and credit, and my comfort. I am very well, considering my old age, and my travels and labours in the Lord's service, which hitherto the Lord hath given me strength and ability to perform, I hope to his honour and the good of many.

There is some service before me in three or four counties in these northern parts, which I am now entering upon, resigned to the will of God, whether to live or die. George Rooke, my companion, who hath hitherto been very serviceable and helpful, is now leaving me and coming to Ireland, with Amos Strettle; so that I am left alone, but hope the Lord will not leave me, who hath been with me hitherto, and blessed and prospered his work and service, giving strength and ability beyond the ordinary course of nature; blessed be his name for ever.

exercise, admires his infinite goodness, and praises his holy name.

It

As I wrote in my last to thee, my children's folly is as a weapon in the hand of evil doers, against the Lord's work in my hands; but the Lord, who knows my heart's integrity and innocency, out-balances all opposition with his irresistible power, and crowns his testimony with dominion over all gainsayers; blessed be his name. Yet it is a grief and sore trouble to be wounded with an arrow that sprung from my own loins, prepared through my children's folly for want of the fear of God, and reverence to such a father, whom the Lord hath endued with many favours. ought to seize all your hearts and break them in a deep sense of bitter sorrow, and be a warning to all of you, who are innocent, to be watchful over your own ways in godly fear, that you fall not into the like temptations, which dishonour God, and are a blot and stain to their name, who fall into them, not easily to be done away out of the memory of God and men. A good name deservedly lost, is hard to regain: therefore thou my son, Remember my tender fatherly love to thy with the rest that are innocent, fear the Lord, brothers and sisters, and to my grandchildren, love his truth, take advice of approved elders, desiring they may all do well, and so walk, which may be for your preservation in credit that no occasion may be given by any of them with God and good men; and experience against the Lord's blessed truth, or for de- shows, that they who honour the Lord, he famation of themselves. For in everything, doth honour them. I was at Liverpool and wherein any sin against God and dishonour Chester, thinking to come over with George him, they discredit and dishonour themselves: Rooke, but was not clear of this service which but all that honour the Lord in their conversation, he honours, and will honour with many favours. This is what offers at present from a tender careful father.

And now, my son, it will be gladness to me, that thou show thyself a man for truth, in all thy concerns; and if thou truly fear God, thou wilt learn wisdom, which will give thee credit and favour with the Lord and his people.

WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

York, the 7th of the Sixth
month, 1697.

I am upon, and must not leave it until performed. I earnestly desire thou wilt be careful on thy part, in the fear and wisdom of God, to perform what thou hast written, that I may have comfort of thee: for nothing in the world is so pleasant to me, as to see my children doing well, walking in the blessed truth. I have had many large and full meetings since George Rooke left me, in Cheshire, LancaSon Tryal, shire and thus far in Yorkshire; many Friends THIS may let thee and the rest know, who came far to meetings, and the Lord's power desire to hear of my welfare, that through answered their expectation, and many honest the mercies of the Lord I am well, and sensi-hearts are thankful and glad of this labour of ble of his renewing my strength every way, love. I came this day to this city, and intend to perform his service required of me, which to stay their meeting to-morrow, being firstI hope will be to his praise and the good of day, and then as the Lord enables, to go tomany when I am gone. My chief care is, wards Burlington, Scarborough and Whitby; that I may do my day's work in time, accord- and when clear there, through Bishoprick and ing to his will; first in general, and secondly Westmoreland into Cumberland, and if the in particular for my children and offspring of Lord lengthen my time, then to see you again. my family. To be clear of all men's blood I know not yet whether to ship at Liverpool, in the day of account, my service is more or go by land to Port-Patrick in Scotland. I than ordinary in several things, and strength hope in the Lord's strength to be in Cumberand ability given accordingly. The Lord is land in three weeks from this date. Rememgreat, and greatly to be reverenced and feared; ber my dear love to elders and honest Friends his wisdom is infinite, and the ways of his of our Monthly Meeting, as if I named them judgments unsearchable. My soul and spirit, one by one; and I charge thee to give them a in the sense of his wonders, in the depths of true copy of this, and let them read it in the

men's meeting, and it shall be a witness for me, if I should not see your faces again.

