The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-19 00:00:00

pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the
remnant of his heritage ? he retaineth not his anger for ever
because he delighteth in mercy." That is his glory : he is a
God that pardoneth iniquity. Does he not then describe the
plenitude of his pardoning grace in the strongest figure that
earth can furnish—that he will cast the sins of his people be-
hind his back, that he will cast them in the depths of the sea ?
" He will turn again, he will have compassion upoh us ; he
will subdue our iniquities, and then cast all their sins into
the depths of the sea." Does he not assure us "he has
blotted out our transgression as a cloud, and our iniquities as
a thick cloud?" Where, then, is there room for further
punishment ? Where are the tortures of purgatory ; May
we not gladly say with the Apostle:" Who shall lay any
thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that
justifieth ; who is he that condemneth." "It is Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh interces-
sion for us." We therefore in tot° reprobate the doctrine
that there is any reservation of temporary punishment, for,
surely if the grace of God is free to forgive men everlasting
punishment, it is free to forgive men temporal punishments.
If it forgive the greater, why not forgive the less? Will God
dishonour the glory of his grace by reserving temporary
punishment, when he has delivered from everlasting woe?
The very thought is abhorrent to our ideas of God, and of
the glory of the gospel which he has given to poor fallen
sinners. So my christian friends I would further say, that
the idea of temporal punishment receives no sanction what-
ever in such expressions as these, where it is said, " Whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every sin
whom he receiveth." We admit that while God pardons his
people, he punishes guilty backsliders, but what then ? Not
in the way of satisfaction to his ju6tice, not in the way of ex-
piation for iniquity, not in the way of making a supplement
to the finished work of Christ; but simply in the way of a
father's discipline. The corrections given are not therefore
by way of satisfaction, but by way of sanctification ; they
are blessings intended to be the means in his fatherly hands
of restorinc, our souls to everlasting health.
But we object equally, earnestly, and entirely to the doc-
trine of purgatory, because it dishonours the finished work
of Christ. There is now no. condemnation to them who
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after
the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Free
from all sin ; therefore no speck, not a stain is left to be ex-
piated in the purgatorial fire. He is said to be " the Lord
our righteousness, Jehovah our righteousness." What room
can there be for aught to be added to it ; what reason can
there be for ought to be diminished from it? So again our
blessed Redeemer is represented as saying to the sinners that
came to him—" Son (or daughter) thy sins be forgiven thee,
go in peace." But would the poor penitent go in peace if he
thought he was to enter upon the dark dreary dungeons of a
horrible purgatory? Can the Redeemer mock his people by
thus pretending entirely to forgive, and yet reserve a dark
measure of punishment beyond the grave? Oh, shame,
shame upon those that thus dim the lustre of the crown of
redemption upon his brow, that thus tarnish his brightest
attribute, the fulness and freeness of his forgiveness through
his own blood !

My christian friends it cannot but be conceived that the
dishonour done to the Saviour is still more deep and awful,
when we remember that deliverances from the pains of pur-
gatory are ascribed to the masses, and prayers, and interces-
sions of mortal men, in so much as they are to proceed from
the authority of men paid for the purpose, who say masses,
and offer up intercessions for the spirits in purgatory, and
that these will avail for their deliverance? _

