The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-29 00:00:00

Itril.E'LlyEßPooL sTA.4o..kftb..

TRUTH- vertu: POPERY

TO THE EDITOR OF TIM LIVERPOOL srsivolna

celiturcy.
The 35th article recommends the two books of homilies.
Did the writer in the Journal, or his hypocritical correspon-
dent's, ever read these hooks? Muse parts of Mr. l‘l`Neill's
sermons which have subjected him to such a flood of obloquy,
and which have been designated as ranting and furious, are
little else . than literal transcripts of portions of these homilies,
sanctioned by the church. To avoid the imputation of apparent
harshness, he even quotes whole passages verbatim from these
books, advisedly giving the references.
The 37th article asserts that the Bishop of Rome, (vulgarly
called. his holineis the pope,) has no 'jurisdiction in these
realms; and John Bull—agreeing with Mr. M'Neill—declares
that he never shall obtain any, if he can help it. This the
whig.radical popish ministry will find to their cost at no dis•
taut period. •
The 38th article is levelled against the principle of equality
and community .f goods. Mr. 1114/Ceill—deriving his authority
from this article—has, from the pulpit, repeatedly and trium-
phantly exposed the absurdity of the levelling system, proved
it to ,be incompatible with any condition of civilization, and,
indeed,.shown that equality can only exist among brute beasts.
. _

•
- •
-laving thus adduced a cumulative mass of evidence from

the 39 articles, to prove that Mr. is justified in pur-
suing the very course which gives such umbrage to the Journal,
I shall proceed to quote a few expressions from other parts of
the Common Prayer Book, which will further illustrate the
subject.
What does the writer in the Journal, think of the commina-
tion service? Taken from holy writ, as it is almost exclu-
sively, what can his correspondents whisper against this awful
imprication of divine vengeance? Do&i' Mr. in any
wise, thunder forth the sanctions of the law more terribly ?
The collects in the service commemorative of the happy de-
livetance from the gunpowder plot contain -expressions of
thanksgiving for the preservation of the nobilify, clergy, and
commons, from "popish treachery; popish tyranny, aid arbitrary
power." . In the same service another prayet invokes the
Almighty to "Arotect-and strengthen-our King; and All 111
authority under him, with judgment and just►ce, to cut off all
such workers of iniquity as turn religion into rebellion, and
faith into faction, that they may never prevail against us, or
triumph in the ruin of the church among us." liow appositely
does-this language fit the present position of the church ! The
same service alludes to the "preservation of ow- church and

state from the secret contrivance -and hellish malice of popish
conspirators," and our "deliverance from. the open tyranny
and oppression of the same cruel and blood-thirsty erten-lest
This seems to me very applicable to a certain jesuitical Irish,
law.ver and his confederate traitors.

To be brief, the services for the 30th January and the 29th
May contain language fully.as forcible as the preceding, as any
one may ascertain on perusal. Is it possible that there are
officiating clergymen in the church who hesitate,to adopt such
sentiments as obviously accord with the whole scope and tenor
of the formalities which they are bound to observe ? This,

alas! would seem to be implied by the antipathy harboured
towards Mr. M'Neill for his straightforward, uncompromising
_deportment in the pulpit.

Thus the gravamen of the Journal's charge is disposed of. I
shall not tape the higher ground of Proving.the general con-
sonancy of Mr. M`Neill's sentiments, style, and language with
scripture. That is self-evident to any honest inquirer. rchal-
lenge the most rigid criticism on this point.
The Journal insinuates that Mr. M' Neill has changed his
religion—the apostles Paul, Peter, &c. did the same. Strange
objection !

I have to apologise for trespassing s_o much upon your
columns, and the patience of your readers. I have not stepped
forward because Mr. M'Neill needs any apologist. Ilis exem-

_ .
plary private character, I believe, to be unassailable; while
his unassuming pastoral labours, his amenity ,of disposition,
.his varied literary- and theological acquirements, and his grace-
ful and dignified oratory, will serve to increase his popularity,
and procure for him the enduring attachment of ' his numerous

flock. Long may he continue kr occupy his present .sphere of
activity an usefulness, honoured by ail who hate any regard
for personal integrity and moral worth.
That the rabid raffs of the radical press shall not "have it

all their own way," is the firm resolve of your.", &c.

prima

INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR BUELDING ANn
• 'ENLARGING CHURCHES. • • '