elders in all such cases, walked as good examples, that the flock might follow their footAnd now my son, my prayers are for thee, steps, as they followed Christ, in the daily and my care is for thy well-doing, that thy cross and self-denial, in their dwellings, callbehaviour in all things may give thee credit, ings, eating, drinking, buying, selling, marryand me comfort. Show thyself a man in all ing and giving in marriage. And this answerconcerns, and act in all things as in the sighted the Lord and his witness in all consciences, of God, who orders all things for the best, for them that fear him, and cast themselves upon his ordering providential power, that rules all things. It is safe to keep there out of all selfwill and haste.

WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

and gave us great credit among men.

But as our number increased, it happened that such a spirit came in among us, as was among the Jews, when they came up out of Egypt. This began to look back into the world, and traded with the credit which was not of its own purchasing, striving to be great

A Postscript to an Epistle from Leinster Pro- in the riches and possessions of this world.

vince Meeting.

Then great fair buildings, in city and country, fine and fashionable furniture, and apparel suitable, dainty and voluptuous provision, rich matches in marriage, and excessive, customary, uncomely smoking of tobacco came into practice, under colour of being lawful and serviceable, far wide from the footsteps of the ministers and elders whom the Lord raised up, and sent forth into his work and service at the beginning; and contrary to the example that our Lord and Master Christ Jesus left us, when he was tempted in the wilderness with the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, which he despised.

WHEN the Lord first called and gathered us to be a people, and opened the eyes of our understandings, we saw the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the wickedness that was in the world; and a perfect abhorrence was fixed in our hearts against all the wicked, unjust, vain, ungodly, unlawful part of the world in all respects. We saw that the goodly and most lawful things of the world were abused and misused; and that many snares and temptations lay in them, with troubles and dangers of divers kinds, which we felt the load of, and that we could not carry them, And of Moses, who refused the crown of and run the race the Lord had set before us, Egypt, and to be called the son of Pharaoh's so cheerfully as to win the prize of our sal- daughter; rather choosing affliction with the vation. Wherefore our care was to cast off Lord's people-having a regard to the rethis great load and burthen, viz: great and compense of reward. And the holy apostle gainful ways of getting riches, and to lessen writes to the church of Christ, both fathers, our concerns therein, that we might be ready young men and children, advising against the to answer Christ Jesus our Captain, who had love of the world, and the fashions thereof, called us to follow him in a spiritual warfare, which are working as the old leaven at this under the discipline of his daily cross and very time, to corrupt the heritage of God, self-denial. Then the things of this world and to fill it with briars, thorns, thistles, tares were of small value with us, so that we might and wild grapes, to make the Lord reject win Christ; and the goodliest things thereof it and lay it waste. But the Lord of all were not near us, so that we might be near the Lord; for the Lord's truth out-balanced all the world, even the most glorious part of it.

Then great trading was a burthen, and great concerns a great trouble; all needless things, fine houses, rich furniture and gaudy apparel, was an eye-sore. Our eye being single to the Lord, and to the inshining of his light in our hearts, this gave us the sight of the knowledge of the glory of God, which so affected our minds, that it stained the glory of all earthly things; and they bore no mastery with us, either in dwelling, eating, drinking, buying, selling, marrying, or giving in marriage. The Lord was the object of our eye, and we were all humble and low before him, self being of small repute. Ministers and

our mercies, whose eye hath been over us for good, since he gathered us to be a people, and entered into covenant with us; according to his ancient promise, is lifting up his spirit, as a standard against the invasion of this enemy, and raising up his living word and testimony in the hearts of many, to stand in and fence up the gap, which this floating, high, worldly, libertine spirit hath made, that leads from the footsteps of those that follow Christ, and know him to limit them with his bounds, and dare not in their own will and time, lay hold on presentations and opportunities to get riches, which many have had, and refused for truth's sake, and the Lord hath accepted thereof as an offering, and rewarded them with great comfort, to the praise of his great name. WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