But we equally denounce also the doctrine of purgatory as
in the face of Scripture, upon the ground that it entirely con-
tradicts the declarations o'f the Word of God, touching the
immediate transition of the spirit of the just to the bosom of
his God. " To-day," said our Divine Master to the penitent
thief upon the cross, " shalt thou be with me in paradise."
Surely if there was ever one that deserved to pass through the
purgatorial purifications it must have been one thus plucked
from the very verge of hell, with all his sins up to that time,
upon his soul. 1 say if there was any one in need of purga-
torial purifications it must have been he; yet Christ said not
" thou shall this day go with me into purgatory," but " this
day shalt thou be with me in paradise." How noble the tri-
umph ! He took him at once from the cross of shame to the
throne of glory, the first fruits as it were of his power upon
earth to forgive sins. Then, my Christian friends, look at other
passages of similar import. Paul says, and not for himself
alone, for he might appear exempt from the ordinary fate of the
saints—" We are confident 1 say, and willing rather to he
absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
There is no intermediate state here : the transition is at once
from the earthly house of the tabernacle to the bosom of the
Redeemer in heaven. The same truth is taught us in the
parable of the rich man and Lazarus : there was no interme-
diate state there. The beggar died, and angels carried him
into Abraham's bosom : the rich man also died, and when in
hell he lifted up his eyes in torments, but he could not pass
from thence to heaven, nor could Lazarus pass from heaven
to him. Their state was fixed for ever. Is not Scripture
then always the same? " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to
do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device,
nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou
goest"—" Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the
day of salvation." Blessed hope of the child of God ! At
once he leaves his tenement of clay, at once he wakes up in
the presence of the Saviour, amid the spirits of the just made
perfect ! Oh, let not the dark clouds of purgatory intervene
between the death of the believer and the presence of his
Lord and Master!
We reject, finally, the doctrine of purgatory, because it
places into the hands of the priesthood of Rome—of a poor
fallible worm like ourselves—a terrific power that has a most
mischievous and mercenary tendency. Take away purgatory
from the Church of Rome, I say again, and you take away
the most fertile source of her gains, the most fearful sword
that she brandishes over the crushed spirits of her votaries ;
you take away, in short, that which forms the very pivot
upon which her terrible power turns. Take away purgatory,
do away with masses for the dead, prayers and intercessions
for the departed, and you take away the gains of the priest-
hood—for, no money no mass, and no mass no money. It is
a terrific truth, that this doctrine of the Church of Rome is
not a mere harmless theory, is not a mere day-dream, is not
a mere notion, that we may let alone as of no practical im-
port or of no practical avail; it is a doctrine that is wielded
with fearfully practical power by the crafty priesthood of
Rome. Therefore, my Christian friends, the doctrine of
purgatory, connected as it is with, and based upon, the dis-
tinction of venial and mortal sin, the distinction between
pardon for it and temporary punishment we have proved to
be unsupported by Scripture, and to be opposed to Scripture
by a variety of Scriptural arguments levelled to the simplest
mind, and so clear and unequivocal, that I do not see how
any Romanist can resist them. In bringing, then, this mat-
ter to a close, suffer me to remind you, as members of the
Reformed Catholic Church of England, that if you are such,
not in name and profession only, but in spirit and in truth,
you may go to your homes, and lay upon your pillows to-
night with renewed gratitude and joyfulness for the liberty
wherewith Christ bath made you free. The rev. gentleman
then drew an eloquent comparison between the departure of
the Protestant in the full assurance of immediate reception
into his Saviour's bosom, and that of the poor Roman
Catholic dying in the expectation of going through the pur-
gatorial purification. It brought to his recollection the
verses of our early childhood,—

How fine has the day been I How bright was the sun !
How lovely and joyful the course that he run !
Though he rose in a mist when his race he begun,
And there followed some droppings of rain :
But now the fair traveller comes to the west,
His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best,
He paints the sky gay as he sinks to his rest,
And foretells a bright rising again.

Just such is the Christian. His course he begins,
Like the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins,
And melts into tears : then he breaks out and shines,
And travels his heavenly way :
But when he comes nearer to finish his race,
Like a fine setting sun, he looks richer in grace,
And gives a sure hope, at the end of his days,
Of rising in brighter array !
Yes, my friends, be added, this is the beautiful departure of the
child of God, like the summer's sun setting in cloudless radi-
ence, and leaving his perpetual track along the ocean and
athwart the heavens ; but the departure of the saint of the
Church of Rome is, at the best, but as the sun going down
upon some wild and stormy evening, amidst the fitful Blooms
of uncertain night, and with dark shadows brooding about his
departure. Thanks 'be to God who giveth us the victory, not
partial, not marred, not alloyed, but the fulness of unclouded
victory through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Cheers.)
The rev. gentleman then resumed his seat amidst loud ap-
plause.
The Rev. Dr. TArrEusnALL, seconded by Mr. JOHN
HOWARD, moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Stowell, for his
able and eloquent lecture. The motion was carried by accla-
mation.
The doxology, " Praise God, from whom all blessings
flow," was then sung ; and a blessing having been pro-
nounyed, the meeting separated.

