And, to the best of my Remembrance, it was 1686. not above two Weeks time before his laft Sickness, that he had been at my Houfe, and had Money of me on that Account. As foon < as I heard of his Ilness, I haftened to him, and took the best Care of him I could during 'his Life; and after his Death defrayed the Charge of his Sickness and Burial, and repaid 'to my Sifter that Money fhe had fent him, before I knew of his Ilnefs. I could fay more 'on this Subject than I intend, or at prefent think fit, but I forbear, and commit my innocent Cause to the Lord, not doubting but that, as I am clear in His Sight from any Undutifulness or Unkindness towards my Father, fo He 'will clear mine Innocency in the Hearts of His People, and of all unprejudiced Perfons.'

This I hope will fatisfy the Reader of T. Ellwood's Carriage towards his Father, which we are beholding to J. Raunce for, or elfe perhaps might never have had this Account, which one would think Envy itfelf fhould not be able to cavil at. Yet after this J. Raunce being reftlefs, " trumpt up another Story, answered by T. Ellwood in his Poftfcript to that Book, which we shall meet with again hereafter on another Occafion, and therefore I fhall fay no more of it here.

Here ends his Controverfy with the Separates: In which I must needs fay, he acquitted himlelf as an ingenuous Man, a Chriftian, and a fair Opfonent. And now to come to fomething more pleafant: Our dear Friend George Fox dying in Сс the

1693. the Eleventh Month 1690, and leaving behind him an excellent Journal of his Travels and Sufferings, our Friend T. Ellwood, (as no body fitter) about this Time was at the Pains of tranfcribing it, and fitting it for the Press; (a labo→ rious Work) which was printed next Year in a large Folio: To which T. Ellwood prefixed a notable Account concerning him, which is the only fingle Teftimony printed with it, except his Wife M. Fox's, and an excellent Preface by

W. Penn.

many

1694. But now a new Scene opens. For George Keith, who had known better Things than most Oppofers that ever rofe up against Truth and Friends, having been a Quaker, and a Preacher among them near thirty Years, and had writ Books in Vindication of Truth and Friends; but now falling out, and differing with fome of his Brethren in Pennsylvania (whither he went fome Years before) because he could not have his own Way in every Thing, came over with some of his Party, full fraught with Contention, against the Yearly - meeting in 1694. Which Difference coming before the Meeting by fome Letters from beyond Sea, which were read in Courfe in the Meeting, whereupon G. Keith defired to be heard; which, after the other Business of the Meeting was over, Friends condefcended to for feveral Days, to hear him and his Party; and Samuel Jennings, &c. on the other Side; in Hopes to have reconciled the Difference before it went any Hof7.1. further: But as the Prophet faid, When I would bave

have healed Ifrael, then the Iniquity of Ephraim 1694. was discover'd, &c. which may be applied to him; for the more Endeavours were used to reconcile him to his Brethren, the more his Deceit appear'd; and the more Tenderness any fhewed towards him, the more perverfe he was in turning it to a wrong Ufe, and strengthening himself in his Oppofition. There was no holding what would away (as the Proverb is) refolved he was for a Breach, by oppofing Friends more and more, till he ran himself quite out from among them. Which our Friend T. Ellwood obferving the Bent and Tendency of, not only in the Yearly-meeting, but after; and how he endeavoured to make Divifions among Friends, to divide the Heritage of God, he took up his Pèn again, and writ an excellent Epiftle to Friends briefly commemorating the gracious Dealings of the Lord with them, and warning them to beware of that Spirit of Contention and Divifion which bath appeared of late in George Keith, &c. which he addreffes to Friends thus:

;

Dear Friends, whom the Lord hath called 'with an holy Calling, and who, through 'Faithfulness to the heavenly Call, are become 'the Chofen of the Lord. It is in my Heart, in the Openings of the Love of God, to fend thefe few Lines amongft you, as a Salutation ' of true and hearty Love unto you; and in the 'tendering Senfe of the Lord's unspeakable Goodnels unto us, which at this Time refts 'with an affecting Weight upon my Spirit, briefly to commemorate the gracious Dealings

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1694. of the Lord with us fince we have been a

People.' Which he commemorates as follows.

• Great and manifold have been the Mercies ' of our God unto His People, in this His Day, and His loving Kindneffes are beyond expreffing: When we were young and little, His fatherly Care was over us, He preserved us and nourished us, and caufed us to grow up 'before Him. How did He carry His Lambs

in His Bofom, when the Beafts of Prey roar'd 'on every Side, feeking to devour! Who can 'rehearse the many Deliverances He hath wrought for His People, in their Paffage from fpiritual Egypt! How hath He girded their 'Loins with Strength, and covered their Heads in the Day of Battle! How hath he fubdued their Enemies before them, and put to flight 'the Armies of Aliens! How hath he fed them 'with Bread from Heaven, and made them to 'fuck Honey out of the Rock! Yea, He hath 'caufed the Rock to give forth Water abundantly, and hath been to His People as a Brook in the Way [and the Shadow of a mighty Rock in a weary Land.] So that from a fenfible Experience we can fay, to His Praife, Our 'Bread hath been fure, and our Water hath not 'failed, as we have fingly relied on Him. Oh! 'His Goodness is unutterable, and His Faithful'nefs hath never failed them that have trufted in Him. When have we ever been in Prison for His Sake, and He hath not vifited and ' comforted us there? What Sufferings have any undergone on His Account, and He hath not ⚫ abundantly

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abundatly recompenfed the Lofs? Nay, hath 1694. He not often stopped the Mouths of Lions, and reproved Rulers for the Sake of His People, faying, Touch not mine Anointed, and do my Prophets no Harm. In all our Exercises He 'hath been with us, and He hath ftood by us in our foreft Trials; yea, He hath caufed His Angel to encamp round about us, fo that no Weapon formed against us hath profpered; but every Tongue that hath rifen up against us, 'the Lord hath given us Power to condemn : 'Bleffed be His holy Name, and exalted and magnified be His glorious Power for ever.

Thefe Things and much more than I can ' write, I doubt not but ye, my dear Friends, are Witneffes of; ye especially, my elder Brethren, who were called early in the Morning ' of this Day, and have stood faithful in your Teftimony for God until now, who from your own both early and late Experiences can fet your Seals to the Truth hereof; and unto you 'I do believe this brief Commemoration of the 'Goodness and loving Kindness of the Lord to His People, will be pleafing and delightful, as I hope it may prove useful and profitable unto us all, in the ftirring up of the pure Mind, and putting us in fresh Remembrance of the 'Lord's manifold Favours towards us, and gracious Dealings with us; which fhould be as

a renewed Engagement upon us to cleave faft unto the Lord, and in Humility of Heart, to 'walk closely with Him, both that we may, as far as in us lies, anfwer His great loving Kind

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'nefs