The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-03 00:00:00

against the-Viorship of images as an injury to God ; in the
third, Tertullian, Origen, and Clemens Alexandrinus con-
demned the practice ; and in the fourth, it was rejected by
Athanasius and Ambrose. The testimony might have been
greatly expanded, but he appealed to the meeting, as honest
men, whether what he had produced was not sufficient to
explain the doctrine of the early church? (Loud cheers.)
In the next place, the rev. gentleman shewed that the doc-
trine of image worship is not only unnoticed by, but is di-
rectly adverse to, express statements of the Word of God.
It is sufficient on this point, especially as the argument has
often appeared in our columns in another form, to say that
;efatleman completely established the position. We
to the worship of images, then, because

the rei
object, he continu
" it is a fond thing vainly invent
warranty of Scripture, but is r
of God." We object to it bec
the Chri

led upon no
Word
ftcr century of

lefore it had received any

era bad r

allow progressive improvement in church discipline, ive offer
a sturdy opposition to any innovation upon church doctrine.
(Cheers.) We object to it because it tends to narrow our

devotional duty, to limit c

pproach to tiod, to confine
ld time, for we shall only pray there

yer to plat

nave the idol or image.
ect to it because it tends to lead one to
ge in the place of God, to confound the
1 or piece of stone, with the
We object to it

and then, whe.re and when we

(Cheers.) We c

Place the idol or i

figure, a senseless block of wo
incomprehensible Deity. (Hear, I
because

takes the place of Christ
Tett God and man, than
horn there is none other way of access to the Father, and
ho alone is the image of the invisible God. (Hear.) For
to set up or bow down before, or

indirectly,
1 medium of comr

ens we retus,

worship, images of man's formation, believing that, were we
to do so, we should, in the sight of that God who searcheth
the heart and trieth the reins of the children of men, be
guilty of that very sin which to him is abominable, and
which his soul bateth. It is, then, upon these grounds that
we enter our unflinching protest against this anti-Christian
system, because we know, from its fundamental principle of
infallibility, that all the error which has clung to it will still
•

continue to cling to it. And we believe that the whole sys-
tem, as well in its other parts as the part we have considered
to-night, is directly hostile to evangelical and personal reli-
- It may perhaps sound a harsh sentiment, but I cannot
that I would as readily trust my body
,sel, the sport of every wind
I would trust my soul's
...nd the principles of Rome. (Loud
_ ...could as soon look for health beneath the
-p shade of the upas tree, whilst drinking in the malaria
of its envenomed atmosphere, as I would expect peace or
`oft under the blighting
' cheers.) And why do I thus silt

to the wrecked

,c 1 leaky v

to the creed
Jeers.) Yea,

of Romish domination.
ak ? Has God de-
aivation in none other than in Jesus ?
safe to believe that we may be saved

Hear, hear, hear.)
concluded as follows :

:man a

Has God declared that all Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruc-
tion in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto every good work ? Then can it
be a safe thing to believe that, in the language of the Council
of Trent, "all saving knowledge is not contained in the
Scriptures, but partly in the Bible and partly in unwritten
tradition, which, whoever does not receive with the like faith
as he does the written word, let him be accursed ?" (Hear.)
Has God declared there is but one mediator between GOd and
man, the man Christ Jesus? Then can it be a safe thing to
believe in an- immense train of subordinate mediators who
interfe 's intercession, and

„re with the perfection of Chris
, like a dark eclipse, between m

v soul and the sun of
Has God declared that Christ
s a sacrifice for sin ? Then cau
crifice of the mass, in which a

sacrifice is

I to be offered for human guilt each time
Thou

that it is celebrated
shalt not make to tl]

