Yorkshire Friends' Testimony

This our valuable Friend, having been under a religious Engagement for some Time to visit Friends in this Nation, and more especially us in the northern Parts, undertook the same in full Concurrence and near Sympathy with his Friends and Brethren at home, as appeared by Certificates from the monthly and quarterly Meetings to which he belonged, and from the Spring-meeting of Ministers and Elders, held at Philadelphia for Pennsylvania and New-Jersey.

For some time, this valued Friend had felt a religious calling to visit Friends in this nation, especially those of us in the northern parts. He undertook the visit with the full support and sympathy of his Friends and brethren at home. This was shown by certificates from the monthly and quarterly Meetings to which he belonged. He also had a certificate from the Spring Meeting of Ministers and Elders, held at Philadelphia for Pennsylvania and New-Jersey.

He arrived in the City of London the beginning of the last Yearly-meeting, and, after attending that Meeting, travelled northward, visiting the Quarterly-meetings of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire, and divers particular Meetings in his Way.

He arrived in the city of London at the beginning of the last Yearly Meeting. After attending it, he traveled north. He visited the Quarterly Meetings of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire. He also visited several local meetings along the way.

He visited many Meetings on the West Side of this County; also some in Lancashire and Westmorland; from whence he came to our Quarterly-meeting in the last ninth Month; and though much out of Health, yet was enabled to attend all the Sittings of that Meeting except the last.

He visited many Meetings on the west side of this county, as well as some in Lancashire and Westmorland. From there, he came to our Quarterly Meeting last ninth month. Though he was quite ill, he was able to attend all its sessions except the last.

His Disorder, then, which proved the Small-pox, increased speedily upon him, and was very afflicting; under which he was supported in much Meekness, Patience, and Christian Fortitude. To those who attended him in his Illness his Mind appeared to be centered in divine Love; under the precious Influence whereof, we believe, he finished his Course, and entered into the Mansions of everlasting Rest.

His illness, which proved to be smallpox, grew worse quickly and caused him great suffering. Through it all, he was sustained in great meekness, patience, and Christian strength. To those who cared for him during his illness, his mind seemed centered on divine love. We believe that, under its precious influence, he finished his life and entered the dwelling places of everlasting rest.

In the early Part of his Illness he requested a Friend to write, and he broke forth thus:

Early in his illness, he asked a Friend to write, and he spoke these words:

"O Lord, my God! the amazing Horrors of Darkness were gathered around me and covered me all over, and I saw no Way to go forth: I felt the Misery of my Fellow-creatures separated from the divine Harmony, and it was heavier than I could bear, and I was crushed down under it: I lifted up my Hand, and stretched out my Arm, but there was none to help me: I looked round about, and was amazed: In the Depths of Misery, O Lord! I remembered that thou art omnipotent; that I had called thee Father; and I felt that I loved thee, and I was made quiet in thy Will, and I waited for Deliverance from thee; thou hadst Pity upon me when no Man could help me: I saw that Meekness under suffering was shewed to us in the most affecting Example of thy Son, and thou wast teaching me to follow him, and I said, Thy Will, O Father, be done."

“O Lord, my God! The terrible horrors of darkness gathered around me and covered me completely. I could see no way forward. I felt the misery of my fellow creatures separated from divine harmony. It was more than I could bear, and I was crushed under its weight. I lifted my hand and stretched out my arm, but no one could help me. I looked around and was filled with wonder. In the depths of misery, O Lord, I remembered that you are all-powerful and that I had called you Father. I felt that I loved you, and I became quiet in your will. I waited for you to deliver me. You had pity on me when no one could help me. I saw that your Son showed us meekness in suffering through his deeply moving example. You were teaching me to follow him, and I said, Your will be done, O Father.”

Many more of his weighty Expressions might have been inserted here, but it was deemed unnecessary, they being already published in Print.

Many more of his thoughtful statements could have been included here. But that was considered unnecessary because they had already been published.

He was a Man endued with a large natural Capacity; and, being obedient to the Manifestations of divine Grace, having in Patience and Humility endured many deep Baptisms, he became thereby sanctified and fitted for the Lord's Work, and was truly serviceable in his Church: Dwelling in awful Fear and Watchfulness, he was careful, in his public Appearances, to feel the putting forth of the divine Hand, so that the Spring of the Gospel-ministry often flowed through him with great Sweetness and Purity, as a refreshing Stream to the weary Travellers toward the City of God: Skilful in dividing the Word, he was furnished by Him, in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, to communicate freely to the several States of the People where his Lot was cast. His Conduct at other Times was seasoned with the like watchful Circumspection and Attention to the Guidance of divine Wisdom, which rendered his whole Conversation uniformly edifying.

He was a man of great natural ability. He obeyed the promptings of divine grace and patiently and humbly endured many deep baptisms. Through these experiences, he was made holy and prepared for the Lord's work, and he truly served his church. He lived in reverent fear and watchfulness. When he spoke in public, he was careful to feel the guidance of God's hand. As a result, the wellspring of gospel ministry often flowed through him with great sweetness and purity. It was like a refreshing stream to weary travelers on their way to the City of God. He was skilled in explaining the Word. God, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden, equipped him to speak freely to people in their various spiritual conditions, wherever he was led. At other times, he behaved with the same watchful care and attention to the guidance of divine wisdom. This made his conduct and conversation consistently uplifting.

