The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-07 00:00:00

THE CHURCH

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
With spirit cairn a passing audience give;
Approve me if you can, if not, forgive.
Stßy—Connected with the state for mutual interest, esta-
blished in every parish, founded on Scripture doctrine, and
represented in the book of Common Prayer, it becomes a
matter of serious investigation, what are its fruits, its cue-
cess, or its failures—with a view to its advancement, sta-
bility, and claim to public respect and public support. If
the church can be proved, by its institution, foundation, and
tenor of doctrine and conduct, to be worthy of national re-
gard, then and then only can safely be advocated the benefits
of a national church. Without such proof, mankind would
suffer but little injury, were it allowed to be amalgamated
with the ever-changing sects which are now so numerous.
To vindicate the worthiness of our church is now my pri-
mary object—and first, as regards the connection of cnurch
and state.
This union is now more than ever the mock and byeword
of ignorant men—men who speak without books, judge with-
out evidence, and cavil without discernment. Another class
there is who cannot plead ignorance, but who cover jealousy
with the robe of piety, and exclaim with apparent devoted-
ness against prayers as established by law, and attempt to
abuse the public mind by specious misrepresentations and
subtle and crafty arguments. To confute such misrepre-
sentation, and disabuse the minds of the ignorant, let us en-
deavour to see the whole matter, dud thus be enabled to
judge righteously.
There is no doubt but civil government has been in ancient
times grossly abused by the preponderating influence of a
despotic priesthood, aided by the darkness of the moral
world, and the almost total extinction of literature in Europe.
The priesthood by religious thraldom overawed even em-
perors ; and our own King John surrendered his crown to
the Roman legate. This state of things did not arise from
the union of church and state, but from the preponderance of
the priestly influence over the lay or civil powers—an in-
fluence in direct opposition to that which inculcates honour
to the king. To avoid such gross perversion of power on
the part of priesthood, "the constitution of England has
amply provided, and in which consists the excellence of the
union of church and state as at present constituted in this
country. Thus the church in its formularies presents to the
state a code of ceremonies and morals, drawn up and de-
clared without reserve to be its constitution, which the state
seeing unobjectionable, and free from anything which might
tend to the subjugation of the popular mind, merely ratifies
and confirms, as witness the several ratifications in the book
of Common Prayer. Thus the state has a guarantee from
the church, that the Word of God is its only fouridatio3.
and, moreover, at 'tit its services there -is nothing detri-
mental to civil security or civil liberty—no tyrannical exer-
cise on the souls of men—nothing to shake allegiance to the
throne, honour to the monarch, or engender bigotry in the
people. And the church on this ground ens;oys the protec-
tion of the state; and by wise enactments the preachers of
such a church are secured from the effects of popular preju-
dice in times of disaffection and evil, and so placed that they
can preach the Word of God whether men will hear or for-
bear; and what perhaps is more salutary, are restrained by
the adoption from any excess and undue zeal in those sea-
sons—alas ! how few—when the love and respect of the po-
pulace might tempt from that moderation which is so essen-
tial to moral freedom, and the working of good government
as of sound religion. And on the other part, the state enjoys
its share of benefit by—the salutary influence of the church,
whose doctrine enforces civil obedience and purity of morals.
Acknowledging the " king as supreme," it at once discou-
rages all attempt at priestcraft ; and by holding civil rulers
" as ordained of Gehl," at once is the best. security for a go-
vernment. Thus a balance is established ; and of this it is
that sectarians complain when they affect to mourn over the
union of church and state. An expatiation on the foregoing
would swell a letter beyond the due bounds: enough has
been advanced methinks to thwart ignorance ; and at the
same time I would add, if that is attained it is well nigh all I
aspire to, for to argue a point with the specious and jealous
sectarian would be waste of time—the mind may be con-
vinced, but by such an one better judgment is overruled by
prejudice and pride.
The book of Common Prayer I have ever esteemed as the
handmaid to revelation : its prayers scriptural—its ordi-
nances orthodox—its articles a brief but clear compendium
of what is good for belief and doctrine. The church, in
accordance with divine example, has retained the custom of
a form of prayer. Now dissenters almost unanimously ob-
ject to a settled formulary, and add various minor objec-
tions—to wit, their length, repetition, and so forth. As
regards form, Christians, from the earliest ages that the
church assumed a real position among the Gentiles, used
stated forms of prayer—the prayer of St. Chrysostorn and
the Te Deum to wit, with divers others even in use among
the early Christians. Going backward, stated forms and
ceremonials were the custom of the Jews. So now, the best
way to retain decency and order is to restrain officials to a
sound, universal, and comprehensible form, the which I
conceive the liturgy of the church to be—solemn without
affectation, universal without prejudice, comprehensive with-
out wearisome extension. As to repetition, I know not how
the dissenters can advance this as an objection, when it is so
well known that gross repetition is the prevailing strain of
those sectarian teachers and officials who form the greater
section,—l mean those illiterate local teachers so numerous
in rural districts—men who, from my certain knowledge,
cannot read with accuracy, and whose preaching is a mere
burlesque on the term.

