articles w- re

protests against the figments of Rome as to works ttnd
deservit.gs, and proclaimed that mu was justifiA by
faith without the deeds of the law. In their •erinut

phases these four articles presented that excellent doctrine
of the Church of England, without which'we had Christi-
anity stripped of its blessings : a sacrifiee without an atone.
merit, a grapel without the c, oss, a creed without a faith, a
church preaching a fitlicidal altar, a man-like Isaac, bur
where was the Lamb? (Che. rs.) The fifteenthirtie/epuestred
the same analogy by declaring the exclusive sinlessness
of the Redeemer. The sixteenth article implied• our
protect against the unauthorized dktinction between
venal and mortal sin. The seventeenth rescued us from
the damnab'e and practical perversion of that glorious
my-tery, aivine election, wherein Rome made her notions
of election, like those of salvation, dependent upon the
merit of the individual. The eighteenth article closed a
loophole against any other name being- given under
heaven whereby man can be saved, except that.of Christ.
The nineteenth at tide defined the Script Oralronstitntion
of the Church of Christ, and declared Rome's absolute
apostacy from that high and holy standard. The twen-
tieth article admitted the church's authority in rites and
ceremonies, arid as a judge in controversy; and itiiinited
doginHtical teach'ng. The twenty-first article iniolved,
in the first portion, the universal acceptance or receiving
of the three first councils, by the yet), terms of its detini-'
tion; but it went on to deny consiliar infallibility, and
the right of convocation without 'the will 'of' Christian
princes: The twenty-second article—Oh, what a clutter
of Romish errors were there implied to hang together
He wished they were 'hung. 'lt denied the Romish
doctrine concerning purgatory, paidont, WorshiPping
and adoration—as well of images as ,of relics—and
also the intiocation•of nitrite: 'The twenty-third Yindi-
caud the clerical orders: apart from the 'Romisli 'hier-
archy. ' The tvienty-fou'rth article' contended for ' the
ever-blessed right of Christian worship in the mother
tongue, in the tongue " understanded of the, people."
This article was our protest against Latin worship. The
Latin was a dead language; it therefore- suited very well
the put poses of a dead church. But we were more lively;
and would worship in the living mother tongue. 'What a
deep tar-sighted policy was that of the papacy to keep up
the old language of the empire, the rePrestutative of
dominion and it•fluence as the medium of universal
devotion 1 It was like the policy that sustained the
throne of the Caesars, when they stamped the cerient
coin of their subject territories with their own " imige-ace
superscription." It accustomed the people throughont
the world to deat.nd upon Rome. Latin devotions, 'like
the old imperial coin, became gradually and insensibly
the representative and' stand,rd of value and beige the
people accepted it. The Reformation, r, gave a
conpg, d'ilire to the practice as 'concerned the people of
England. The 25th article rejected the'tve sscramentS
of the Pope. The 26th,, by implication, involvedthe

condom nation of that unholy doctrine of priestly ii4tert!iiiti.-
The 27th asserted the spiritual character of holy baptism.
The 28th esehewrd the opus operation cf popery. It'
protested against the singular tallary of trOsubstantiation ;
against what Mould very calla '• the incarnation parodied

in paste." The 29th article contained the Scriptural argu-
ment against masses. It declared that bad men cannot
receive Christ in the Lord's Supper. If bad men could
not receive him surely the dead could not. Therefore
this article was an important confutation of the doctrine
of masses for the dead. The thirtieth article inveighed
against the denial of the cup to the laity. The thirty-
first article, in bold language, presented us with a wel-
come and refreshing contrast to the disloyalty and denial
of those who declared that in the sacrifices of masses,
the priest offers Christ for the quick and the dead, for It
pronounced them " blasphemous fables" and " dangerous
deceits." We wanted some of this hone t protestation.
(Cheers) The thirty-second article denounced that tin-
scriptural fallacy and historical falsehood, the celibacy of
the clergy. The thirty.third stripped the Romish church
of its notorious abuses through the medium of penances,
dispensations, plenary indulgences, and the like. The
thirty-fourth turned the waters of the river of lite through
the Augean stable of tradition that turned the world
aghast at the mighty mass of evil and corruption which
it involved. The thirty-fifth presented us with the
honest and invaluable book of Homilies, wherein instead
of terming the Church of Rome, as certain persons now
did, "our erring sister," she w3s denounced as that
"evil, old, withered, harlot." There was no mistaking
what this. meant. The thirty-sixth article rescued our
ordinations from the superstitions by which prelates
were consecrated in papal times. The thirty-seventh
repudiated the Pope's supremacy, temporally and spi-
ritually. The thirty-eighth condemned the error of the
riches and goods of christians being common, as touching
the right, title, and possession of the same. The thirty-
ninth and last, protested against the morality of priestly
perjury, whenever his judicial oath e.rne into collision with
the seal of confession. (Hear ) There articles were the
Protestantism of the Church of England; and if he had
made out a case, as he trusted he had, in favour of this
view, he trusted we should all be led to value more highly
the hurch of which we had the privil-ge to be members.
(Loud cheers.) The rev. gentleman closed wi.h a stir-
ring appeal to the auditory to read the Bible for them-
selves, and to exercise the right of private judgment-1i
right which was denied to the people by the apostacy
of Rome.

The Rev. Wat. FALLOON having seconded the motion,
it was carried.

The pry ceedinza term

n,ed by the auditory singing

the celebrated dozolo;

SPONDEA

SALT WATER SWIAIMING BkTfiS, AND
COVERED MARKETS.