On Monday afternoon the annual meeting af the SOCiely for
the Encouragement of the Buihlingand.Enlargitrg Ofehtirches
.evrai held at the Society's rooms, in St. Martin's-place, Tr:dal,
gar square.
'The-Archbishop of. Canterbury presided: • `• •
• The report was read by the Honorary Secretary: stated,
.so far from the society having accomplished :the, Object
for which it was instituted, it had only made a 'proSperOus be,
ginning; much-had been done, but much remained toito. The
records of the last year proved this fact. In no former Year
had they received so many applications, or had they been. able
to effect-so. much good. Their grounds had, 'during the list
year, procured 34,300 sittings, of which 26,000 were free. This
increased demand on their funds was gratifying, as it showed an
increase of attachment to the Church of England, and ikdesire
on the part of the wealthy of giving facility to all for attend-
ance on its public worship. A district society has been fornfed
at Cambridge, which has remitted £-100, and the. committee
begged strongly to impress the duty of forming similar "auxili-
ary societies. The Diocesan Society of Durham had remitted
them £lOO, being one=teurth of its year's receipts. 1)r: Richards
had given £5OO towards building a church at Banipton. The
King's letter had produced them about £30.000. Butt, not-
withstanding the-largeness of the receipts during the past year,.
be. outlay had been so great that only £lB,OOO disposable ba-
ance remained: • This society had now existed seventeen Years,
and during that period had opened 289,00(1 church sittings, of
of which 216,000 were'free.
. The Bishop of Winchester moved that the report he printed
and circulated. Ile was anxious' the public should know the
real nature of-the operations of the society, and of its' wants.
He never wept into his diocese without hearing the thanks of
those who had been accommodated by the society. The grant
afforded by the society did a more than double good, as it gaVe
a stimulus to local subscriptions. Several churches had -been
erected at the expense of many thousands, but which, had not
the society first given a few hundreds, would never have been
built.
The Bishop of Carlisle seconded the motion. '
Carried unanimously. •
. The Archbishop of Canterbury observed that it was his duty
to encourage the church of his Master by every means in his
power. Ills efforts should never be wanting to establish the
best interests of this society, which he felt to be the best interests
of the established church.
The Earl of Harrowby moved the thanks of the meeting to
the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Lord Kenyon seconded the motion, which was carried by ea-,
eloniation,
The Archbishop acknowledged the compliment,
The Bishops of Gloucester, Hereford, and' Litchfield after-
wards spoke in moving routine resolutions, and the meeting
proceeded to elect, by ballot, their officers fur the year ensuing.

141i00.1thoG.—It is said that the hedgehog is proof against
poisons. M. Pallas states that it e ill eat a hundred cautharides
without receiving any injury. More recently, a German phy-
sician, who 4vishtd to dissect one, gave it prussic. acid, but it
tlfak no effect; he theta tried arsenic, opium, and corrosive
itsblitnote with the same results.

Sin,—ln resuming my strictures upon the Journal's tirades
against the Rev. H. M'Nelll, I shall defer any notice of its
insolent personalities until I have satisfactorily demonstrated
the futility of the assertion that he is not authorised by the for-
mularies of the established church in adopting his present style
of preaching. Those silly personages who preposterously
imagine that he is guilty of an excess of seal, will do well to
ponder the following particulars:—
The 14th article of the church of England calls it "arrogancy
and impiety" to teach the doctrine of works of supererogation—
a heretical notion of the Ronian catbolics, which detracts from
the merit of the atonement. ean the writer in the Journal be
aware of the existence of this article?
The 15th article repudiates the doctrine of sinless perfection.
Mr. M'Neill opposes this opinion, consistently with his duty.
The 17th article—the most elaborate and diffuse of the 39—
dearly and unequivocally exhibits the grand doctrine of predes-
tination and election. The rev. gentleman energetically en-
forces this scriptural truth. The best commentary upon this
article is derived from the writings of those who were concerned
in framing this "form of sound words;" and I defy any man
to point out the slightest discrepancy between the views of Mr,
M'Neill, on this point, and ihose entertained by the early
divines of the reformed church, to whom alone the ultimate
appeal should•be made on all litigated questions relating to the
real, intended meaning► of the articles.
The 18th article pronounces them to be accursed who presume
to say that salvation can be obtained but by the-name of Christ.
Are these mild, milk-and-water terms? • Can any more forcible
emanate from Mt. M'Neill's lips?
The 19th article opposes the Roman catholic definition- of the
word "chinch."
The 20th article opposes the Roma❑ catholics is reference to
the authority of the church.
The 21st article discards the authority of general councils
Another hit at popery.
The 22d article declares the Romish doctrine concerning
purgatory, pardons, worshipping, and adoration of images and
relics, and also invocation of saints, to be "a fond or foolish
thing, vainly invented, and grounded on nsi warranty of scrip-
ture." Mr. M'Neill thinks the same—every man, not abso-
lutely demented, must think the same. The reductio ad absur-
dum is the only process 'which would be involuntarily suggested
to a than of common sense in treating of such childish vanities.
The 24th article attacks popery for the use of the Latin
tongue in her ministrations.
The `2sth article attacks the heresies of the church of Rome
on the subject of the sacraments.
The 28th article condemns the doctrine of transubstantiation;
and the elevation of Me host, &c.
The 30th article opposes the practice or denyjng the cup in
the Lord's supper to the laity.. • _
The 31st article stigmatizes the sacrifice of masses as "blas-
phemous fables" and "dangerous deceits." Strong expressions
these—quite in Mr. M'Neill's style. How do you relish this
article, Mr. Journalist? .
•
Tile 32d article condemns the unsocial doctrine of clerica