refreshed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here I terly Meeting at Castledermot, which held and my companion parted, and each of us returned home. This was in the sixth month, 1708.

next day to Cork, and had two large meetings on the first-day of the week. From thence we went to Bandon, and so returned to Cork; and then came to Youghal, and had a meeting in each place. Friends showed great gladness to see me once more among them, and we were sweetly refreshed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and one in another; for the Lord's refreshing goodness went along in that visit, and I had many sweet comfortable opportunities with Friends who came to see me, besides public meetings.

At Youghal we parted with Friends in the tendering power of the Lord Jesus Christ, who filled our hearts with his goodness, and went to Kilcommonbeg, and had a meeting at Joshua Fennell's house with Friends of that

quarter: then we went to James Russel's, about three miles from the town of Tipperary, and had a meeting with Friends of that part; here George Rooke from Dublin met me, and we rode to Clonmel, and had a meeting, to which several Friends came, who were going to Munster Province Meeting at Waterford.

We went in company with them, and alighted at Carrick at an inn, to refresh ourselves and horses: soon after which I was taken with violent pains, excessive vomiting and shaking of my whole body, so that it shook the bed I lay upon, and I was not fit to travel that day nor the next. After two days' rest I found myself much easier; and on considering the matter, I found freedom in my spirit to return homeward. This journey was above two hundred miles, and I was then about eighty-three years of age.

the Lord's blessed power enabled me to perform the part committed to me, both in doctrine and discipline, to his praise and my comfort. Here I took my leave of Friends, never expecting to see their faces any more in that place. When the service of that great meeting was over, which held about three days, in the worship of God and church discipline, I went to my own house, in company of my son, Tryal Edmundson, and Richard Eves, and found my body could not endure to travel, being now near eighty-five years old.

SECTION XXX.

A SUPPLEMENT,

Containing several weighly expressions of WIL

LIAM EDMUNDSON on his death bed, with a brief account of his death and burial.

THIS worthy elder, after his return home, attended meetings thereaway, whilst of ability of body; also read over his journal and other papers, and on the day before he took his bed, was at a burial near his own dwelling, where he bore a living testimony to Friends and neighbours present, advising all to make ready for such a time as that, viz. death; and exhorting the young people to beware of pride and height; which testimony, though short, was very reaching, a good power attending, and he concluded in sweet and fervent prayer to the Lord.

Next day, being the 2nd of the sixth month, a few hours after he had finished the reading of his writings for truth's service, he took his bed of the illness whereof he died, and said he was willing to die, and well satisfied to go out of this troublesome world, for his day's work was finished.

When I had rested some time, and kept to our meetings for the worship of God, I found my body something better, and able to travel short journies in truth's service; and Leinster Province Meeting being at Castledermot, I On the 4th of the said month he said to went thither. I also went to our National Friends present, I find my legs fail me, and Half-year's Meeting at Dublin, in the ninth it is tedious to die upward-desiring the Lord month, and was enabled to answer the ser- would make his passage easy. He requested vice required of me, the Lord's power being that his will might be performed, and the subeminently manifested for carrying on his stance of his journal no way altered. And great work of a complete reformation in the soon after said, "Lord Jesus Christ, thou great church of Christ, and maintaining his testi- Physician, who canst cure me, look upon me: mony both in doctrine and discipline. When I had rather die than live." That night being that meeting's service was over I returned to very ill and full of pain, he was desirous to my house, and kept to our meetings, as usu- go to bed, and when helped towards it, he ally I had done, but found my body grow kneeled down at the bed-side, and was enabled weaker and weaker, yet my understanding in the midst of his extremity to call upon God, sound. to the comfort and satisfaction of Friends Our next National Half-year's Meeting be-present, beseeching the Lord to abate in some ginning the 8th day of the third month, 1712, measure the bitterness of the pain that lay on I found some drawings upon my spirit to be him, which in a great degree was answered. there, and in the faith of the Lord Jesus He got little sleep that night, yet he lay for Christ I went, and the service of truth was the most part pretty easy and quiet; and tocarried on in great peace and concord; and wards morning, being in a very tender frame

of spirit, he was truly thankful to God for his mercy and goodness, and did bless, praise and magnify his great name for the same, desiring those present to praise the Lord also on his behalf.