Minor points I will pass over, and consider the effect pro-
duced by our national church on the public mind and con-
duct. 1 assert that the benefit is great, advantageous, and
extensive :

Where, on the surface of the earth, is the.gtapdard of public
morals so exalted as .ita.,Englaucl?• Where gnputar feeling
so alive to the inroads of profligacy ? Where have learn ug
and the sciences made more progress ? Where are the man-
ners more refined, and society better constituted, than in
. proud and happy England?. 1 assert, nowhere. And what
is this to be attributed to, but the high tone and exalted
character of our national religion ! Lofty in itself, solemn,
dignified, and effective, it has had snob salutary influence as
to raise the standard of public feeling preeminent to any
other in Europe. Spread over the face of the country, and
activelEalive in every rural district, it is the comfort, as well
as instructor, of the people. Its ministers, refined by gen-
tility, claim that respect which the vulgar cannot aspire to.
The vicarage, the resort of tilts atlicted and sorrowing, is the
blessed storehouse of temporal and spiritual good. The
pulpit, the fountain of solace to the children of mourning,
reproof to The worldling, exhortation to the lul4-ewartair re-.
buke to the impenitent. Such is the Church of England—
a church which, though capable of improvement in tempo-
ralities, need not fear comparison with any chnrch or sect in
Christendom, either as regards its scriptural liturgy, decent
discipline, orderly government, or vitalising influence upon
the souls of men. Nor need its ministers shrink from com-
parison. Where are there men more exemplary, pious,
deeply read, purer in morals, and withal more sensible of
their duty, than, as a body, the clergy of the Church of
Eno-land ?

Against such a church, now in evil times, is a band ga-
thered—a host whose members differ in everything but hos-
tility to our established religion. We find united in -one
common cause the professing disciple-of Jesus, the crafty
Socinian, the wily Papist, and the hardened, unblushing,
heretical Socialist,—each at enmity in all things else, but
fellow-workers in this business of church destruction ;—the
professing disciple erring and malminded from ignorance or
hardness of heart—the Papist and heretic encouraging his
degeneracy, craftily making him an instrument in their
hands of working maliciously, and blinding his better judg-
ment, by administering to their dupe the moral poison of
discontent ; thus, as the Pharisees of old made Judas a
-wretched traitor, so wonld modern enemies tempt the un-
wary or covetous to act treacherously, and, by such instabi-
lity, make an inroad to the very heart of our scriptural con-
stitution.

0, why is it, that men are so evil disposed towards the
church? Because it is an uncompromising rebuke to sin and
evil. The heretic stands self condemned, because whether
he will hear or not, the church, as a trumpet, proclaims
God's word through the land, which makes the vicious trem-
ble. The evil have no sympathy with goodness, and account
the man an enemy who thinks the truth. But that the pro-
fessing Christian should be hostile is a matter of more won-
der. The trinitarian dissenters as a whole are dissaffected,
and fain would reduce the great bulwark of Christianity to
one of those banks of sand which change as the currents run,
and at times of storm entirely pass away. It is a melancholy
fact, but so it is. Some are better affected than others, but
the general cry is, " Down with her, even to the ground."
Some talk of merely reforming, but
" may no such storm
Fall on our times when ruin must reform."
A few may be sincere, but as there is much erroneous judg-
ment, the church may exclaim, " God preserve me from my
friends."