Walk in the blessed and comely order, established in the church of Christ by his spirit and power, in his heavenly counsel and divine wisdom, that all may be preserved from the evils and vanities that are in the world, and grow up together in the faith of Jesus, and grace of God, from one degree of strength and knowledge of Christ Jesus to another; by the good fruits brought forth among us, that through the exercise of your senses, in the law of the spirit of life in Christ, you may be skilful in the word of righteousness, to act for God in the unity of his holy Spirit, and

all their members keep within the bounds of were gathered to the faith in Christ Jesus, and truth in the way of the Lord, to do justice churches or meetings were established; then and judgment, as the children and household faithful men who were qualified for that serof Abraham, that the promise of God's bless- vice, were appointed as elders or overseers by ings to Abraham and his seed may rest upon us. the approbation of the holy Ghost, to take the My Friends, it is no small charge, that the oversight of the flock of Christ, to see that Lord commits to the care of the aforesaid all who professed faith in Christ, should walk meetings, the care of his flocks, the preserva- in his doctrine, as it was first delivered by tion of the testimony of truth, and the honour Christ and his holy apostles; and to see that of his great and worthy name: so that it is the testimony of Jesus was kept in all its of absolute necessity for all the members, both branches, that the comely order of the Gospel male and female, to know their election, and might be shown forth in them to unbelievers, in what it stands, and in what authority they as lights in the world; that if any could not sit in those meetings; for the service thereof be won by the word and doctrine, the witness must be performed in the wisdom and counsel of God in them might be reached by the just of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the authority and good examples of the churches of Christ. of his blessed spirit and power. For the And those qualified elders and pastors, whom things of God knoweth no man; but the spirit the holy Ghost made overseers in the churches, of God, in which the election stands, and this were to feed them in due season, not of conis that which fits for the Lord's service in his straint, but of a willing mind; neither for church, as he hath appointed every one to his selfish gain, but for truth's sake; neither as service and office. We know that our men's lords over God's heritage, but examples to and women's meetings for the Lord's service the flock, and to do justice and judgment in his church, were ordained of God, and set- without partiality; being faithful men, sanctitled among us in the authority and by the as- fied with truth, seasoned with the grace of sistance of his blessed spirit and power, and God, and gifted with a good understanding in committed to the trust and care of faithful church affairs, relating to Gospel discipline; men and faithful women, to keep them up in having their senses well exercised in the law the spirit and power of God, in which they of God, to know what was for truth, and what were set up: testimonies whereof may be seen was against truth; and accordingly to suffer in many comfortable epistles written to men's nothing to be ushered into the church of Christ and women's meetings, for all the members to that was against truth; but as doorkeepers in keep their possession in the spirit and power the Lord's house, to stand in and for truth's of the Lord Jesus Christ. testimony against everything that would lessen the credit thereof.

This is, and was the Lord's way in the settling of his church and people under his goBut when the faith of Jesus was departed vernment. For when the Lord's ancient peo- from, and self-interest got into the churches, ple came out of Egypt by an high hand, the then this godly care and holy discipline went Lord gave them laws and statutes to keep and to decay, and earthly wisdom, carnal reasondo, and appointed elders, as judges and over-ing, worldly policy, riches, greatness and liteseers, to see that they kept the Lord's way, which he prescribed, and to do justice and judgment, as Abraham commanded his household after him. And those elders and overseers were of God's appointing, and known by the people to be men qualified for the service; such unto whom the Lord gave of his good spirit, which opened their understandings to make a true inspection into matters that came before them, to do justice and judgment, according to the law of God. And when such elders or overseers ruled, as were thus rightly elected, and walked by the rule of the Lord's good spirit, they were a blessing to the people, and the Lord was with them: but when others came to sit in the assemblies, as elders, overseers and judges, not appointed of the Lord, neither guided by his spirit, what calamity then came upon Abraham's household. Likewise in the primitive times, when many in divers places, both of Jews and Gentiles,