On the evening of the 10th, being in a heavenly frame of mind, discernible to those near him, he spoke thus: "heaven and earth, sea and dry land, and all things shall be shaken; nothing must stand, but what is acOn the 5th day of the month, some Friends cording to the will of God: so look to it being in the room, sitting quietly by him, he Friends." And some time after; "I lie here desired their prayers for him, for he was weak under pain, and would fain be removed; but and not able to undergo much. Soon after I am like one that pursues death, and it flees he got a little sleep, and when he awoke, be- from me, although I see not wherefore my sought the Lord to this effect: "forget not thy time should be prolonged, my natural parts wonted mercies, but mitigate these pains, if it being decayed; neither do I see anything be thy will, and stand not at a distance in this left undone, which the Lord required of me, time of need: I pray thee, O Lord! Touch, when I had strength and ability, or that the one touch with thy finger, and cure all." A Lord chargeth me with any neglect or translittle after he ordered where his grave should gression.” be made, and gave some advice and charges to his children.

On the 6th, he expressed to some Friends his concern and trouble of mind, because of the pride and height that young people were gone into, far wide from the humility and plainness that truth led Friends into in the beginning; and said, one examples another therein; his spirit seeming burthened under a sense thereof. On going to bed, he renewed his supplication to the Lord, not to forget his wonted kindness towards him.

On the 18th, as he lay, he spoke thus to some present; "I have something to say to you, if you have ears to hear it; the spirit of vanity is let loose, the Lord suffers it, and it is like to make a separation." At another time he said to some intimate Friends present: "there are wonderful things to be done, the Lord hath a mighty work to do, that must be gone through, and there be few that see through it."

Several other weighty expressions dropped from the mouth of our dear, ancient Friend in the time of his sickness, some of which are inserted in the testimonies given forth by Friends, who visited him near his end, and were eye and ear witnesses thereof.

On the 7th he said to his wife, "I am now clear of the world and the things of it." To Friends who came to visit him that afternoon, he said, “Friends, you would do well to retire to the Lord." After a time of silent waiting, Though many of his last sayings were not he prayed fervently to God to their great committed to writing, yet what is here colcomfort; and though the extremity of his dis- lected may demonstrate his zeal for the glory temper was great, yet he bore it patiently. of God and welfare of Sion to his latter end. Friends from several parts coming to see him, After about one month's sickness and pain of he frequently declared his zealous concern for body, which was sharp to bear at times, havtruth's prosperity, and the promotion of its ing run the race with patience, and kept the government in the churches of Christ, that faith, he departed this life in sweet peace with not only those who were peculiarly concerned the Lord, in unity with his brethren, and goodas elders in the discipline and oversight of the will to all men, the 31st day of the sixth church, should be rightly qualified and gifted month, 1712, being nearly eighty-five years for that service-men of truth, fearing God old, and was buried the 4th day of the and hating covetousness; but also that all seventh month following, in Friends' buryingwho were admitted into close communion, as place at Tineel, near his late dwelling-place, members of men's and women's meetings, accompanied to the grave by many Friends should be subject to truth, and walk agreeably and others from several parts, where divers thereto in the whole course of their conversa- testimonies were borne, from a lively sense tion. When such came to visit him, who had of his manifold services, perils and labours not been subject to those wholesome rules, es- of love, both in this nation and islands tablished in the church for good order and abroad; after which his body was decently discipline, he did not spare to admonish and interred, but his memorial lives among the reprove them in the authority of truth for righteous. their good.

VOL. I.-No. 5.