LIVERPOOL EASTER SESSIONS.-FRIDAY

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN-COUNCIL

Yesterday a special meeting of the Town-council was held
for the purpose of giving the necessary notices for holding a
market from Monument-place to Burgess-street, for the sale

of hay and straw, and to confirm a bye-law of the Finance
Committee substituting a coach stand in Stafford-street and
another in Burgess-street, for the one now used in London-
road. The Mayor presided.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said, the Finance Committee, for
the purpose of carrying out the wishes of the council, with a
view of removing the haymarket to Monument-place, had
meant to pass a bye-law, removing the present site of the
hackney-coach stand which now occupied that site to another
.a little further down. In the Finance Committee was placed
the power of making bye-laws for this purpose, and they
considered they were justified in recommending the council
to discountenance the existing stand, and substituting in its
place a stand in Norton-street and Lorebert-street. There
would be room for nine carriages ; arid lie moved that there
be a stand for nine carriages there instead of the one to be
displaced. This, however, was merely to afford room for the
experiment of the haymarket in Monumnt-place.
The TOWN-CLERK read the bye•law passed by the Finance
Committee. It stated that the coach-stand in Monument-
place should be discontinued from the Ist of May, and sub-
stituted the place already named.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE observed that this bye-law of the
Finance Committee related only to the coach-stand; and
that it was for the council to appropriate the land for the
hay market.

The TOWN-CLERK then described the plan for the hay-
market. The land proposed for the new haymarket com-
menced at a line drawn from the westward corner of Audley-

street to the western corner of Moor-place, which was above
the Monument. It ran 34 yards westwardly until it was at a
distance of 18 yards from the eastern corner of Stafford-
street; it then ran 69 yards, till it was 17 yards from the
east corner of Lambert-street ; and from the line extending
from the west side of Audley-street to the west side of Moor-
place, to the distance of 19 yards from the west corner of
Moor-place, it ran in a straight line through London-road
for 127 yards, where it stopped at the distance of 15 yards
from the east corner of Hart-street. At its termination it
would be 15 yards wide ; at its commencement above the
Monument, 50 yards.

Mr. PARKER inquired what was the area ?
The MAYOR replied that it had not been computed yet.
The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK, after having inquired from
the Surveyor, said it was 3,962 square yards.
IVlr. Alderman EARLE asked how many carts it would
hold ?

The TOWN-CLERK then read the document of appropria-
tion of the site for the haymarket.

Mr. PLATT asked whether it was intended to abandon the
south market.

The .TOWN-CLERK replied in the negative; it was the in-
tention to have three markets.

Mr. H. HOLMES.-It is merely an experiment, is it not?
Mr. RIGBY thought the south market had abandoned
itself.

Mr. PARKER asked whether he was to understand that
the bye-laws just brought in were to have the sense of the
council taken upon them ? _ _

MAYOR said some one would move them

The TOWN-CLERK said the bye-laws as they stood for
coaches were passed by the Finance Committee, under the
general authority of the council, and in pursuance of the
directions of the council that they should discontinue the
stand in London-road, and appoint another place. But with
regard to the appropriation of a market-place, that was an
act which rested altogether in the council. The council,
however, had determined they would appropriate a place in
London-road for this market.

The MAYOR.—As an experiment?
Mr. G. IL LAWRENCE said this was a pro forma meeting
for that purpose ; and they could not discuss the question
whether the market should be held in that situation.

Mr. PARKER had not risen to discuss the question whether
the market should.be removed, but merely to ask for infor-
mation with regard to the alterations of the coach stand.
The chairman of the Finance Committee had come down
with a plan, which was to be settled by this pro forma

meeting.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the Finance Committee had
power already.

Mr. PARKER.—Then I shall say no more

Mr. JORDAN begged, as an indfvidual, to enter his protest
against the removal of the haymarket into London-road. Ha
had been a member of the Markets Committee ten years
before the erection of his Majesty's statue in that place, and
he would never consent to it.
The MAYOR said the council had not now to discuss the
propriety of changing the market ; they had decided that
already.

MrjJORDAN.-All 1 wish is, that my opposition may be

. _
recorded.
The MAYOR.—But we have already decided.
Mr. JOHN SMITH.—Mr. Jordan had better enter his pro-
test in writing in the minutes of the council.
Mr. JORDAN meant that he protested to the gentlemen of
the public press. _ _ .

