The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-01-23 00:00:00

NVELEYAN METHODISM

At a.moment when every personal effort is nucle.bypolitical7
dissenters at publiti meetingii, and all the artillery of toe press,
in their periodical publicatidus, are called- forth to overawe
churchineu by theirthunder' it is some eunsolation to feel hOw
much the Wesleyan nie,thodists and some religious dissenters
.sympathise with the silent pious churchman at the. unhallowed
combinations formed for the OverthrOw of the chttiCh. The
political diisenters openly confess their aim is the destruCtion
of the church and all ecelesiastical orders in the establishment.:
They recommend a "free trade", in religion as the hest method
of procuring a Cheap. article, 'arid loudly call, "E:town with the
church," as the great monopolist of sound doctrine, and reli-
gious instruction. But pious Christians of, all deinominations,
" pray for the peace of Jerusalem," and look upon the church
as the grand depository of sacred truth, and the standing hut-
walk of religious liberty. If the established church is once
overthrown, strife, confusion; bitterness,' and fanatieisin, will
pervade the religious community; and, probably, massacre and-
bloodshed. (as in Charles First's reign) will, giye the religious
ascendancy to that party who are least.serupulous in the means
of obtainin' it—the noisy petit ical dissenters. At the appeoach
of a genera election, and in order to influence the votes of elec-
tors against the friends.of the church, Several dissenting deno-
minationsdn London have adopted, resolutions in opposition to
the government and Ihechurch, which-resolutions are circulated
through the country to influence the electors. It May be- well,
therefore, to remind the dissenters of the opinions of 'Dr. Pye
Smith, an eminent dissenting minister, with regard to the
church, and which have been
-generally circulated during the
present year. It may be well also to remind the Wesleyan
Methodists of the opinion of that apostolic' Man Dr. Adam
Clarke, towards the established church. In the 3d vol. of his
life, page:2oB, he says—" I was born, so to speak, in the church
—baptised in the church—brought up in it—confirmed in it by
that apostolic man Dr. Bacot, then Bishop of Bristol, after-
wards of Norwich—have,heldall my life uninterrupted. commu-
nion with it,couscieutiously believe its doctrines, and have
spoken and written in its defence." Again, at page 2U9,
,Dr.
Cia.rke adds—"Of the established-church I have never been a
secret enemy, nor a silent friend. What 1 feet towards it the
angels are :welcome to. ponder, and,,what .1 have written and
spoke concerning it, and in its favour, I believe .1 shall. never
be tempted to retract. Being bred up in its boVom, I early
drank in its sanitary doctrines and spirit. I felt foiit from
my, earliest youth as I felt fora most dear relative." Here is-
theicandid opinion of one of the most learned and distinguished
of the methodist knini,sters; for Dr. Clarke certainly ranks next
to Jelin. Wesley in learning and ministerial lab Ours. A great
majority of the Wesleyan methodists entertain the same h&c=
tionate regard:for the Church of England, and at the approach-
ing election will support the church and state candidates. Many
of the pious Among the..dissenters will also support the present
government, and the next pailiainenCwill number among its
members many who "leer God and honour the Knie Then
.triav,the.religious.comninnity hope: to obtain. from parliament
"a-bill for the better observance of the Sabbath" and not be
left to tiny tender mercy of Morpeth, Cayley; and Co.; first to
destroy its chief provisions, and then to defeat and reject it
altogether.—fink Chronicle. •