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 op-pany of my son, Tryal Edmundson, and portunities with Friends who came to see me, Richard Eves, and found my body could not besides public meetings. endure to travel, being now near eighty-five years old.

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 com

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,

SECTION XXX.

A SUPPLEMENT,

about three miles from the town of Tippe- Containing several weighty expressions of WIL

rary, 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.

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.

On the 4th of the said month he said to Friends present, I find my legs fail me, and it is tedious to die upward-desiring the Lord would make his passage easy. He requested that his will might be performed, and the substance of his journal no way altered. And soon after said, "Lord Jesus Christ, thou great Physician, who canst cure me, look upon me: I had rather die than live." That night being very ill and full of pain, he was desirous to go to bed, and when helped towards it, he kneeled down at the bed-side, and was enabled in the midst of his extremity to call upon God, to the comfort and satisfaction of Friends

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 went thither. I also went to our National Half-year's Meeting at Dublin, in the ninth month, and was enabled to answer the service required of me, the Lord's power being eminently manifested for carrying on his great work of a complete reformation in the church of Christ, and maintaining his testimony both in doctrine and discipline. When that meeting's service was over I returned to my house, and kept to our meetings, as usually I had done, but found my body grow weaker and weaker, yet my understanding sound. 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, I found some drawings upon my spirit to be there, and in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ I went, and the service of truth was carried on in great peace and concord; and

measure the bitterness of the pain that lay on him, which in a great degree was answered. He got little sleep that night, yet he lay for the most part pretty easy and quiet; and towards 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 5th day of the month, some Friends being in the room, sitting quietly by him, he desired their prayers for him, for he was weak and not able to undergo much. Soon after he got a little sleep, and when he awoke, besought the Lord to this effect: "forget not thy wonted mercies, but mitigate these pains, if it be thy will, and stand not at a distance in this time of need: I pray thee, O Lord! Touch, one touch with thy finger, and cure all." A little after he ordered where his grave should 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 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 according to the will of God: so look to it Friends." And some time after; "I lie here under pain, and would fain be removed; but I am like one that pursues death, and it flees from me, although I see not wherefore my time should be prolonged, my natural parts being decayed; neither do I see anything left undone, which the Lord required of me, when I had strength and ability, or that the Lord chargeth me with any neglect or transgression."

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 good- as 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 fruits, and a generation whom God hath visitlose 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.

ed, 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.

ness of feet and hands? So that they cannot walk upright in the just man's path, which is a shining light, but stumble at it; nor can they handle the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God; by which they should war against the man of sin, and break down his strong holds.

And by drinking iniquity, sin and uncleanness, are not the flocks fallen into gross diseases; that there is no health in them, and become weak in the faith, wherein they should resist the devil and overcome him: and have lost their taste, smell and savour in the things of God; so that everything that is seasoned with his spirit and power, becomes loathsome to their taste, by reason of disease, wanting salt in themselves, by which they should be the savour of a sweet smelling sacrifice to God, and be able to season the earth? And through want of it, is not the earth corrupt, and the creation burdened? Doth it not groan, and wait to be delivered from that bondage?

ought to do, that none be wanting? Or have you neglected this duty also, save at fleecing times; like the hireling, who cares not for the flocks, but for the fleece? Have you endeavoured to keep the flocks, over which you pretend to be overseers, marked with the Lamb's mark in their foreheads, that they may be known to be his? For if they be not, but marked with another mark, will he not say, "Depart, I know ye not?" Have you acquainted the flocks with the fold of peace and safety, and with the way to come into it gently, and to rest in meekness and quietness? Or have you not been negligent, and let them grow wild, as the wild goats upon the mountains, and as bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke, or as heifers snuffing up the wind?

Have you not left the office of a shepherd, and are not many of you turned hunters, who hunt the Lord's little flock, which he hath gathered by his power into his spirit, and put under the hand of the true Shepherd, who feeds them in due season? Do you not hunt them as a partridge, and make it your game and sport to spoil and destroy them, as the flock of your prey, and prepare your tongues like bows, and your words like arrows, to destroy and cut them off, whom you know by the Shepherd's mark, from all the flocks in Christendom, so called?

What have you in your flocks to offer to the Lord, that may find acceptance with him? Will he accept of the unclean, the sick, lame or blind? Must not the church, that is presented to God, be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? Nothing that is unclean can enter into his kingdom. Have you looked carefully to your several flocks, to keep them from the spots of the world? Or are they not run over with a scab, as with a leprosy? And have Do you not sound the horn of envy and you not played the lazy shepherds, to look no persecution, to awaken and stir up all of like better to the flocks? Or the empirics who mind with you, to hunt and spoil the Lord's have said, you have the care and cure of little flock, as though they were not worthy to souls, and are the physicians; and yet let feed and live upon the earth, with the rest of your flocks fall into such gross diseases and the flocks; or as if the earth were yours, and uncleanness? Are not you the careless shep- not the Lord's; and that he might not have herds, and physicians of no value? Would a flock upon earth, as well as you, or as not you blame and be angry with the herdsmen of your flocks, and require your flocks at their hands, or throw them into prison till they made satisfaction, if they dealt so badly with you, concerning your flocks and herds? And will not the Lord do so by you? Is it not just and equal, that he require the flocks at your hands? For you have been well paid for looking to them, as you very well know, and the nations can witness.

Have you kept one certain voice, as the good Shepherd doth, that the sheep might hear his voice and come together, and not stray and fall into pits? Or have not your voices been variable as the wind, giving an uncertain sound? And your flocks not finding a certain voice among you, are scattered into sects and parties, pushing one another into the pit and mire, instead of helping out of it.

Again, have you been careful to count the flocks morning and evening, as shepherds

though he had no right, but all were yours? Think you that the Lord seeth not this, and will it not kindle his wrath, and hasten him to call you to an account, and reward you according to your works?

May not he justly hunt you, who have been the chief hunters of his flock, and prepare his bow and arrows against you, and mark you out, and make you a hissing, and a by-word to the nations? Is it not just for him to take the flocks from you, who have been careless, and neglected your service and duty; and now will not let his flock be quiet, but rend and tear them? Is it not justice and equity for him to rend the flocks from you, who will not suffer them to receive the law at his mouth, whom he hath ordained a priest for ever, and whose lips preserve knowledge?

Will not the just principle in you answer to his justice, when it comes upon you to take the flocks, and lay you aside, and put them under the hand of his Son, Christ Jesus, the