Cheers

Has God de

►vself any graven
them ?" Then

or worship them
safe to blot out

nor bo

t from the Decalogue, that it may be
mt impunity? (Loud cheers.) Has God

declared, " Search the SCripttires, for therein ye have eternal
life ?" Can it be a safe thing then, to blot it out, that this
book may be closed to the people, that they shall not search
it without authority from their priests? (Renewed eheers.)
My frier

f enquiries, and each

additional one would only to serve to widen the breach be-
tween Romanism and the faith of the Gospel. Thus it ex-
poses more fully the danger o4yielding any, the slightest, as-
sent to it. We feel that in a controversy of this kind we are
not engaged for the mere baubles and playthings of the world.
We are contending for the very substance, the heart, the life
blood, the soul of Christianity ; we are contending for the
pure fountain of truth, and the pure bread of life, and the
pure water of salvation; we are contending for the pure and
unadulterated worship of the one true living God, in opposi-
tion to the idol worship of the Church of Rome; we are con-
tending, in fact, for the mild sway of the Prince of Peace, as
contradistinguished from the Herodian spirit of Roman Ca-
tholicism ; and feeling these things, I say, " Away with that
false charity that would compromise the difference between
the two faiths, or reduce the rich principles of the former to
an idle. and a cunning tale. (Loud cheers.) Away with that
kish liberality, too much in vogue among many in the
that would look with an equally favourable

ent day

considering them as
more properly, as equally
„ k
' (Long continued cheering.) But Ido trust, though
very much to lament over, and very much
re not yet come, as a Protestant

we have •
to humble

people, to that sad issue, at which we are reduced to give up
all sense of the value and worth of the Reformation. (Cheers.)
I do hope that we are not yet prepared to think that the noble
army of martyrs—our Cranmers, our Ridleys, our Latimers,
our Hoopers, with a bright cloud of other witnesses—spent
their breath and poured out their blood, for comparatively
and absolutely nothing. (Cheers.) Ido hope that the me-
mory of those sainted men has still something like a hallow-
ing influence upon the minds of the thoughtful, and that they

are willing, heart and hand, to subscribe to what they have
handed down, and to practise the holy principles which they
so boldly advocated. (Renewed cheers.) I therefore, with
all earnestness, would exhort you to be more than ever upon
your guard against the march of this spiritual tyranny. (Ap-
plause.) Her footfall is sometimes muffled, so that she
steals upon us unexpectedly, and finds us too often unpre-
pared ; but she is now assuming a bolder front—she is now
openly advancing against our spiritual Zion, and hesitates
not to declare open war with the principles that are as dear
to us as their lives. (Hear, hear.) I exhort you; then, to
see that ye yourselves are more decided for Christ and his

truth ; for trust me, or rather trust the 'Word of God itself,
that personal spiritual religion will prove the best barrier to
the attacks of the man of sin. (Hear, hear.) I exhort you
to read your Bible more, and bless God that you may read
it, and pray for grace that you may practise what it teaches.

(Hear.) I exhort you to be more earliest in prayer, for
yourselves that you may grow in the grace and in the know-
ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and for others
that all may be led to embrace the truth as it is in Jesus. I
exhort you to keep closer in faith to the Great Head of the
church, to him who has bought that church with his own
precious blood, and whose one great desire is to present it,
as a glorious church, before his father's throne, " not having
spot or blemish or any such thing." I exhort you to adhere
more strictly in life and practice to that branch of the Ca-
tholic church which is established among us, that ark of the
Lord in which are deposited the purest formularies of Chris-
tian faith, from which, through the ministers that serve at
her altars, flow the pure and healing waters of Gospel truth ;
and by your influence, your talents, your prayers, your con-
versation, your life, see that ye are at all times ready to sup-
port and strengthen the hands of those who are willing to
lift up their voices against the errors of the Romish theology,
and to cope with whatever difficulties may stand in their
path, that thus a highway may be made upon which the peo-
ple of the Lord may walk with safety to the haven before
them. (Cheers.) I commend you to the grace and keeping
of God, and pray that his blessing may rest upon you.
The rev. gentleman then retired amidst enthusiastic cheer-
ing, and the doxology having been sung, the meeting sepa-
rated.—The lecture upon the ninth article of the creed will
be delivered on Friday evening next, by the Rev. F. Parry.

