The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-29 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE M'NEILE TESTIMONIAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin,—l was rejoiced to see the suggestion, contained in
your last Friday's STANDARD, as to the duty of the Pro-
testants of Liverpool to give some public testimonial of their
high estimation and grateful regard to that undaunted and
exemplary servant of God, the Rev. Hugh M`Neile: for, as
he has so long and so patiently borne " the pelting of the
pitiless storm" of the rancour and malice of his inveterate
adversaries, it is now high time that we, who profess to love
and value him, should pour the oil and balm of our grateful
and affectionate sympathy into his bosom, to the shame and
confusion of those his enemies who have so long indulged
their malignity in "falsely accusing his good conversation
in Christ." (1 Peter, iii. 16.)
Mr. M`Neile seems to have been raised up, by the good
providence of God, at an important crisis of our church, as
"a burning and a shining light," to revive the nearly dor-
mant principles of the Reformation, and to awaken us to the
danger of those insidious inroads which Popery was rapidly
making in the minds of the igno, az,t, the careless, and the
lukewarm of our population ; many of whom, even amongst
the nominal Protestants, were beginning to believe in their
hearts poor simple souls !—that the Papacy which is desig-
nated in the Word of the living God as "THE MOTHER OF
HARLOTS," and " drunken with the blood of the saints,"
(Rev. xvii. 5,6,) was, after all, but a very harmless, in-
offensive, peaceable, good sort of old woman, who, so far
from wishing to hurt a hair of the head of a "heretic," now
really considered them all as " dear Christian brethren !!"*
At such a juncture Mr. M'Neile was happily brought to
Liverpool, where, for the last eight years, he has so faithfully
and effectually "blown the trumpet" of the Gospel, and
" sounded an alarm" in our beloved Zion, that, through the
blessing of God upon his labours, sound Protestant princi-
ples have once more obtained the ascendancy, both in our
parliamentary representation and in our municipal council;
and THE BIBLE, that only true charter of our civil and
religious liberties, which had fur a little season been "cast
out as a thing of nought" from our Corporation Schools, by
" profane and impious men," has again obtained, blessed be
God 1 "free course" amongst them, " and is glorified," as it
ought to be. " What," then, " shall be done," by us, " unto
the man, whom the King of kings bath thus delighted to
honour," by making them his instrument in bringing about
this great, this glorious change ? This is the question to which
you have now called the public attention.
" To render honour to whom honour is due" is both 'the
duty and the privilege of a Christian and although we pro-
testants are not permitted to make idols of our ministers,
(like the poor misguided priest-ridden papists,) yet'we are
enjoined by the word of God to " esteem them highly"—yea,
"VERY HIGHLY in love,for their work's sake." (1 Thess.
3. 13.) Impressed, therefore, with a deep sense of this duty,
and after prayerfully weighing the subject in my mind, it has
occurred to me that there cannot be a more suitable mode o;
accomplishing it than by founding, by subscription, an an-
nual Prize Essay, in connection with that noble edifice,
(shortly about to be opened for the instruction of our youth.)
namely, the Collegiate Institution ; the essay to be called
" THE WNEILE PRIZE ESSAY ;" and the subjects to be
selected for it being exclusively directed, either to the eluci-
dation of some Protestant truth, or the exposure of some
Papal error. And should the amount of the subscriptions
be sufficient for the purpose, (as it cannot fail to be, in this
populous community, if Protestants do their duty,) it might
be desirable to appropriate a distinct Prize Essay to each of
the three schools, of whichthe Institution is to be composed.
It will also be advisable, in order that the opportunity of
contributing to this fund may be as extensive as possible,
and particularly that our Operative friends should not be ex-
cluded, that the amount of the subscriptions should go as
low as five shillings, or even hulf-a-crown and it might be
) well, as an encouragement to those who may come after us,
to have a list of the subscribers deposited with the records of
the Institution.
And now, Sir, having thus thrown out these few hints for
the consideration of the Protestants of Liverpool, I leave the
matter in their hands, humbly trusting that it will be taken
up, as it ought to be, by some persons of sufficient influence
to carry out the object with the zeal and energy, and to the
extent, which it so well deserves, and demands from them.
I would especially appeal to the congregation of St. Jude's,
as being the most intimately connected with Mr. M `Neile,
to be the foremost in the field on this memorable occasion ;
but let them quickly be "up and doing," lest the honour of
the work should be taken out of their hands, for I am per-
suaded that there are a sufficient number of "good and
true" Protestants amongst us, who will not suffer the pre-
sent opportunity to be lost ; and I may add for their encou-
ragement that there are many at this moment ready with
their sovereigns, anxiously waiting for the opportunity of
contributing to the subscription list as soon as the opening
shall be announced.
"God speed" to the cause, in the name of the
Lord,—l am, Sir, &c.,
A CATHOLIC, (but NO ROMANIST.)
P.S.—I would just notice, that the proposed public testi-
monial, need be no hindrance to any personal token of re-
gard, which it may also be thought desirable to present to
Mr. M`Neile himself.