He was fully perswaded that as the Life of Christ comes to reign in the Earth, all Abuse and unnecessary Oppression, both of the human and brute Creation, will come to an End; but, under the Sense of a deep Revolt and overflowing Stream of Unrighteousness, his Life has been often a Life of mourning.

He was fully convinced that as the life of Christ comes to reign on earth, all abuse and unnecessary oppression of both humans and animals will end. But he deeply felt the great rebellion against righteousness and the overflowing stream of wrongdoing. Because of this, his life has often been one of mourning.

He was deeply concerned on account of that inhuman and iniquitous Practice of making Slaves of the People of Africa, or holding them in that State; and, on that Account, we understand he hath not only written some Books, but travelled much on the Continent of America, in order to make the Negro-masters (especially those in Profession with us) sensible of the evil of such a Practice; and though, in his Journey to England, he was far removed from the outward Sight of their Sufferings, yet his deep Exercise of Mind remained, as appears by a short Treatise he wrote in this Journey, and his frequent Concern to open the miserable State of this deeply-injured People. His Testimony in the last Meeting he attended was on this Subject; wherein he remarked, that as we, as a Society, when under outward Sufferings, had often found it our Concern to lay them before those in Authority, and thereby, in the Lord's Time, had obtained Relief, so he recommended this oppressed Part of the Creation to our Notice, that we may, as way may open, represent their Sufferings, in an Individual, if not a Society Capacity, to those in Authority.

He was deeply troubled by the inhuman and unjust practice of making slaves of the people of Africa, or holding them as slaves. We understand that he wrote some books about this practice. He also traveled extensively in America to make Negro-masters aware of its evil, especially those who shared our religious beliefs. On his journey to England, he was far removed from the sight of the slaves’ suffering. Yet he remained deeply troubled, as shown by a short treatise he wrote during the journey. He also frequently felt called to describe the miserable condition of these deeply wronged people. His testimony at the last meeting he attended was on this subject. He noted that when we, as a Society, suffered outwardly, we had often felt called to bring our suffering before those in authority. In the Lord’s time, we had obtained relief. He therefore urged us to give our attention to this oppressed part of creation. As opportunities arose, we might bring their suffering before those in authority, as individuals if not as a Society.

Deeply sensible that the Desire to gratify People's Inclinations in Luxury and Superfluities is the principal Ground of Oppression, and the Occasion of many unnecessary Wants, he believed it to be his Duty to be a Pattern of great Self-denial with Respect to the Things of this Life, and earnestly to labour with Friends in the Meekness of Wisdom, to impress on their Minds the great Importance of our Testimony in these Things, recommending to the Guidance of the blessed Truth in this and all other Concerns, and cautioning such as are experienced therein against contenting themselves with acting up to the Standard of others, but to be careful to make the Standard of Truth, manifested to them, the Measure of their Obedience; for, said he, "that Purity of Life which proceeds from Faithfulness in following the Spirit of Truth, that State where our Minds are devoted to serve God, and all our Wants are bounded by his Wisdom,—this Habitation has often been opened before me, as a Place of retirement for the Children of the Light, where they may stand separated from that which disordereth and confuseth the Affairs of Society, and where we may have a Testimony of our Innocence in the Hearts of those who behold us."

He was deeply aware that the desire to satisfy people’s tastes for luxury and excess is the main cause of oppression. He also knew that it creates many unnecessary wants. So he believed it was his duty to set an example of great self-denial in worldly matters. He worked earnestly and gently with Friends, in a spirit of wisdom, to impress on them the great importance of their testimony in these matters. He urged them to follow the guidance of blessed Truth in these and all other concerns. He cautioned those experienced in this guidance not to be satisfied with living up to other people’s standards. Instead, they should be careful to measure their obedience by the standard of Truth revealed to them. For, he said, “The purity of life that comes from faithfully following the Spirit of Truth is a state in which our minds are devoted to serving God, and all our wants are limited by his wisdom. This dwelling place has often been revealed to me as a place of retreat for the Children of the Light. There they can stand apart from what disrupts and confuses the affairs of society. There, too, those who see us may recognize our innocence in their hearts.”

We conclude with fervent Desires that we, as a People, may thus, by our Example, promote the Lord's Work in the Earth; and, our Hearts being prepared, may unite in Prayer to the great Lord of the Harvest, that as, in his infinite Wisdom, he hath greatly stripped the Church, by removing of late divers faithful Ministers and Elders, he may be pleased to send forth many more faithful Labourers into his Harvest.

We conclude with a deep desire that we, as a people, may promote the Lord's work on earth by our example. With our hearts prepared, may we join in prayer to the great Lord of the Harvest. In his infinite wisdom, he has greatly diminished the Church by recently taking away several faithful ministers and elders. May he be pleased to send many more faithful workers into his harvest.

Signed in, by Order, and on Behalf of, said Meeting:

Signed by order of and on behalf of the meeting: