Father who is holy and heavenly, begotten again to a lively hope, in and through Jesus Christ, by the quickening of his eternal Spirit, to serve him the true and living God in newness of life. He has instructed us by the teachings of his all-sufficient grace and holy Spirit, how we may wait upon, worship, and serve him, and in what; even in the spirit and seed of life, by which, we can cry, Abba Father.' In a day never to be forgotten by us, he did not only bring to the birth, but gave power to bring forth; and as a tender Father, from the time of our infancy, by his helping hand, has always waited to be good and gracious unto us, giving us rain and heavenly dew, which he hath caused many times to descend upon us, that we might grow from one stature and degree of holiness and strength to another; that so, in our day and time, we might come to answer the good end for which he has made us a people. This was not only that we should meet together to wait upon, worship, and serve him in Spirit and Truth, though chiefly therein, but that we might grow up together, according to our several gifts of his holy, pure Spirit, to the degree of elders and fathers, to do work and service in the church of Christ; and in a more public manner amongst God's people, where there is much to be done. Happy are they who can say in truth, what they do in that service, they do it unto the Lord, and for his worthy name and glory; great shall be their peace and comfort here, with a heavenly blessing in Christ Jesus, and more abundantly and eternal in the heaven of heavens. "But why should I write of these things to thee; only that we delight to be telling one another what the Lord our God hath done for our souls; who, by his mighty power, has been our preserver and upholder, ever since he was pleased to give us the knowledge of himself; in and through various trials, deep exercises, temptations, and afflictions, both without and within; and all for the end that we may be helpful one to another, in building up, and strengthening one another in the most holy faith, which works in the heart; as living members which make up that body which is complete in him our holy head, the Lord Jesus Christ; as those who have a fellow-feeling, and sympathize one with another, under all our exercises; for how can it otherwise be, but that members of one body, which are living and sensible ones, should have a true feeling of one another, and a godly care and true tenderness that no one be hurt. "My heart is open to thee, in that same love in which our brotherly unity and fellowship did first begin; in which thou art truly near unto me, even in the love of God and unity of his blessed Spirit, in which the Lord preserve us little and low in our own eyes, near to him and one unto another, faithful unto the end and in the end. Amen! "Great hath been my affliction, even more than I am able to express; and even so hath the tender care of my heavenly Father been over me, beyond my utterance, in preserving me in and through it all to himself, sensible of my inward condition, with my understanding open and clear; praises, living praises, unto him the living and eternal God, who hath all power in his own hand, and is able to bring to pass whatsoever seems good in his eyes! For when I was in the midst of my affliction, and my neighbours were called in to see me pass out of this troublesome world, as it was thought by all outward appearance; I having a little recovered, it livingly rose in me, Thou must not go hence yet, thou hast not wholly finished the work of thy day. It was the word to me, and I believed it; and thus far the Lord my God has made it good and fulfilled it to me, who never breaks covenant with his people, nor alters the word that is gone out of his mouth. "Yea, thus far the Lord hath been pleased to raise me up again, though but weak still, so that I can sit in a meeting, and bear testimony to his name, and return the praise, honour and glory of all unto him who lives for ever. Friends, in condescension to my weakness, keep the meeting in its course at my house, both for worship, and the men's Monthly Meeting also, which is cause of great refreshment and comfort to me. The gout, which bears hard upon me often, has left such a cold numbness in my feet, that I can go but little and lamely; and there is such a weakness and pain in my joints, that when I stand I shake like a leaf; all my fingers are so crippled, I can write but little, and sometimes none; howbeit I was willing once at least to give thee some hints, how it has been and is with me. Yet, notwithstanding all my infirmities, I can tell thee in so many words, though I undergo pain and weakness without, I have peace, comfort, and strength within, and that makes amends for all my wants. So I shall conclude in love; and do remain him; and found him as I did two years before, in a living freshness and sense of the Lord's love and mercy to him, and he discoursed very cheerfully of many things. He got up while I was there, but could hardly go without help, and continued weak for the most part of his time after. move him. Many Friends and others came to visit him while he lay sick; and oftentimes he had a large testimony to them, by way of exhortation, counsel, and advice On the 22nd of the seventh month, several Friends being present; after a time of waiting in silence upon the Lord, he said to this effect: thought he would not have been able to undertake such a journey, but he could not be satisfied in his mind without it, although it was thought it much weakened him. About two weeks after, viz: the 2nd of the seventh month, as he was walking in his orchard, he was struck with a pain in his back, so that he The 5th of the third month, 1710, after was scarcely able to go in; which proved giving account of his weakness, he wrote, very trying to him for several days before his "Howbeit all is well, I live to God through it death. Yet he often said, that notwithstandall, and that as a full cup supplies all my ing all his pain, his soul did praise and magwants, and sweetens and makes my afflictions nify the Lord for his goodness towards him, easier to be borne; glory, honour, and ever- though his pain was so great sometimes, that lasting praises unto him who lives for ever!" he thought it sharper than death. He exAbout two months before he died, he was pressed his belief that the Lord had provided raised beyond expectation in a more than a place for him in heaven; and how well it ordinary manner, so as to travel to some would be if the Lord would be pleased to reneighbouring meetings; which was to admiration, considering his weakness. At a Monthly Meeting at Somerton, the 6th of the sixth month, which was very large, he stood about an hour and a half, when it could hardly have been expected he could have sat so long in a meeting; and bore a sound and faithful testimony to truth, with such presence of mind, "Dear Friends, I counsel you in the love and distinction of doctrine, that it was admi- and fear of God to keep to your meetings, for rable to those who knew his weak condition, the worship and service of God, both firstwhich is not mentioned to exalt man but the days and week-days; and also Monthly and power of God; and gave demonstration that Quarterly Meetings, which were set up by the his memory was strong, his understanding power of God, to keep things in good order quick, and judgment sound in things spiritual, amongst us.-Friends of Glastonbury and which was comfortable and refreshing to the Street, my love to you hath been so great, meeting. He earnestly pressed Friends to a that I have ventured my life in riding through holy zeal for God, that they might be faith-deep waters to come to visit you, when I have ful in the small appearances of truth; en- had a concern from God upon my mind; so couraging such as were weak, and putting Friends in mind to prize the present liberty, for it had been a summer season, and that a winter might follow. After the meeting he was so very weak, that it was a task for two men to get him to his lodging. He was very cheerful, signifying his great satisfaction in being so capable of enjoying his friends' company, by being so free from pain; and had an evening meeting the same day, with Friends and many others in the town. Next day he went to Long Sutton, to visit Friends, and the following day to Knole; then to Puddimore, and the day after to their Monthly Meeting, and had a very large testimony to Friends. Next day he went to Samuel Bownas's at Lymington; thence to Sock, and to a meeting at Yeovil, which was very large, many Some Friends of Somerton taking their Friends being there. He was very weak, but leave of him, he said, "Give my dear love to his senses were lively and quick, and he Friends, and tell them that my soul is alive had a good discerning of the state of the unto God." Amongst them there was a meeting, and several particulars in it; and young man lately convinced of the blessed was well accepted by Friends. This was the truth, to whom he said, "The Lord be with extent of his journey, after which he returned thee; and I desire thee in his love to give up home the 15th of the same month, having in obedience to the workings of the Spirit of been out about ten days. Many Friends God in thy heart, and then he will do great that you can say, I have been a good example to you in keeping meetings, as well as in other things. Although I am weak in body, and do not know whether I may live much longer or no, I am however strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and have nothing to do but to die; for I am rich in faith towards God, and my cup is full of the love of God. Whether I live or die, it will be well with my soul; for blessed be the Lord! I can say with the wise and holy apostle Paul, that I have fought a good fight and kept the faith, and henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of eternal life: and did the apostle say for himself only; no, he was wiser than so, but for all them that love the blessed appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ." and glorious things for thee; and do not stumble at the cross, for the more thou lookest at it and puttest it off, the harder it will be for thee to take up." A Friend taking him by the hand, he said, "My dear love is to thee, and all that are faithful to God." Another took him by the hand and bid him farewell; he answered, "I do fare well in the Lord; my love is to thee and all the faithful in Christ;" adding, "Joseph is yet alive, and that is enough." He earnestly desired Friends to keep in the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of perfect peace; with a great deal more good advice and counsel to Friends, it being attended with Divine power; which tendered the hearts of many of those present, and caused tears to run down their eyes. The 24th, Thomas Freeman went to see him, and asked how it was with him? he answered, “Very sick, and full of pain, but the Lord helps me, else I should cry out aloud; truth helps me, and ever hath since I believed in it." A few days before his death, he said to some who were with him, that he could say as the woman of Samaria did, that he had met with one who told him all that ever he did; and that He was one who would not sew pillows to all arm-holes, nor daub with untempered mortar, nor cry as priests and some other professors do, peace, peace, when there is sudden destruction. Some few hours before he died, he said to those who were with him, "Well is it to have nothing to do but die." Another time he said, "It is well with me, and I am assured it will be well, and I have nothing to do but to die, and shall end in the truth as I began." He was very sensible to the last, and after all his violent pains, had a very easy passage; and died in peace, the 6th of the eighth month, 1710, aged seventythree years and two months, and was buried the 12th of the same in Friends' buryingground at Street, where he died. His body was accompanied to the grave by many Friends from divers parts, and several living testimonies were borne to the truth and power of God, that raised him up and preserved him to the end, to the honour of God and the praise of his great name; and in commemoration of the deceased, who is undoubtedly entered into that rest which is prepared for the people of God. The Lord fit us and prepare us all more and more for the entering thereinto; through the alone merits and mediation of his dear Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen! The blessed end of the righteous who die in the Lord, and such as are faithful to the truth in their day, so different from that of loose and careless professors, should be an encouragement to all who have any desires after the Lord, to embrace the truth and be faithful to it, that their latter end may be like his; for whose sakes and the truth's, I have faithfully collected the foregoing account, from such as were eye and ear witnesses of it. J. W. EPISTLES AND PAPERS. UNTO YOU WITH WHOM I ONCE HAD MY CONVERSATION; The truth in soundness held forth and declared unto those with whom I formerly had my conversation, who are yet remaining in the cloudy dark day, tossed from mountain to hill, and cannot find a place of rest for your souls; but are crying "there are so many ways, worships and opinions held forth in the world, that we do not know which is the true way; for if we did but know the way of God, we would walk in it." For your sakes who are thus crying, I write, in whom there are true breathings after the way of God: as I have learned of Christ, who is the true light of the world, and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world; so shall I declare unto you, who once had my conversation with you, according to the vain customs of the world. While I remained with you in vain sports and pleasures, and in wantonness, and could have gone to the same excess of riot which many of you are yet in, you could have spoken well of me, though in an evil action, because it was a pleasure to the vain mind, which the light of Christ in my own conscience reproved me for. I knew not then what it was which reproved me, and let me see that I should not do so; and therefore was apt to believe those that called it a natural light, or the check of a natural conscience, a thing not sufficient to bring salvation, as the world calls it; for, say they, we know we have all such a thing as you tell us of, but it is only a natural light, or the check of a natural conscience. Is that natural which reproves in spiritual things? Let the wise in heart judge by plain Scripture. Is satan divided against himself, how then shall his kingdom stand? This is the windy the knowledge of it. Do not call it so, but try and prove its strength, and depart from the evil which it makes manifest, and do not call it natural, or a thing not sufficient, because it appears but little in you, for this is because you are disobedient to it. Whatever the light makes manifest to be evil, depart from; lying, swearing, drunkenness, and all manner of profaneness; yea, if it be a secret thought, or any intent harboured in thy bosom against thy neighbour or any man or woman whatsoever, never so secretly, yet being made manifest by the light in thy own conscience, doctrine of the priests, for which they have no Scripture, and so add their meanings thereunto, or diminish therefrom, deceiving the simple. But the Scriptures witness against them who tell you that the light of Christ is natural: it is the Spirit of Truth, which he hath sent, which doth reprove the world of sin, of righte- | ousness and judgment, which whosoever believes in, shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of Life. They are deceivers, whom the prophet declares against, every one seeking after his own way, for his gain from his quarter; for put into their mouths, and they will cry peace, peace; but hold from them, and | thou must depart from it, or else the indignathey will even prepare war against you; and so they are the false prophets, which the true prophets declared against, and by which the people of God in all ages suffered the spoiling of their goods; for they that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. tion of the Almighty thou must one day know to be heavy upon thee for disobedience; when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. For all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light, and they that believe in the light, shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of Life; (mark the words) shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of Life. And though these things may seem but little in your eyes, yet be faithful in a little, and you shall be made rulers over more; you shall know power over all the works of darkness, and over the power of the devil. When was the covenant changed, or when do you look for those days declared of in the Scriptures? ، Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt: (which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: The people of God witness a cleansing and After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my sanctifying throughout, in body, soul, and law in their inward parts, and write it in their spirit; and the blood of Christ cleanses them hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall | from all sin, for the Lord's hand is not shortbe my people. And they shall teach no more ened, that it cannot save to the utmost, neither every man his neighbour, and every man his is his ear heavy that it cannot hear. His brother, saying, know the Lord : for they power is the same, and as all-sufficient as ever shall all know me, from the least of them, it was; but ye will not come unto me that ye unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord : for | I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Cease then from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, and come to the teachings of the Lord in spirit, where the New Covenant is known, for God is a Spirit, and they that truly worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth; and such he is seeking to worship him in this his everlasting day; and the children of the Lord, are taught of the Lord and in righteousness are they established, and great is the peace of his children. might have life, saith Christ, and so you remain in sin and in death; and he that sins is of the devil, and hath not seen God, neither knows him; and as death leaveth such, so will judgment find them. Therefore cease from all those who make a prey of you for dishonest gain, who lead captive silly women laden with sin, led away with divers lusts; ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus Christ, who is the true light, the way, the truth, and the life; and no