ral learning swayed the counsels in church affairs. And now the Lord is raising up those ruins, and putting his church in its ancient order, settling those meetings of faithful members, to be kept up in the authority of his spirit and power, wherein neither riches nor policy must rule; but in all such meetings about the Lord's business, the Lord must be chairman, ruler and judge, whose good spirit of heavenly wisdom and divine counsel must rule in the hearts of his people, who sit with him in that weighty service of church government; for it is in the gift of the Lord's good spirit, that the ability stands to perform that service as well as doctrine. If any undertake it otherwise, they miss their way, mar the work, and instead of being helpmeets in government, do many times cause trouble in the church. This from

[1708.]

THE END.

Your ancient friend and brother,
WILLIAM EDMUNDSON.

THE

LIFE AND CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY

OF THAT FAITHFUL SERVANT OF THE LORD,

ELIZABETH STIRREDGE,

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE, AT HER HOUSE AT HEMSTEAD, IN HERTFORDSHIRE, IN THE SEVENTYSECOND YEAR OF HER AGE. WRITTEN BY HER OWN HAND.

A woman that feareth the Lord, shall be praised. Prov. xxxi. 30.

PREFACE.

As the memory of the just is blessed, so there is a justice due to their memories, who walked in the path of the just, which is as a shining light, and are the blessed who die in the Lord, who rest from their labours, and their works follow them to their everlasting reward in the kingdom of heaven; as well as for the example and admonition of those they leave behind. This is either by publishing their own memoirs of their lives, when they leave any; or where that is wanting, by commemorating them according to the example of holy Scripture. The following relation of her labours and sufferings for Christ, written by an early disciple in this Gospel-day, renders it unnecessary to say much of the author; her own book being a sufficient memorial of her, and what she was; only as a necessary introduction to her own account, I have this to premise concerning her.

according to her gift, and was well esteemed for her service by the honest-hearted in and about Bristol, and Chewmagna, in the county of Somerset, and in the countries adjacent, where her service mostly lay; till she, and her husband and family, removed to Hemstead, in Hertfordshire, in the year 1688. She staid at my house in London, when she came to the Yearly Meeting, and I was often comforted in her savory testimony, and to find that the Lord's presence was so fresh with her in her latter days. After several years abode at Hemstead, and labour and service there, she died in the Lord, in the year 1706, and seventy-second of her age, and is undoubtedly entered into rest.

The following papers written with her own hand, in relation to her labours and sufferings, were some time since put into my hand to peruse, as falling mostly within the compass of I was acquainted with her many years, she my knowledge; especially that part in relabeing my country-woman; and this testimony tion to her imprisonment at Ivelchester, I lives in my heart concerning her, that she being then a prisoner there for the testimony was a religiously exercised woman, always of truth, in the time of the great imprisonseeking the best things, and through the good- ment for attending meetings, in the year 1683. ness of God, found him whom her soul loved. She was taken at meeting at Chewmagna, She underwent many deep exercises inwardly with nearly thirty more, and sent to prison by and outwardly, by contrary spirits, who op- that wicked persecutor, and under-sheriff of posed the work of the Lord, and his servants the county, John Helliar of Bristol, at the inand handmaids. She bore a faithful testimony, as the Lord laid it upon her, and made way for her, being a true mourner in Sion, for the abominations of the times. She had a solid savory testimony for the truth, which she received early, and was faithful and diligent in,

stigation of the priest of the parish; both of whom were soon after cut off by death; the said priest Cross, immediately, in a very remarkable manner, as is herein related, and the said Helliar also was smitten with great terror and horror of mind for the violence he had com