INCENDIARY FIRE AT BIRKENHEAD

Yesterday morning the saw-mills, joiners' shops, timber-
yard, a large quantity of timber, &c. belonging to Messrs.
J. and W. Walker, eminent builders at Woodside, were de-
stroyed by fire, no doubt the work of an incendiary or in-
cendiaries, and such was the rapidity with which the flames
spread, that in a few hours the greater portion were reduced
to a heap of smoking ruins. The flames burst forth from no
less than six different parts of the premises, showing the de-
termination of the party effictually to accomplish the object
of their malice, and the long period of dry weather which has
prevailed, rendered the materials still more speedy objects of
destruction, by such an element as fire. The premises are
situated on the banks of Wallacy Pool ; and adjoining those
destroyed, are the ship-building yard of the Messrs. Walker,
several other timber and ship yards, all of which would,
doubtless, have been also destroyed, had the wind been
blowing fresh. The police and a fire-engine were on the
spot soon after the fire commenced, but the latter was com-
paratively useless, and the efforts of the former, together
with a number of the inhabitants, were directed to the saving
of some large baulks of timber which were in the yard. Se-
veral were got away from the devouring element. About
one hundred persons are employed on the. premises, and many
of them residing at a distance were not aware of the work of
destruction until going to their work at six o'clock this morn-
ing, when they became acquainted with the melancholy fact,
and at the same time saw their work tools also destroyed,
several of them valuing their chests at as much as £4O, others
at £2O. The entire loss cannot at present be estimated, as
the books of the concern are also destroyed, and there having
been a considerable quantity of timber on the ground balong-
' ing to different individuals, sent for the purpose of being sawn
into blanks, boards, Sze. It is said the mills, engines, ma-
chinery, &c., cost Messrs. Walker upwards of £3OOO erecting,
and as they are only insured for £l5OO they must be conside-
rable losers. For some time past threats have been held out
by sawyers who arc averse to the introduction of machinery,
that the works would be destroyed, and a watchman has been
kept nightly on the premises. .This man states, that when
the fire broke out he was saying his prayers, something hav-
ing frightened him. In one corner of the yard were found
a quantity of. shavings saturated with turpentine, and two
bottles of that liquor were also discovered. Messrs. Walker
have offered a reward of £lOO for the conviction of the of-
fenders, and Sir James Graham has been written to on the
subject.

RESPITE OF ROBERT SANDYS.—This criminal, found
guilty at the last Autumn Cheshire Assizes of the murder of
his infant child, has been respited from the punishment of
death.
- -

DINNER TO THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY, K.G., LORD
LIEUTENANT OF MIDDLESEX.—Upwards of 100 of the ma-
gistrates of the metropolitan county met to entertain this
distinguished nobleman at the Thatched House Tavern, on
Thursday week, on occasion of his appointment to succeed
the Duke of Portland as Lord-Lieutenant of the county.
Mr. Sergeant Adams, chairman of the quarter sessions, pre-
sided on this occasion.
-

LIBERALITY OF OUR M.P.—Mr. flume has presented our
Mechanics' Institution with two parliamentary reports and a
small pamphlet, of the total value of eightpence halfpenny
sterling ! When in Brechin, Mr. Hume took occasion to
say that the last generation knew not Joseph, but that the
present race would do so ; and certainly they are likely soon
to become acquainted with the leading traits in his character,
in no enviable form.—Montrose Standard.
The Rev. T. Sherburne,• a Popish priest, has commenced
proceedings against the proprietor of the Lancaster Gazette,
for publishing certain letters from Thomas Eastwood, Esq.,
exposing the nefarious proceedings of the bachelor priests,
relative to the wills of a number of wealthy old ladies. Our
contemporary has done good service to the Protestant cause
by the publication of these letters, and we are glad to see that
public sympathy is with him, more especially as these docu-
ments are all authenticated with Mr. Eastwood's signature,
and therefore the object of the accused is evidently not vin-
dication, but suppression, or they would proceed against
Mr. Eastwood.

FATAL THUNDER-STORM.—On Monday last a terrific
storm of thunder and lightning broke over the towns of Ban-
well, Worle, Wrington, and places adjacent. The continu-
ous flashes of the forked lightning were awful, and, we regretn
to say, not unattended with fatal consequences. Bnet.wee_
one and two o'clock a young man named Williams2,oaundg7
at
horses engaged in ploughing on .the farm of Mr._ I
Banwell Moor. were struck with lightning, and instantly
killed. Poor Williams, on the day of his death,
completed his 20th year. The lightning _ his
h
sr:natered portions
clotes in
pieces, and even his shoes upon his feet.
of his clothes were found ten or twelve Yards from the s ot.
p
—Bristollourisal.- •