Mr...klderman EARLE.—Had you not an opportunity of
protesting against it at the last meeting?
Mr. JORDAN.—I had not, sir. It will be a disgrace to
the town to see hay and straw sold there. It is a street

entrance.
Mr. PARKER said the last council had been completely
taken by surprise ; and he would like the chairman of the
Markets' Committee to tell them what accommodation there
was for the farmers.
The MAYOR.—Why at the last council it was decided,
upon a division, that there would be.
Mr. JAMES LAWRENCE said that every question which
was then asked of the Market Committee they answered.
The MAYOR repeated that it was too late to re-open a
discussion on the removal.
Mr. PARKER.—AIIow me to say that I should have been
furnished with two or three memorials had that been known ;
but, of course, if I can do nothing, I must
Mr. H. HOLMES.-Sit down. (Laughter.)
Mr. GLADSTONE.-Mr. Mayor, are we to decide upon
this appropriation without hearing one single argument?
The MAYOR.—You had arguments at the last council,
and you then decided to make the experiment.
Mr. GLADSTONE thought there were a great many, and
decided arguments too, against the appropriation ; but if
they were not to hear arguments and reasons in favour of
the appropriation, he should not condescend to state his
reasons for opposing it. He would merely move that the
consideration of it be postponed.
Mr. JORDAN.-I second it.

Mr. ROBINSON said the council had power to postpone
the consideratron for six months, which would settle the
question.
Mr. Alderman EVANS contended that Abundance of rea-
sons had been urged at the last council for the appropriation,
for the debate occupied a considerable time. A number of
gentlemen had come now in the expectation of not being de-
tained to discuss a subject which had been discussed already.

Mr. PnocToß.--Then I should like to know what we are
here for?
The MAYOR.—To carry into effect a decision of the last
council.

Mr. Alderman EVANS.—We are here to give a legal cha-
racter to the decision of the previous council.
Mr. PROCTOR said they were there as mere automatons. if
they were not allowed to discuss the subject.
The MAYOR repeated that the council had been called to
appropriate part of London-road fora market.
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—I must protest against being
called an automaton. if the gentleman thinks himself one
it is very well.

The TOWN-CLERK entered into an explanation of the exact
position of the question. At the last council the Markets
Committee reported as follows :—" Resolved, that it be re-
commended, as an experiment, to authorise the selling of hay
and straw in part of London-road, near the Monument, subject
to the usual toll." The council came to the determination,
upon a division, to approve of the recommendation of the
Markets Committee; and then, by a standing order, the re-
solution of the council approving of the recommendation of
the Markets Committee could not be rescinded or varied ex-
cept upon motion, made by notice, which should specify the
object and refer to the resolution to be rescinded or varied.
Therefore, this vote of the council stood obligatory upon the
council, according to the standing orders, unless notice had
been given, specifying the resolution, and stating the object
to be to have the resolution rescinded or varied. Then the
object of the meeting to day was for the council to carry that
resolution into effect, namely, by adopting the arrangements
to be legally advised. Those arrangements required that
there should be a formal appropriation of the land to be used
for the sale of hay and straw by farmers, subject to the usual
toll. That was the business of the council to-day ; and in
order to clear the way for making those legal arrangements
with regard to the appropriation of the market, they were
furnished with bye-laws on the part of the Finance Commit-
tee, by which, under the power vested in them, they could
remove the stand for coaches in that place.
Mr. PLATT asked whether any time was mentioned for its
continuance, as it was only an experiment?
The TOWN-CLERK said, the period for the appropriation
was left blank. _ _

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said, that was not what Mr. Platt
meant.

Mr. BIRKETT could not see, with Mr. Gladstone, why this
subject should not be postponed for a month. If it could
not, he agreed with Mr. Procter, although he voted for it ; if
it could not be postponed for a month or any other time he
thought they had been called together to very little purpose.
It would enable him (Mr. Gladstone) or any other member
of the council to give notice, that the order passed at the last
council should be rescinded. He (Mr. Birkett) did not mean
to say he should vote for it ; but he wanted to know whether
Mr. Gladstone could move or not a postponement of the
question.
The TOWN-CLERK.—It rests with the council to proceed
with the appropriation or adjourn it, as they think proper.
Mr. BIRKETT.—Then Mr. Gladstone is in order.

Mr. GLADSTONE then moved, and Mr. JORDAN seconded,
an amendment, that the consideration of the appropriation
be postponed.
Mr. PARKER said, be should support the amendment on
the ground that the council had been taken by surprise.
The MAYOR.YOI.I. cannot say that, I think.
Mr. PARKER, in continuation, said, that had there been a
little more time given, he should have been put in possession
of memorials against the appropriation from the inhabitants
round the monument. There were between forty and fifty
houses there the rent of which was £5O a-year, which would
be destroyed by this experimental market. lie was prepared
to prove that the experimental market would only accommo-
date about forty loads of hay.
Mr. KILSHANV .—That is above the monument.
Mr. PARKER.—It would only accommodate about 40 loads
of hay, while thousands of pounds worth of property would
be injured, for the private houses he had spoken of could
not be occupied as private houses when the market was es-
tablished. It was now an open square from the top, but
the owners of those houses must, if the market were brought
there, convert them into shops, in order to make their money
of their property. But, said the gentlemen who advocated
this, " It is merely an experiment ; ' so in order to carry out
this " experiment," an immense amount of property must
besacrificed, just to please the whim of the Market Com-
mittee. Now that was a great hardship. Had they come
forward and at once have said they intended to make into a
permanent market, the objection would not have held.
The MAYOR repeated that all this had been discussed be-
fore, and could not be again entered into. The simple ques-
tion was, whether this land should be appropriated or not.
Mr. PARKER.—Then I shall support the amendment.
The council then divided, when there appeared--
For the amendment ..... 22
Against it

Majority for the amendment 7
For.—Councillors Shaw, Houghton, Preston, Edwards,
Blundell, H. Holmes, J. Holmes, Robinson, Wood, Birkett,
Gladstone, Procter, Parker, Trotman, Jordan, Platt, A.
Smith, jun., Mather, Harbord ; Aldermen Griffith, Chilton
and the Mayor-22.
Against.—Councillors Sandbach, Copeland, Priestley, J.
Lawrence, Cooper, Lloyd, Rigby, Kilshaw, J. Smith, G. 11.
Lawrence ; Aldermen Bailey, Evans, Earle, R. Houghton,
and Molyneux—ls.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the next subject for consider-
ation was the particular day to which this matter should be
postponed.
Mr. ROBINSON suggested it should be this day six months.
Mr. GLADSTONE said his object was that what he had
stated the Council should carry out. He thought it right
that sheds should be put upon the south market. They
might cost some £2OO or £3OO, but it was due to the public
that the heavy outlay which the Corporation had been at in
that place should not be abandoned till it had had every pos-
sible chance. If, after having tried every means to make,it
answer, it did not answer, he should be an advocate for try-
ing London-road or some other place. He might as well
take that opportunity of stating that he thought it extremely

Standard-office, Eleven o'clock

--um.-

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-LAST NIGHT

Sir R. PEEL said he held in his hand the Property Tax
Bill—(hear, hear)—which the right hon. baronet brought up,
Ind its title was read by the clerk at the table.
The SPEAKER then put the question, that this bill be read
► first time, on which Mr. WASON, Mr. \WALLACE, and
Lord J. ItUSSLLL rose, but the SPEAKER called upon the
atter.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose, and alluded to the mis-
understanding in the committee of ways and means, through
which the resolutions affirming the income tax had passed
through the house without a division. He then stated that
there were no circumstances in the general state of the
country to justify so extreme a measure as the income tax,
and referred to a speech of Sir Robert Peel's, in 1833, in
which, the speaker alleged, the right hon. baronet had argued
that it would be unjust to enforce an income tax on England
and Scotland whilst Ireland was exempted. His lordship
then stated that the three kingdoms were in a state of perfect
tranquillity. There was no difficulty to contend with in
Canada. The present state of India did not justify the im-
position of an income tax. There was no need to be under
any apprehension from China, for the only expense in con-
nection with that country arose from the expedition. His
lordship referred to the tariff, to the general principles of
which lie approved. He moved, in conclusion, " that the
bill be read this day six months."

Sir ROBERT PEEL then commenced to reply to the noble
lord, and was _ _ _

[Left speaking.]

LONGFORD ELECTION.

The committee appointed to inquire into this election have
reported that Luke White, Esq. had not been duly electet
for the county of Lonford, and that Anthony Lefroy ought
to have been returned. This is a gain of two votes on
division to the conservatives. The committee also repartee
that it was absolutely necessary to pass without delay some
declaratory act with respect to the question of opening tin
registry in Ireland.