class me among those that are "busy-bodies in other men's matters." And, as Mr. Oxenham speaks with confidence as to the truth of his charge, none of his readers (he being professedly a preacher of the Gospel) could of course suspect for a moment that he was uttering falsehood while he was making such a serious charge against me; for his allegations are absolute, and without hesitation as to the truth of them. His style gives them an appearance of truth, by speaking in so positive a manner. But let us search, and see if these things are so.

When I read the above quotation in one of the Author's polluted pages, how ashamed I felt for him, particularly in his assumed character of a preacher and teacher of others, and more particularly as he once walked in communion and fellowship with our late revered pastor, the Rev. William Huntington, and in different parts of this publication attempts to shield himself under the countenance and approbation of that eminent servant of Christ, affecting to pay great deference to his judgment: but, though that truly great and blessed man did for a considerable time countenance him, thinking and speaking favourably of him, and employing him occasionally as an assistant preacher; yet, from circumstances that afterwards transpired, he was induced to change his judgment respecting him, so as to cast him off; and for many years before he died never would have any thing more to do with him; he is therefore himself a living witness, and capable of contradicting what he asserts respecting Mr. Huntington in pages 25 and 26. And, had Mr. H H- -n been still last publication of his, how would

living, and seen this

he have despised the principle and spirit under which

it was written! And how would it have confirmed his judgment in having previously rejected him.

"As

But to resume my subject. Our author says, soon as it was rumoured that the poor old mangler was coming again to preach in London, many rejoiced." Well, be it so, I will not contradict what I cannot disprove. But this we know, that many rejoice in a thing of nought. But " at the time appointed the chapel was crowded to excess, whilst the old chapel, where the great Mr. Goulding is ruler, was so thin that a little child might count them," (leaving us to conjecture that the chapels were of equal size.) I must again assent to this part of his narrative, though I place but little confidence in any thing he says. We must however presume that the little child's capacity was equal to his own, and then the wonder of the thing ceases. But further. A very large congregation in this lamentable state of the church is to me no proof that the best means must be there; for our Lord says of the general profession of the Sardian church-state, "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead;" and informs us likewise, that the true church is comprised in a very small compass, designated by "a few names, even in Sardis." Numbers therefore, I humbly conceive, do not furnish a correct rule of judging of the true church of Christ.

But again. "This so stirred up the envy of this great man, that shortly after he comes to Grantham," &c. That" the poor old mangler's" coming to preach should have had such an effect upon me is truly astonishing, being ignorant of the circumstance till I saw his publication. And I can assure him that I never saw any thing in the poor old mangler" to excite my envy for

a moment, neither as a man, a professor, or a preacher; indeed he is the last man, I think, of all the human race, to excite envy in any Christian, if the "Tidings from Grantham" are to decide the point. If out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, or the pen writes, what a heart must the Author of these "Tidings" possess !!!

But when I came to Grantham I 66 soon leavened Mr. Barston; and, with the assistance of the Rev. Mr. Raby, prevailed on him to shut Mr. O. out of the pulpit at Grantham."

As before observed, I never, at any time, had any connection either with Mr. Barston or the Rev. Mr. Raby upon the subject referred to. Mr. Oxenham's name was never mentioned between Mr. Barston and myself, to the best of my recollection, during my visits at Grantham. And Mr. Barston shall justify me from "the poor old mangler's" unjust reflection, by an extract from his Letter, wherein, after noticing the mangler's false accusation respecting our sitting in council, to turn him out of the pulpit, he says, "This you know, Mr. Goulding, is a downright falsehood, for I do not recollect ever mentioning Mr. Oxenham's name to you, as I believe we differed in our opinions of him; therefore how could I sit in council with you and Mr. Raby upon this mighty matter, seeing I never introduced the name of Mr. Om? This therefore is totally without foundadation." And then, speaking of there being an agreement among us months before his dismissal from Grantham took place, he says, "This you know is false also; for no such agreement ever was made or thought of."How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hid things sought up!" Obad. 6.

The next part of his charge I retort upon himself; viz. "Thus envy slays the silly one" (and sometimes the wise too); "neither truth, nor usefulness, nor reputation, can stand here;"" for who is able to stand before envy?" (not even when found in a poor old mangler.) Prov. xxvii. 4. "Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation."-Prov. xxvi. 26.

But I proceed. "What, has this been the work of the great Mr. G- -g and his colleagues? Yes. And my dear friend Mr. Barston has been carried away by them."

And has Mr. Thomas Oxenham made this charge? has he first proposed to the reader his own false statement as applicable to others, and then in his answer confirmed the same as a truth? Yes, he has, and that without shame! But " should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of (vain) talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?" Job xi. 2, 3. If man fail of this, God will not, for " the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped." Psalm lxiii. 11.-And how true it is that "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." Jonah ii. 8.-But my readers, I think, by this time will be quite ashamed both of this man and his communication, when I inform them that this charge, like his others, is totally false, as I never used any means whatever to expel him from Grantham. Indeed I never felt interested about him in any point of view whatever; therefore why he has commenced hostilities against me upon such very unequal terms, he best knows; for, as I am innocent of what he lays to my

charge, I have greatly the advantage of my false accuser, and feel a pleasure in justifying my conduct from the foul aspersions of such a contemptible author.

A very eminent servant of Christ, who flourished in the last century, and who was treated in a similar manner with myself on the present occasion, thus expresses himself; and I adopt his words, changing only one:- “What shall we say of a man, who first hatches falsehood, and then fathers it on others?-The person who, in private conversation, utters a designed untruth, is deservedly branded with disgrace. But the man who sits down, and deliberately writes a known, wilful, palpable lie, to the public, may, it seems, still be a saint,' and a 'precious labourer in the Lord's vineyard!' Away with such saintship'-away with such precious labours!' And so say I; and here I take the passage of scripture that concludes this vile paragraph, as expressive of my sentiments in reference to our Author: "O! my soul, come not thou into his secret; unto his assembly, mine honour, be not thou united."

But I am "the great Mr. Goulding;" pp. 27, 30. Unconscious of ever having assumed an unbecoming importance, if the Author of the "Tidings" has nothing to produce in proof of this reflection, I must leave it as unsubstantiated, hoping that I shall ever be found to possess such a principle, and such a measure of grace, as to keep me from falsely slandering the character and reputation of others, enabling me to live honourably in my profession, and in the cause of God and truth. The gentleness and gracious dealings of the good Lord will ever make and keep me thus great, I humbly hope; 2 Sam. xxii. 36.-Psalm xviii. 35.