The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-12 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE,

TO VIE CONGVRGVITIOX OP ST. JUDE'S CII URCH.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-With the justest indignation
you will nave observed that a paper devoted to the interests of
popery, the Livetpool Journal, has, in the most rancorous and
scurrillotts .manner, attacked your talented and truly excellent
pastor, the Rev. H. M'Neill. Advocating boldly and tea-
lously, is Mr. does, the scriptural doctrines of the
church iff England in their purity and simplicity, and as a
true protestant, protesting against the false doctrines of the
Romish church, and the vain, self-exalting fancies of the sec-
tarian, who can wonder at these attempts to silence, or at least.
annoy him? Is it singular that those who have attempted to
shut up the.holy bible of God should also try to stop the mouth
of one who so fearlessly and uncompromisingly upholds the
doctrines of that blessed book, which are so decidedly hostile to
their God-abasing dogmas, and "blasphemous deceits."
It is natural for them to wish to bind the hands that wield
with such power that two-edged "sword of the spirit," every
stroke of which is fatal to one or more of their "old wive'
fables and traditions of men." -
But deep as is the hatred manifested by these frightened and
angry curs, and clamorous as are their yelpings, their attacks
must appear to every person of a sane mind as unworthy any
but the most contemptuous notice. And it is to be hoped that
Mr. M'Neill will continue to hold on his way without regard-
ing them, leaving it to others less exalted to whip them to their
kennelfi. Every one oho has read the triumphant replies of
"Cyinro," in the Standard, to the letters of "A Protestant
Layman,* (?) and the remarks of the editor of the Journal,
must see ttre superiority of one " who, hath his quarrel_ just"
over those who would defend a system of blasherny and lies,
or assail those who. are -exerting -their strength in "pulling
down such strong.holds'-' of the wicked one. It may, however,
happen that some of you, having taken' but a superficial view
of the matter, have allowed the _specious complaints of these
"lovers of darkness" to lessen yonr confidence in, and your
love for, your faithful minister, and have seen persuaded that
what they (the murderer accusing his judge, of cruelty!) cal"
the bigotted intolerance of Mr. M'Neill, is as culpable as they
would fain make it appear. ' s'ome of you may have been led
to believe this,. and to suppose that Mr. M'Neill, in denounc-
ing what he (in Cmacnon with all true protestants) believes to
be the b/aspienicas-doctrines' of the church of-Rome, exceeds
the bounds and Warranty of scripture. Take your bibles, you
who think this, arid .1 am sure you will find there, over and
above the numerous texts cited by "Cypro," a multitude of
passages speaking language no more courteous or gentle to-
wards the teachers and upholders of error than that employed
by Mr. M'Neill. I will not waste time in proving that this
intolerance of Mr. M'Neill applies, not to the persons, but the
doctrines of those whom all true protestants believe to
straying from the right way; no one, I ata assured, can pe
suade you otherwise.

With respect to "political preaching," are we to consider
that Mr. M'Neill oversteps the bounds of his duty as a chris-
tian minister and a good subject, in warning his fellow-sub-
jects against those who, to serve their own ambition, would set
the feet above the head, and make a brutal and misguided mob
the depositaries of all power in church and state ? No, my
friends, examine the matter calmly and seriously, with con-
.stant reference to the word of God, and I doubt not you will at
last agree with me in thinking that your worthy and enlightened
pastor does not exceed the rules of that blessed book which,
whilst denouncing in the severest terms all departures from the
way of "truth, teaches us to "Love the brotherhood: fear God.
and honour the king."

* Does this worthy "Protestant Layman" earn his title by
defending the absurdities of the papists ? or does his very ex-
tensive charity (?) prompt him to encourage them in their ad-
herence to what' his superior sense teaches him to reject ?
But who will believe that he is a protestant ? The wolf in
sheep's-clothing is betrayed by his howling.