the friends than ever; and has been the means of remoying the Author from the esteem and affections of many who, before the publication of the "Tidings," thought favourably of him. And thus we see that the evil attempts of men to injure others are so overruled as to prove that they are among the "all things" that shall "work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to his purpose." How pertinent is that of David, "Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.' Psalm cxli. 10.

What a spirit manifests itself all through the "Tidings!” what scandalous reflections! what low, paltry remarks! In its title page the motto should have been, "Mangling done here!" How shameful is it in the Author to publish the private, confidential communications of another from the press! And how shocking, to behold such a chain of notorious falsehoods spoken in the most confident and solemn manner as truths!!

The friends at Grantham will now, I hope, be more careful who they admit into their pulpit, and not be led astray by the speech of such as are puffed up whilst destitute of the power; for the preacher that holds the truth in unrighteousness is the most dangerous character the church has to contend with. If it were possible, such would deceive the very elect: but the Lord's impossibility secures their eternal safety from the too frequent destructive snares of such artful fowlers. The royal preacher has exhibited a beautiful and striking contrast between a wise and foolish man, where his description of the latter character appears to pourtray very correctly our Author and his work. “The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips

of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness"- Eccl. x. 12, 13, which I am satisfied will affect none so much as himself. And, as to the former character, that of the wise man, hear also what the word of God elsewhere declares. "For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour."Isa. Ixiii. 8. And again, "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth."-Zeph. iii. 13. This is a scriptural mark of the children of God; and which of these two characters my antagonist must be classed with, I leave to my readers to determine.

To conclude. I now solemnly declare that I would not be in the situation of the author of the " Tidings from Grantham" for all the world and the glory of it, twice told! Indeed, were I the author, I should be ashamed to be seen in public-more so in assembling with the saints-but more still in standing up in a pulpit as a minister and teacher of others. But, alas! it is too apparent that some men refuse to be ashamed till the God of recompences puts them to shame himself. Paul gives a beautiful description of the characteristics of a faithful minister of Christ, in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, ch. vi. ver. 3-7. "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed, but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." It had been well for our Author had he

paid due attention to this divine standard, before he sent forth his "Tidings" from the press, and I would strenuously recommend it to his serious consideration for the future.

And now, my friends, farewell for the present: may truth be our shield and buckler, so that we may walk worthy of our high vocation, and be enabled to glorify the God of our salvation in all things, for his lovingkindness and tender mercy manifested to us in his dearly beloved Son; for "Who is a God like unto thee, that 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." Micah vii. 18. " Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places."-Deut. xxxiii. 29. That this promised victory may be ours, and that God, who is the author of it, may be our everlasting portion and exceeding great reward, is the desire and prayer of,