* See the letters of Dr. Murray, the titular Archbishop of Dublin.

ALLEGED NEGLECT OF MINISTERIAL DUTY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Aware that you take a lively interest in everything
that affects the welfare of our Church Establishment, might
I solicit a corner for a very brief note in your columns of
to-morrow. But, not to be tedious, the facts are simply
these :—Yesterday morning, hearing he bell toll, I attended
a little church not quite a hundred miles from the French
prison. Having. inquired from the sexton, I was informed
that divine service would commence at eleven o'clock. A
friend kindly gave me a seat in his pew, when, after waiting
for the clergyman considerably more than half an hour, the
congregation rose simultaneously and left the church. Yet,
stranger still, not a syllable was offered by way of explana-
tion, the clerk was silent, and the sexton mute, and not one
word of apology was urged in extenuation of such culpable
negligence and heartless indifference on the part of the n2i-
nister.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
PH ILO-E PISCOPIJS.
Liverpool, 28th Nov., 1832.

INVITATION TO UNITED PRAYER, FOR THE
OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ON SUN-
DAY, IsT OF JANUARY, 1843, BEING THE FIRST

DAY OF THE NEW YEAR.

DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD,—For the SEVENTH

time, the delightful privilege is afforded to me of inviting
you to unite, on the FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, IN A
GENERAL CONCERT FOIL PRAYER FOR THE OUTPOURING
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. _ _ _

The purpose of this devotional union, as mentioned in for-
mer Invitations, is to bring the tr ne members of the mystical
body of Christ into the posture of humble suppliants before
the Throne of Grace, that, whilst offering up their prayers in
different plaCes, and following their own accustomed mode of
worship, they may with "one mind and heart" entreat our
Heavenly Father, for the sake of his dear Son, to vouchsafe
an abundant grant of his Holy Spirit in his quickening, en-
lightening. enlivening, strengthening, consoling, purifying,
and sanctifying operations ; such a grant, as may, at the
same time, quicken the dead in sin, enlighten the ignorant,
enliven the lukewarm, comfort the afflicted, str"ngthen the
weak and feeble-minded, and purify and sanctify the whole
body of Christ. If any should inquire, wherefore are the
true followers of Christ so earnest for such a union, I would
very respectfully refer them for more detailed proofs to a
small pamphlet entitled "Thoughts on the importance of
Special Prayer for the general Outpouring of the Holy Spirit,"
of which nearly 100,000 copies have been printed and circu-
lated.*
I feel especially encouraged to renew this Invitation, from
the widely extending circle through which the Invitation for
the year now present was spread, and the greatly increasing
numbers who, by the Divine blessing, cordially entered into
' this devotional concert.
Intelligence to this effect has been received from many
parts of Great Britain and Ireland—from the Continent of
Europe—from Canada—from the United States of America,
the East and the West Indies, and the Mediterranean.
In many of these countries, the Invitation was reprinted
and published, either as a separate tract, or in daily or weekly
local journals, or periodical religious publications. In our
own metropolis, one bookseller sold between 12 and 13,000
copies, exclusive of those published in our large towns, and
in the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin.
Whilst encouraged by these tokens of the Divine goodness,
I the more readily present this SEVENTH Invitation, as the
year into which, if the Lord permit, we are about to enter,
reminds us of the Sabbatical year—the year 1843 commen-
cing.and terminating with the holy Sabbath of God—so that
we shall awake on the first morning of the year, as our first
parents did at their creation, at the dawn of that day which
the Lord has blessed.—May it indeed prove a most blessed
Sabbath!
This New Year's Day will also be the Sabbath on which

we commemorate the Circumcision of Christ, when our Lord
took the name so peculiarly dear to every sincere Christian,
" His name shall be called JEsus, for be shall save his peo-
ple from their sins ;"—a day, therefore, especially calculated
to encourage our hopes, since it not only reminds us of the
ineffable love of God in the gift of his only begotten Son,
but of that gracious declaration of the apostle, " that Jesus
Christ was a minister of the circumcision to confirm the pro-
mises made unto the Fathers ; and that the Gentiles might
glorify God for his mercy :"—thus assuring us that, in this
respect, there is " no difference between the Jew and the
Greek ;" that the same Lord is nigh unto all that call upon
him, fur whosoever " shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved." _ _ _

