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Now as to this worthy man, the author of the following treatifes, I hope I may without offence fay, his memorial is bleffed, having known him above forty-four years, an heavenly minifter of experimental religion, of a found judgment and pious practice, valiant for the truth upon the earth, and ready to ferve all in the love and peace of the gof'pel. He was amongst the firft in Cumberland that received the glad tidings of it, and then readily gave up, with other brethren, to declare to others what the Lord had done for their fouls.

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Thus I first met him, and as I received his teftimony through the favour of life, fo I was kindly accepted and encouraged by him in the belief of the bleffed teftimony of the light, fpirit, grace and ‹ truth of Chrift in the inward parts, reproving, inftructing, reforming and redeeming thofe fouls from the evil of the world that were obedient thereunto: here he was a ftrength to my foul, in the early days of my convincement; together with his dear and faithful friend, brother, and fellow-traveller, John * Wilkinson of Cumberland, formerly a very zealous and able independent minifter.

And as I hope this piece of labour of our ancient friend and brother will find acceptance every where among God's people; fo I hope it will be more efpecially acceptable in the north, where he began and had his early fervices; and in the west, where they were witneffes of his care to preferve good order in the church.

• Now, reader, before I take my leave of thee, let me advise thee to hold thy religion in the SPIRIT, whether thou prayeft, praifeft, or miniftereft to others; go forth in the ability God giveth thee; ' prefume not to awaken thy Beloved before his time; ⚫ be not thy own in thy performances, but the LORD'S; and thou fhalt not hold the truth in unrighteoufnefs, as too many do, but according to the oracle of God, that will never leave nor forfake them who ⚫ will take counsel at it: which that all God's people

may

may do, is, and hath long been, the earnest defire and fervent fupplication of

In the year 1712, he was feized at diftant times with three feveral fits, fuppofed to be apoplectick; by the laft of which, though beyond all probability of expectation he furvived it, his understanding and memory were fo impaired, as to render him incapable of publick action for the future: nevertheless we shall continue our annals to the close of his days, from the accounts an intimate friend hath left of his condition at the vifits he yearly made him.

In the third month 1713, the aforefaid friend being at his house some days, found him to appearance pretty well in health, and cheerful of difpofition, but defective in memory; fo that though he could relate many paft tranfactions, yet could he not readily recollect the names of abfent perfons; nor could he deliver his words fo readily as heretofore; yet many fenfible and favoury expreffions came from him, rendering his company even yet acceptable, and manifefting the religious fettlement and stability of his mind.

At a fecond vifit made him in the fpring, 1714, he was very little altered from what he had been the last year. The friend accompanied him in his chariot to Reading meeting, where he spoke several fenfible fentences, but was not able to fay much. At parting he took leave of his friends with much tenderness and affection.

In the year 1715, his memory became yet more deficient; but his love to, and his sense of, religious enjoyments, apparently continued; for he still often went in his chariot to the meeting at Reading, and there fometimes uttered fhort, but very found and favoury

expref

expreffions. One morning, while the friend was at his house, being about to go to the meeting, he expreffed his defires to the Lord, that they might receive fome good from him. This year he went to the Bath, but the waters there proved of no benefit to his longcontinued distemper.

In the year 1716, the faid friend and another went to vifit him, at whofe coming he seemed glad; and though he could not then remember their names, yet, by his answers, it appeared he knew their perfons. He was now much weaker than last year, but ftill expreffed himself fenfibly at times, and particularly took his leave of them at their going away in thefe words, My love is with you: the Lord preferve you, and ✦ remember me in the everlasting covenant!'

In the fifth month 1717, being the last visit the said friend made him, he found his understanding so much weakened, as that he scarce knew his old acquaintance, and his bodily ftrength fo much decayed, that he could not well walk without leading; nor fcarce exprefs himself intelligibly.

After a continued and gradual declenfion for about fix years, his body drew near to its diffolution; and on the thirtieth day of the fifth month, 1718, in the feventy-fourth year of his age, his foul, prepared for a more glorious habitation, forfook the decayed tabernacle: which was committed to the earth on the fifth of the fixth month following, at Jordans in Buckinghamshire, where his former wife, and several of his family, had been before interred.

As he had led in this life a course of patient continuance in well-doing, and, through faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift, had been enabled to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, the grand enemies of man's falvation; he is, we doubt not, admitted to that everlafting inheritance, which God hath prepared for his people, and made partaker of the promise of Christ, Rev. iii. 21. " To him that overcometh will I grant to "fit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, " and am fet down with my Father in his throne."

TRUTH

TRUTH EXALTED:

IN A

SHORT but SURE TESTIMONY

AGAINST

All those Religions, Faiths, and Worships, that have been formed and followed in the Darkness of Apoftafy:

AND

For that GLORIOUS LIGHT which is now rifen, and shines forth, in the Life and Doctrine of the despised QUAKERS, as the alone good old Way of Life and Salvation.

PRESENTED

To Princes, Priests, and People, that they may repent, believe and obey.

BY WILLIAM PENN,

Whom Divine Love constrains in an holy Contempt, to trample on Egypt's Glory, not fearing the King's Wrath, having beheld the Majefty of HIM who is invifible.

Published in the Year 1668.,