This is grave and serious, but not less true ; yet there is
encouragement. First, the Church of Christ, as long as it
continues true and faithful, is immutable ; popular feelings
may fluctuate, but the providence of God will thwart the
crafts of the malicious, and the treachery of the unfaithful.
Let this actuate the true churchman to prayer, for " it is
better to trust in God than to put any confidence in man."
But in conclusion, I assert that the.church of this country
is so congenial to the genius of a British people, that, though
the general feeling may for a time riot in latitudinarian excess,
it will always, as it has done before, finally subside into true
respect and good feeling towards the church—a church in
which for centuries the sons and daughters of England were
brought up, where they married and communicated, and from
whose ministers they received the ghostly comforts at their
closing hours, and round whose walls they sleep, waiting the
consummation of their hopes, a blessed immortality, where
faith gives way to manifestation, and the Redeemer reigns
triumphant with his elect in glory for ever.
Your very obedient Servant,
J. T.

Liverpool.

INCREASED FACILITIES OF lINTERCOURSE.—We haVe re-
peatedly had occasion to notice the advantages which accrue
from increased facilities of travelling. The most recent
illustration of this, which has fallen under our observation,
has occurred in consequence of the arrangement between the
Brandling Junction Railway Company, the Durham Junc-
tion Railway Company, the Sunderland and Durham Rail-
way Company, and the Clarence Railway Company, which
has come into operation within the last few days. Several
people from the neighbourhood of Stockton, and the sur-
rounding district, now visit Newcastle, on account of the
cheap and expeditious means afforded them, who never other-
wise would have thought of doing so. This intercourse will
be continually increased, as it becomes better known and
understood. But the change we shall probably see in travel-
ling in the course of about six months, will exceed any thing
we have yet witnessed in this part of the kingdom. In the
month of October next we fully expect to see the Great North
of England Railway opened from York to Darlington ; and
as the railways from York to London will be opened by that
time, if not before, we shall then, we have no doubt, have
the opportunity of travelling between Newcastle and the me-
tropolis in one day ! If the railway proprietors see their own
permanent interests, and make the fares moderate and rea-
sonable, the increase of passengers must be•immense, and
persons who never travelled before will be induced to trans-
port themselves, from the novelty, from one end of the king-
dom to the other.—Tyne Mercury.

CHESTER AND CREWE AND GRAND JUNCTION RAIL-
WAYS CONSOLIDATION .—BREVIATE OF AMENDED BILL.
—The clauses for protection of the Ellesmere and Chester
canal have been amended in committee. Clauses have been
inserted for requiring compensation to be made for the tem-
porary occupation of, and damage to lands. A clause for
preventing injury to roads has been inserted. The company
are empowered to take the tolls for passengers, cattle, and
carriages conveyed on the railway, which were authorized by
the act under which the Chester and Crewe Railway Com-
pany were incorporated, as well as those for agricultural
matter and merchandize. The amendment bill requires the
bye-laws of the company (except those relating solely to mem-
bers or officers of the company) to be confirmed by one of
the judges of the superior courts, or by the justices at a quar-
ter sessions. They are to be so framed as to allow the con-
victing magistrate to order the whole or part of the penalties
to be paid. The amended bill requires an annual account in
abstract, showing the total receipts and expenditure of all
funds levied under the •act to be transmitted to the clerk of
the peace for the counties of Lancaster, Chester, Stafford,
and Warwick. A clause has been inserted (to remove doubts
arising on a clause in the former act), providing that no da-
mage which shall unavoidably be done to the railway by rea-
son of the working of any mines which the company shall
have neglected, after notice to purchase, within the distance
of 40 yards from the railway, in a skilful and proper manner,
according to the usual mode of working mines m the neigh
bourhood, shall be held to be damage wilfully done, within
the meaning of the act. The limitation of actions clause
contained in a former act is repealed.