A day, also, when prayer for the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit is peculiarly appropriate, since, on the day we com-
memorate the circumcision of Christ, the fathers of our
church have directed us to offer up this devout prayer :

- -
" Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be cir-
cumcisecl, and obedient to the law for man, grant us the true
circumcision of the Spirit, that our hearts and all our mem-
_ _

hers being mortified from all carnal and worldly lusts, we may
in all things obey thy blessed will, through Jesus Christ, our
Lord."

Our Protestant forefathers thus teaching us, that it is by
the active power and energy of the Holy Spirit alone that
any grace can be wrought in us, or exercised by us.
Entering upon the new year in such happy circumstances,
I feel particularly encouraged in presenting this Invitation;
and trust that, as we are " not straitened in the Lord," we
shall not " be straitened in ourselves ;" but, putting away
every thought which might excite division, we shall approach
the Throne of Grace as one family, entreating our Heavenly
Father " to open the windows of heaven, and pour out such
a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
And surely, my Christian brethren, such a devout union
is especially called for at this moment. For, reflect upon
the state of our own highly favoured country. What, alas !
is the position of the Established Churches of England and
Scotland at this time? Instead of the members being, as it
is most important they should be, in these days of rebuke
and blasphemy, a united body of Christian men, like compact
armed columns, ready to follow the great " Captain of our
Salvation" " in that war which the wicked are about to make
with the Lamb," we are, alas, torn with divisions. So that,
in the Church of England, when the under-shepherds desire
to follow, as it is their duty and privilege to do, the godly
counsel of their spiritual rulers, and to instruct-their flocks
upon those subjects which are now so much discussed, they
find, alas ! "the Trumpet giving an uncertain sound :" that,
if they bring forward the Scriptural Charges of many of our
Bishops to warn their people against prevailing errors, they
are met, alas, by the charges of others, who hold very differ-
ent language. We find, also, that such, alas, is the extent
of the unsound tenets put forth upon some of the first prin-
ciples of the Gospel, and so great the deference paid to ex-
ternal things of comparatively very trivial importance, that,
in these " perilous times," when we need such counsels as
the Apostle St. Paul gave to his son Timothy : " I charge
thee, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom ;
PREACH THE WORD ; be instant in season, out of season ;"
or, as he wrote to the Ephesians, when reminding them with
whom they had to contend, " Take unto you the whole ar-
mour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having
your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-
plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preps-
-1 ration of the Gospel of peace; and, above all, taking the
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked." Instead of these heart-inspiriting
counsels, it is deemed necessary to address the clergy upon
the first principles of the Gospel, and even to instruct them
in the vestments they are to use when performing the services
of the sanctuary.
Sorely such a state of things is a call for prayer, for a
larger measure of "'the Spirit of wisdom, and counsel, and
godly fear :" the Spirit of power and of love, and of a sound
mind," that "we may lay to heart the great danger we are
in by our unhappy divisions; and that the Lord may take
away whatsoever may hinder us from godly union and con-
cord : so that we may henceforth be all of one heart and of
one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith
y, with one mind and one mouth, glorify and charity, and ma
God through Jesus Christ our Lord."t
Then regard the Church of Scotland. There, alas !as is
too well known, the enemy has been setting brother against
brother, and this at the very time when those four great
schemes—for Church extension—scriptural education—the
conversion of the Jews—and the sending the Gospel to the
heathen—were beginning to prosper. Who does not sympa-
thise with the faithful in these trying circumstances? And
who would not entreat the God of peace and love to grant
such a measure of that wisdom which cometh from above,
that such a course of action may be suggested, and agreed
upon, as will overcome every difficulty ; and enable those
who have the rule, to come together, every wound healed,
every jarring sentiment put away, every unkind thought dis-
missed, and in the spirit of " the general assembly and
church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven,"
in such harmonious concord, that all who see them may say,
" See how these Christians love."
Such united prayer for our Established Churches is the
more peculiarly called for at the commencement of the new