22

EPISTLES AND PAPERS OF WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

An epistle to Friends, written in Jamaica.
DEAR FRIENDS,

in his plantation, and to walk in his garden, and to water it in due season, and not have 1671. As you have received and believed cause to reject or cast out any, as a withered in the precious truth, so live in it to God's and unfruitful branch, through unworthiness. glory, and walk upright in the freedom and Let all walk worthy of God's love, visitaliberty of the truth and Gospel of peace, in tion and mercies, and take heed of turning which you will have peace with God. Go again unto such things, as truth judged, led not back into the liberty of the world, for out of, and caused us to deny at the first, in that will bring you into bondage, and the old trading or otherwise; for truth changes not. leaven will steal in by little and little, which Therefore keep the first love and principles, leavens into the love of the world, draws spotless and blameless in the sight of God from the love of God, hinders the incomes of and man, and remember the children of Is his love in your souls, and draws the mind rael, whom God took by the hand to bring into great incumbrances, and sets the affec- from the bondage of Egypt, and to give them tions on things below, to mind earthly things the Land of Promise, how many of the first more than heavenly. This becomes a yoke generation fell, and came short by looking of bondage, and will make you look down back through unbelief, and tempting and into the earth, and keep you from looking up grieving the Lord in the time of their trial. to the Lord, who saith, Look unto me. All Also Lot's wife, who looked back, was set for stand fast and firm, therefore, in the freedom an example. And are not we a kind of firstand liberty of the blessed truth. Let none lose the heavenly image, lest the earth and earthly image steal in and come over again; and like the grave swallow up, or like the thorns choak all that is good, and so stain and spoil the beauty and comeliness, which you have in the everlasting truth.

fruits, and a generation whom God hath visited, and taken by the hand to redeem from the earth, and from the world, after a long night of apostacy and falling away? Let all take heed and be circumspect; for there is much upon my spirit concerning these things, hard to be uttered, and harder to be borne by some. See that none leave either hoof or horn in Egypt, for then the mind will be towards it.

Friends, in the name of the Lord Jesus, shake yourselves from the dust, and from the earth, being quickened and raised from the Therefore all arise, and come forth with grave, and from the earth, by the spirit and the Seed royal, that all we have may be in power of the Lord. Sow not among thorns, the hand of the Lord, as an offering and sabut plough up the fallow-ground, and keep a crifice to him, which is but a reasonable serdiligent hand at the plough, that as the axe vice. We are but stewards of what we have, hath cut down the branches, so the plough and must give an account to God; wherefore may tear up the roots, that the roots of cor- take heed of being married to your shops, ruption, earthly-mindedness and covetousness, and trades or merchandize, whereby you are which is the root of all evil, and the root of encumbered and hindered from coming to bitterness be not left unrooted out through ne- meeting, serving the Lord and doing his glect; and so those old roots spring up again, work, as though your work and business and choak the good, and make the garden un- must be done first, and the Lord's last. fruitful to God. Must not his people be as a Would not you blame and be angry with fruitful field, and as a pleasant garden to bring your servants, who would prefer and do their forth much fruit, to be a sweet smell and a own work and business before yours, and be sweet savour? And so, all Friends, see that so encumbered and busy therein, that your the fields and gardens of your hearts be kept business is neglected? Be ye therefore careful clean, and the roots hacked up as well as the that the Lord's business be first done, and his branches; that you may flourish in the new-truth and the concerns thereof preferred becovenant, as the field of the Lord, and as his fore all, that you may receive an answer from garden, give a sweet smell and savour of life the Lord of "Well done, good and faithful unto life, and of death unto death; and as his servants." For if any be linked and married fruitful plantation, bring forth much fruit to to the world, and to the earth, their shops, his praise and glory, who is the chief Planter merchandize or trading, and have their de and Workman, that he may delight to dwell lights there, how are they God's freemen and

JOURNAL OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

Christ's spouse, married to him? Must not they, who are married to Christ, be free from the world through the cross of Christ, the power of God, and walk as freemen, having the earth under them, and not over them?

