After a short visit to , where continued to preach and baptise, returned to Walkerfold and continued to receive the hospitality of Mr. Richards’ house for some days, while the work spread in the neighborhood, and from thence the work went forth to Clitherow, Waddington, Downham, Chatburn, Thornly, and Ribchester, through the labors of brothers and .

Goodson and arrived in Bedford on the 2d of August, and having letters of introduction to the Rev. Timothy R. Matthews, from brother , (Mrs. Matthews’ brother,) they immediately waited on Mr. Mathews, who expressed great joy at their arrival, and manifested his sincerity by walking arm in arm with the elders through the streets of Bedford, calling on the members of his church, and inviting them to attend the lecture of the elders, at his chapel vestry that evening. Mr. Matthews had previously been apprised of the Saints in , through the medium of the Rev. James Fielding, of , and the letters from before referred to. In the evening, his church assembled in the vestry, and elders Goodson and continued to lecture and testify of the work of God, on that and the three following evenings in the same place, with the entire aprobation of Mr. Matthews, who at the close of the lectures publicly bore testimony to the truths advanced, and called upon his people to know why they did not come forward for baptism; while they in return wished to know why he did not set them the example.

After this, Mr. Matthews engaged another house in the neighborhood for the elders to preach in, under the pretence that some of the proprietors of the chapel might not be pleased with the elders occupying the vestry, and Mr. Matthews continued to attend the preaching of the elders, and also spent a great share of his time, from day to day, in conversation with them.

Mr. Matthews told the elders that he had received two ordinations, one from Bishop West, whom he had proved to be an imposter; and another from the church of England, which he acknowledged to be descended from the church of Rome, and he further acknowledged that he had no authority from God for administering in the ordinances of God’s house.

On the 10th, Mrs. Braddock and four others were baptised by elder Goodson. Soon after this, Mr. Joseph Saville, member of Mr. Matthews’ church, being very desirous of receiving baptism at the same time with Mr. Matthews, waited on him at his house in company with elders G. and , and Mr. Matthews and Mr. Saville mutually agreed to meet the elders on the bank of the river Ouse, at a specified hour in the afternoon, and attend to the ordinance of baptism.

At the hour appointed, Mr. Saville met the elders at the pla[c]e previously designated by Mr. Matthews; but as he did not make his appearance according to promise, after waiting for him an hour, Mr. Saville was baptised, when the elders repaired to Mr. Matthews’ to learn the cause of his not fulfilling his engagement, and were informed by Mr. Matthews family that he had gone out in the country to preach.

In a day or two it was currently rumored that Mr. Matthews had baptised himself, and this rumor was afterwards confirmed by Mrs. Matthews, who stated to , at , that Mr. Matthews had baptised himself, reasoning upon this principle within himself, “If I have authority to administer the sacrament to my people, why not have authority to baptise myself,” &c., and all this after Mr. Matthews had acknowledged to elders Goodson and that he had no authority to administer in the ordinances of God’s house; and altogether regardless of the words of the Apostle, (Heb. v. 4) “No man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron.”

By the foregoing it is plainly to be seen that Mr. Matthews has attempted to take that upon himself which was never con [p. 881]