year; as her Majesty's ministers have made known their in-
tention to bring forward those measures in which the spiritual
welfare of both churches are so deeply involved.
Oh ! surely every Christian patriot will fervently pray that
He, "by whom kings rule and princes decree justice, may
specially guide her Majesty's counsels at this important
crisis ; and that when the eyes of all the nations are turned
towards our country, they may deeply reflect upon the re-
sponsible position in which, as " the Protestant nation," we
are placed, and seek to advance His glory who is " King of
kings, and Lord of lords."
Another reason for this devout union is, the peculiar cir-
cumstances in which the Lord's ancient people, the Jews,
are now placed. A converted Israelite has been consecrated
Bishop of the Church of England and Ireland in Jerusalem,
has arrived there, and is now exercising his episcopal func-
tions. He has laid the foundation-stone of a Protestant
Church on Mount Zion, and has preached the glad tidings
of the Gospel in the Holy City. Unconverted Jews are also
beginning to return ; and a wealthy Israelite has purchased
land, and begun to build in another quarter.
The attentive reader of the prophetic Scriptures will see
that it is the rebuilding of Jerusalem, so as to make it at-
tractive to a northern invader coming down to make a spoil
(see Ezek. xxxviii. and xxxix.), which will lead to the
gathering of the nations, to the battle of Armageddon, and
those other great events which are predicted by the Prophets
(see Joel iii.: Zech. xii. xiv. ; Rev. xvi. 12-21.)
The new circumstances, therefore, in which Jerusalem is
now placed may be termed a note of warning, saying to all
the Gentile nations: " PREPARE TO MEET YOUR Gon."
There are other very important calls for prayer : for still,
alas, infidelity stalks abroad; still nominal Christianity pre-
vails; still the Eastern churches are unrevived ; still the
Church of Rome is in great activity; still Mahomedan im-
posture holds its sway ; and still innumerable multitudes in
Heathen lands are bowing down to idols. Entreating you to
bear these and other interesting topics in remembrance, 1
would again affectionately invite all who love our Lord Jesus
in sincerity, to commence the New Year by uniting in THE
GENERAL CONCERT FOR PRAYER, FOR THE OUTPOURING OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT, ON SUNDAY, THE Ist JANUARY, 1843.
The following suggestions are respectfully offered, to assist
them in this devotional concert :
Ist. Let Christians follow the example of our blessed Lord
(Mark i. 25), who rose up a great while before day for secret
prayer. Let them thus secure the blessing of him who says,
" Pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
2nd. Let them call upon the Lord in their families, for his
Spirit to he poured upon themselves end their households,
y, the ministers of the Lord.
remnant of scattered Judah and
rthheei churches
hurches of neighbours,
htrhiseti!
tchoeun tr
outcast Israel, and upon the Gentile world.
3rd. Let suitabie sermons he preached, and the opportu-
nities which the Sabbath affords for Divine Worship, and the
assembling the congregation, be specially improved.
4th. Let the ministers of the Lord meet on the following
day, with their brethren of their own communicne in earnest
prayer for themselves, their flocki, the whole body of Christ,
and the world at large' and then specially consult together
upon the most effectual means for hastening the coming. of
the Lord's kingdom, and particularly for the continuance of
such a general concert for prayer, that the year may proceed
according to this devout commencement.
May the Lord accompany
these means of grace, or such
others as may be adopted, with his abundant blessing. Oh
nosy it indeed be a season of special refreshment from the
presence of the Lord.
Let this be the prayer of all who read this paper; and as
the new year is now approaching, it would be
.a great kind-
ness if those who approve the object,.and have influence over
the press, would re-publish and
may Yaks FULL
circulate this invitation,
which which any one, into whose hands it fall,
PERMISSION TO DO.
Lied I:ervant in the
Peace be with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity.
Thus prays their affectionate brother
Lord,
JAMES HALDANE STEWART.
St. Bride's, Liisrpool.

P.S.—Since the above " Invitation " was first sent to the
press, the official accounts from China and Affghanistan have
arrived, affording not only special cause for thanksgiving to
Almighty God for our success, but for earnest prayer that
these singularly providential openings for the spread of the
Gospel way be improved.

* Published by the Religious Tract Society.
t See prayer used on the Queen's Accession.

, •

The Rev. J. R. Beard, D.D., of Manchester, has recently
received a diploma, constituting him an ordinary member of
the Leipsic Historico-Theological Society, founded in the
year 1814, and confirmed by royal authority 1830; which
reckons among its members many of the first scholars and
theologians of Germany.