Be ye therefore good merchant-men; prize the precious truth, the precious pearl, and the preferment of it above all, that the love of the world enter not, and work as the old leaven, by which the streams of God's free love in your hearts may be stopped. Prize the love of God and walk worthy of it; for as a tender Father He gave his Son for us, even the Son of his love, whom he hath made heir of all things, that we through him may be heirs of an everlasting inheritance, and not go after other lovers, or have the heart carried away with them, who will not stand instead, nor can they save in the needful time.

WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

Jamaica, the 24th of the
Twelfth month, 1671.

PART OF A LETTER TO HIS WIFE.

I have had several meetings here with Friends; the Lord's heavenly presence was with us, and many were well refreshed. I desire that all may be careful of God's honour, and the fame of his blessed truth, which is more than all, that occasion be not given whereby truth may be evilly spoken of. My love is to all our children with thee; and my desire and charge to them is, to fear God, love his truth and people, and love one another; live in peace and walk soberly to all; for the fear of God will keep their hearts clean, and by it they will learn wisdom towards God and men, which will adorn and commend them before men, and in the end produce both peace and comfort. My dear love is to thee, as a true and faithful husband, which thou mayest assure thyself of, wherever I am, or however I may be disposed of; and my tender love is to all honest-hearted Friends, as if I named them, and rest

Thy loving husband.

A letter of examination to all who have assumed the place of shepherds, and overseers of the flocks of people of all sorts in Christendom, to see if your accounts be ready, and what order the flocks are in: with a few lines of good news to the several flocks.

Wo be to the shepherds that feed themselves; should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool; ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flocks. The diseased have ye not strength ened, neither have ye healed that which was sick; neither have ye bound up that which was broken; neither have ye brought back that which was driven away; neither

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have ye sought that which was lost. But with force and cruelty have ye ruled them, and they were scattered. Therefore I come against the shepherds, saith the Lord:

Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3, 4, 5.

will require my sheep at their hands: and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be meat for

them. Ezek. xxxiv. 10.

COME all you who have assumed the title of shepherds, and overseers of the flocks of people of all sorts in Christendom: you have had the oversight, and ordering of the people for a long time; and the Lord hath been as a man in a far country, but now he is coming to call you to account, and will require the flocks at your hands; the time is near when you must give account of your charge, and receive a recompense of reward from him according to your deeds.

This is a warning to you all, to have your accounts ready, and see that the flocks are in good order, and that nothing is wanting; for you will not permit any to meddle with the flocks but yourselves, therefore at you hands the Lord will require them.

Have you kept a diligent watch night and day, with carefulness for their souls? Have your locks been wet with the dew, and the hairs of your heads with the frosts, to preserve their feet in the way of peace, from the devourer, and out of all filthy unclean ways? Have you been good examples before your several flocks in all things, walking before them as good patterns?

Have ye led them to the pastures of life, and fed them in due season? Or have ye not played the careless idle shepherds, sitting in your fat places, and lying at ease upon your soft pillows, feeding with the fat, and sporting yourselves in your day and time, whilst the poor flocks go astray in the by-paths, and are scattered in the barren wilderness, as sheep wanting a shepherd, and as a people without their guide, where their souls are starved for want of the bread of life? Have ye led the flocks to the fountain of living mercies and well-spring of life, where they might drink freely, without money, and thereby be refreshed, and all become fruitful; or are they not dried up for want of the springs of life, and so unfruitful in anything that is good? Have you not also in this condition led and driven them, by your example and persuasion, to the dirty puddles of sin and uncleanness? Have you not persuaded the flocks, that this is what they must drink, whilst on this side the grave? Are not your flocks, as you call them, by that means, fallen into gross diseases, as rottenness of heart, unsoundness of mind, blindness and deafness, from seeing their salvation, and hearing the voice of the Lord Jesus? Are they not fallen into lame