we,

for by reafon that his Speech was fo weakned, several things could not be fo well collected, which he at times fpake, in a tender fenfe of the Lord's Goodness: the fenfe of which deeply affected fome of as who were with him. And my Heart is forrowfully affected at this time, in a fenfe of the great Lofs which the Church of Chrift (in thefe Parts especially) hath by his Removal: But in this I am comforted, in a living sense of the Lord's Mercy and Goodness towards him, in carrying him through his Affliction in great Patience and Quietness; under which he was Jweetly refreshed, by the Streams of Divine Love, and his Cup was often made to overflow: And who were prefent, being touched with a Senfe thereof, were comforted therein, being in a Travail of Spirit for him, and did in our Measures truly fympathize with him under his Affliction. And I am fully fatisfied, he laid down his Head in Peace with the Lord, and is gathered to his everlasting Reft. He departed this Life the ift of the 3d Month, 1713. about the zd Hour in the Morning, in the 74th Year of his Age. He received the Truth in the Year 1659, and lived in Fellowship with the Friends of it about 53 Years. And I think it may be truly faid of him, That as he Lived fo he Died, the Servant of the LORD and His People, and hath left a fweet Savour behind him, and his Memory is bleffed with the Righteous for ever, Amen.

The 8th Month, 1713.

GEORGE BOWLES.

A

A TESTIMONY from the Monthly. Meeting at Hunger-Hill, the Seventh Day of the Fourth Month, 1713. Concerning our Dear and Well-beloved Friend and Brother in the Truth, Thomas Ellwood, Deceased.

T

HAT the Dead which Die in the Lord, are Blefed of him, we have great Asurance of, from John the Divine his writing to the Seven Churches, Rev. 14. ver. 13. Where he tells them, that he Heard a Voice from Heaven, faying, Write, Blef fed are the Dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may Reft from their Labours; and their Works do follow them. Of which Number, we have no Caufe to doubt, but this our dear Friend is one; who was eminently Serviceable in the Church of Chrift. A Man to whom the Lord had given a large Capacity beyond many, and furnished him with an excellent Gift; whereby he was qualified for thofe Services in the Church, in the performance of which, he did fhine as a Star, which received its Lufter and Brightness from the Glorious Sun of Righteoufnefs. He was Wife, but Humble; Condefcending to the Weak, and ready to Help, where he Jaw and felt Sincerity; but Sharp to that which he apprehended to be Infincere and Deceitful; for which Caufe, be was not acceptable to Hypocrites and Disorderly Walkers: Tet he was a Man of a very acceptable and agreeable Converfation, as well as Sober and Religious, both in the Church and in the World, being of a free b

and

and affable Temper and Difpofition, far from Affectation; but of a Courteous Behaviour and Graceful Carriage to all, and very Serviceable to and amongst bis Neighbours: He was very Near and Dear to many of us, who were most intimately Acquainted with him, and his Memorial is fweet to us: His Services in our Meetings, and in the Quarterly Meeting for the County of Bucks, were very Great, and of many Tears Continuance; in which he fhewed great Diligence, being

of

a ready Mind, willing to Serve the Church, according to that Ability which the Lord had given him; and bis Heart and Houfe was open to his Friends, and the Monthly Meeting was kept there more than Forty Tears, and remains there to this Day. Our Lofs is great by his Removal: But in this we are fatisfied, that it is his Everlasting Gain; being gathered, as we have good Caufe to Believe, to his Eternal Reft. The knowledge we had of him, and the good Account which we have received of him, in the time of bis laft Ilnefs, by those who were most conftantly with him, and of his quiet and peaceable Departure, doth fenfibly Engage our Hearts to acquiefce in the Will of the Lord and therein we have Peace and Comfort. He departed this Life, the Firft of the Third Month, 1713. and was Honourably Buried in Friends Burying place at New Jourdens, in the Parish of Giles Chalfont, in the County of Bucks, the Fourth Day of the fame Month.

Signed by the Appointment of the Monthly-
Meeting, by us,

A TESTIMONY from the Womens-Meeting, Concerning Thomas Ellwood.

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.

Concern is upon our Spirits, to write Somewhat concerning our dear deceafed Friend and Elder, Thomas Ellwood, who was highly Valued by us, for that Wisdom and Counsel were with him; and being of a free and affable Temper, ready to Affift thofe which food in need thereof, encouraged many to Apply to him for Advice, under the divers Circumftances, and various Exercifes which this Uncertain World affords; which we have found to be for our Good, as we followed it. He was an early Comer to Meetings, Seldom hindred by Weather (though he Lived Three Miles diftant) when Bodily Weakness did not hinder, of late Tears, being oft indifpofed as to his Health. The Monthly Meeting was held at his Houfe about Forty Tears, and he always look'd very kind and Courteous on Friends, when they came there, and took Care and Notice of the Meaneft, who came in Sincerity. He was Zealous for Good Order, and against fuch, who, being in an Apoftatized Spirit, Oppofed it; and may well be numbred amongst the Wor thies, whofe Names are upon Record for their Valour; fo is this our Friend worthy to be; who never turned his Back on fuch who Oppofed the Truth; but ftood his Ground, as his Printed Sheets on fuch occafions do fhew. As alfo his other Works of feveral kinds, do manifeft how great Endowments God had bestowed on bim, (Tet we, who knew him in his Converfation, are

b 2

Enga

Engaged to fet forth how Kind and Condefcending he was to the Weakeft Capacity, and would help out when they wanted a Word) that Generations to come may learn how good it is to forfake All, and follow Chrift Jefus, as this our Friend did, and the Account of bis Life, following, fhews; who not only Gives Wifdom, but Teacheth Humility alfo.

He was greatly refpected by his Neighbours, for his Services amongst them, bis Heart and Doors were open to the Poor, both Sick and Lame, who wanted Help, and had it freely, taking Care to provide things ufeful for fuch Occafions, (bleft alfo with good Succefs) often faying, He mattered not what Coft he was at, to do Good. Such Lament their Lofs; what then may we do, who mifs him in an Higher Station, in his great Service in the Church of Chrift, but even defire to be refigned to the Will of the Lord? who Preferved him through all his Hardships, to a Dominion over Falfe Brethren, and is now out of their Reach, and of Temptation too; on whofe Head,the Bleffing, ask'd for Jofeph, refts; who as a Fruitful Bough bis Branch Spreads over the Wall of Oppofition, and his Bow abode in Strength; the Hands of whofe Arms were made Strong, by the help of the Mighty God of Jacob, to whom be the Glory for what he hath wrought in our Day, whofe own Works Praife him for Evermore. And the Tears of Sorrow that we hed, for the Lofs of this our Deceafed Friend, let them be remembred to bow our Spirits, each of us, into a Godly Care, that we may come up according to our feveral Capacities, to follow the Lord Faithfully, in a Godly Zeal for his Honour; and fo come to lay down our Heads in Joy and Peace, as this our Friend exprejed he did.

This Eminent Servant of Chrift, was Early Convinced of the Way of Truth, wherein he continued to the finishing of his Days; for the fake of which, he foon

became