man can come unto the Father but by him. I say, cease from all these So all people, turn your minds to that which | scribes, pharisees, hypocrites, and deceivers, reproves you in secret, of that which no man who walk in long robes, and are called of men can accuse you for, that by it you may be master, who love the chiefest places in the led and guided into all truth. It is the light synagogues, uppermost rooms at feasts, and of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, which he hath greetings in the market-places, whom the woe sent to reprove the world of sin, of righteous-is to, who shut up the kingdom of God against ness and of judgment. And take heed of the men, and will neither enter themselves, nor hasty will, that would say, away with this | suffer those to enter, that would. light; if this be your way, we do not desire Oh! all people cease from them, and come ye are always learning, led away with divers lusts, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Some led into lying, swearing, and drunkenness, fighting, and quarrelling, gaming, and sporting, and such like fruits as these. to the teachings of the Lord in spirit, for the walk in it; and then to satisfy yourselves, say, nations of them that are saved, must walk in we hope we are in the way; whereby it is the light of the Lamb. But this is the con- evident you have no certainty of it. By this demnation, that light is come into the world, you may plainly see, if you are not wilfully and men love darkness rather than light, be-blind, that your teachers have not been sent cause their deeds are evil: But he that doth of God, for they have not profited you; and truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest that they are wrought in God. Repent, repent, and turn unto the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the stone refused and rejected by all the builders of the world; the same stone is become the head of the corner; praises everlastingly unto his holy name, who hath called us out of darkness, into his marvellous light, where we walk and are not faint, run, and are not weary. He hath not only called us, but also chosen us out of the world, and therefore the world hateth us, for the world loveth its own; and though we be hated, persecuted, scoffed, and scorned, and judged as a people not worthy to live, by this wicked and adulterous generation, who speak evil of the thing they know not; and though the beast push with his horns, and the false prophet cast his envy and wrath against the Lamb and his followers, yet they shall both be taken alive, and cast into the lake of fire, and the saints shall rejoice for evermore. I say again, repent, and turn from the evil of your ways, from your idle talking, foolish jesting, and laughter, which is madness and folly; yea, all your vain conversation whatsoever, lest sudden destruction come upon you; which shall come upon all the wicked, who love and make a lie; without speedy repent-days; and so whether John, or the professors ance, and amendment of your ways, not only in confessing your sins, but in forsaking them. There is no other way to obtain mercy at the Lord's hand; for be not deceived, God will not be mocked, such as every one sows, such shall he reap; they that live after the flesh shall die; but they who have a part in the first resurrection, over such the second death shall have no power. And though both priests and people cry and say we are the false prophets, and deceivers come in the latter days; I answer as the Scripture saith, "by their fruits the false prophets are known; do men gather_grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles;" nay, they are not so blind. So whether the priests and teachers of the world, who have the words, but are strangers to the life, or we, bear the fruits of the false prophets, let that of God in all consciences, and plain Scripture judge. Christ said, "false prophets should come," and John said in his days, "that many false prophets and antichrists were already entered into the world; whereby," said he, "we know it is the last times." I believe many of you will confess, that there were no Quakers, (as in derision we are now called) in John's time, yet he said, "they knew it was the last time then, because many false prophets and antichrists were already entered into the world." You say the last time is but now come in our and priests, and teachers of the world, have holden forth the truth in this thing, let the wise in heart, and plain Scripture judge. Christ, who is the light and life of men, is the door by which you must enter into the kingdom, if ever you enter; "for he that climbs up any other way, the same is a thief and a robber." And if ever you come to own God, and the If ever you come to know the way of God, way that leads to his kingdom, you must own and to walk in it, you must come to the spir- the light of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his initual worship, for God is a spirit, and they ward appearance, to be your teacher, leader, that worship him must worship him in Spirit and guide. It is even he the true light, who and in Truth; and such he is seeking to wor- is the way, the truth, and the life; and if ship him in this his everlasting day. So you, you speedily repent, and turn unto God by in whom tender desires are, come ye out from him, from whom you are fallen, and put away among them, and be ye separated, and touch the evil of your doings before repentance be no unclean thing, and I will receive you, saith too late, it shall be well with you. But if the Lord. Be careful now, while you have otherwise you go on in rebellion against the time, to cast off the deeds of darkness, and be light and strivings of his good spirit and grace, separated from all your idol worships, for the which God hath placed in your hearts to witLord is wearied with them. Prize the ever-ness against all sin and iniquity; and harden lasting love of God to you, who hath spared your hearts, stop your ears, and close your you so long; some twenty, some thirty, some eyes, you shall seek repentance with tears, forty years, and upwards; and yet you are and shall not find it. And this you shall crying, if we knew the way of God, we would know in the day of the Lord; "when you |