Two Addresses. N. Rigby
chickens just hatching, and that he came to break our spiritual shells, that he might save the young birds, from being thrown into the scorching flames of Purgatory in the next world, but while the courteous Clerk, was performing this charitable office, to the benighted Romanists, he, himself, unfortunately, even in this world, fell into the flames of purgatory, which on this side the grave are made to burn, for those who bear false witness, against their neighbour; and it is generally believed, that he has never as yet been able to raise, from public opinion, as much money as will free him, from those torturing purgatorial flames. Oh, but you will naturally say, this is an old song, what has it to do with the present subject? Why, it has a great deal to do with it. Certain Reverends have been lately telling you, that the Pope of Rome, has just made a most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement," on the Protestants of England. Now you will perhaps find, from my Address, when published, that even these very Reverends themselves have been making, for a long time, a most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the pockets and on the intellects of Englishmen; and have thus, like the illuminated Cambridge divine, unfortunately fallen into the very pit, which they have been so very charitably, and officiously digging for the poor Pope.
Sensible Englishmen, when these Reverends, would uncharitably excite you against your long much injured, and unjustly abused Catholic fellow creatures, just say to them, "Reverend gentlemen, you tell us that the Scripture (the book of eternal life and of truth), teaches Charity to all Men! why, therefore, should you wish us to exclude the Catholics from a share of that universal Charity?" And in the next place tell them, "the Pope and all his spiritual crew are either from God or not: if they are not from God, all their human, and popish inventions will come of themselves to naught, and why, therefore, should you wish us Protestants, to break our charitable heads about them. But if they are from God, how can either you or we fight against them, unless you arrogantly presume, that you can conquer the Almighty! At least, so teaches the sacred Scripture, for does it not thus plainly, and emphatically say, 'And now therefore I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God.'" (Acts v. 38, 39.)
As I have been obliged to range in my address, over an extensive spiritual and temporal moor, and as I have had to bring down, and bag so much black game, of course my Address, will be of rather an extensive nature. It is, indeed, now in the press, but of course its appearance will, in some measure, depend upon the expedition of the printer, but I will promise you, that it shall be got out of the printer's hands as soon as possible, and then, it must appeal to the judgments of sensible and unbiassed minds, as to its merits, and demerits. In the mean time, as Englishmen always wish to know the text, I will give you the two texts, which I have chosen for the titlepage of my Address.
"I would you had been there to see
How the light blazed up so gloriously."
"And then in naked Majesty,
With brow serene, and beaming placid light,
Came truth."
Inhabitants, in conclusion, I confidently appeal to you, if you ever knew me do an ungenteel act to any Protestant in point of religion. I have always wished equal rights and equal justice for all, both for Protestants and Dissenters; I have always wished to live in peace and charity with all; in short, I have always endeavoured to observe, as far as my human weakness would allow, that heavenly precept of our divine Saviour, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another;" and I can confidently appeal to the public, if this has not always been the tenor of my conduct. I assure you, that it is very contrary to my wishes, to have to appear before you, with my pen on these occasions. Among the Protestants I have many sincere friends, and of course, what I shall have to advance in my Address, may not be very agreeable to their feelings. But as I really know, and conscientiously believe, that the Church, of which I have the honour to be a minister, is really the true Church of Christ, to shrink from its defence for the sake of private feelings, and private interests, would, in my ideas, be a most base and an unchristian act on my part. I exclaim with the poet,
"A day, an hour of virtuous liberty,
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage."
Farewell, inhabitants, for the present, and if, when my Address appears before the public, you would like to have a little innocent merriment, and to hear some plain homely truths, I hope you will not be disappointed if you purchase my Address.
Catholic Chapel, Ugthorp, Dec. 21st, 1850.
COPY OF A NOTICE
To the Worshipful the Magistrates for the Division of Whitby, in the North Riding of the County of York.
We, the undersigned Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood of Whitby, feeling deeply the propriety of presenting an address to Her Majesty, on the late extraordinary and presumptuous movement on the part of the Bishop of Rome, and expressive of our loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty's person, authority, and government, do request that you will be pleased to convene a Meeting for these purposes, to be held at an early day, in some convenient place in the town of Whitby.
Dated, November 21st, 1850.
| James Davidson, Minister, | ||
| John Fox, Minister, | ||
| Joseph Hughes, Minister, | ||
| Francis Simpson, | ||
| John Cass Potter, Independent Minister, | ||
| Henry Belcher, | ||
| William John Bullivant, Wesleyan Minister, | ||
| Thomas William Belcher, | ||
| Thomas Richardson, | ||
| John Blanchard, | ||
| Appleton Stephenson, | ||
| James Walker, | ||
| John Chapman, | ||
| G. H. Holtby, | ||
| Gideon Smales, | ||
| William Jameson, | ||
| Henry Barrick, | ||
| Henry Simpson, | ||
| John Brewster, | ||
| John Rickinson, | ||
| George Clarkson, | ||
| James Wilkinson, | } | Churchwardens |
| Charles Fisher, | ||
| William Frankland, | ||
| Thomas Broderick Simpson, | ||
| Henry Simpson, | ||
| William Cavalier, | ||
| John Corner, jun. | ||
| James Brown, | ||
| Charles Prudom, | ||
| John Brown Nicholson, | ||
|
R. M. Woodwark,
| ||