to his eternal rest. The knowledge we had Signed by appointment of the monthly meeting by us, ing THOMAS ELLWOOD. THAT the dead who die in the Lord, are blessed of him, we have great assurance, from John the divine in his writing to the seven churches; Rev. xiv. 13. Where he tells them, that he heard a voice from heaven, saying, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their A Testimony from the Women's meeting concernworks do follow them. Of which number, we have no cause to doubt but this our dear friend is one; who was eminently serviceable A CONCERN is upon our spirits to write in the church of Christ. He was a man to somewhat concerning our dear deceased friend whom the Lord had given a large capacity and elder, Thomas Ellwood, who was highly beyond many, and furnished him with an ex-valued by us, for that wisdom and counsel cellent gift; whereby he was qualified for those services in the church, in the performance of which he did shine as a star, which received its lustre and brightness from the glorious Sun of Righteousness. He was wise, but humble; condescending to the weak, and ready to help where he saw and felt sincerity; but sharp to that which he apprehended to be insincere and deceitful; for which cause, he was not acceptable to hypocrites and disorderly walkers. He was a man of a very acceptable and agreeable conversation, as well as sober and religious, both in the church and in the world, being of a free and affable temper and disposition, far from affectation; but of a courteous behaviour and graceful carriage to all, and very serviceable to and amongst his neighbours: he was very near and dear to many of us, who were most intimately acquainted with him, and his memorial is sweet to us. His services in our meetings, and in the quarterly meeting for the county of Bucks, were very great, and of many years continuance; in which he showed great diligence, being of a ready mind, willing to serve the church, according to that ability which the Lord had given him; and his heart and house were open to his friends, and the monthly meeting was kept there more than forty years, and remains there to this day. Our loss is great by his removal: but in this we are satisfied, that it is his everlasting gain; being gathered, as we have good cause to believe, VOL. VII.-No. 9. which were with him. He being of a free and affable temper, ready to assist those who stood in need thereof, encouraged many to apply to him for advice, under the divers circumstances and various exercises which this uncertain world affords; which we have found to be for our good, as we followed it. He was an early comer to meetings, seldom hindered by weather, though he lived three miles distant, when bodily weakness did not prevent, being oft of late years, indisposed as to his health. The monthly meeting was held at his house about forty years, and he always looked very kind and courteous on Friends when they came there, and took care and notice of the meanest, who came in sincerity. He was zealous for good order, and against such, who, being in an apostatized spirit, opposed it; and may well be numbered amongst the worthies, whose names are upon record for their valour. He never turned his back on such who opposed the truth; but stood his ground, as his printed sheets on such occasions do show. His other works manifest how great endowments God, who not only gives wisdom, but teacheth humility, had bestowed upon him; yet we who knew him in his conversation, are engaged to set forth how kind and condescending he was to the weakest capacity. Many generations to come may learn how good it is to forsake all and follow Christ Jesus, as this our friend did, as the account of his life shows. 44 His sickness was sudden, which soon deprived him of the use of his limbs; yet he retained his inward and outward senses clear; and notwithstanding at times his pains were great, his exemplary patience and composed resignation were remarkably apparent to those that visited and attended him; so that their sorrow in parting with so dear a friend, was intermixed with comfort in beholding the heavenly frame of mind wherewith he was adorned. He was greatly respected by his neighbours, in its season, having done his day's work for his services amongst them; his heart and faithfully: so that saying may be verified in doors were open to the poor, both sick and him, The end crowns all.' lame, who wanted help, and had it freely; taking care to provide things useful for such occasions, often saying, he mattered not what cost he was at to do good. Such lament their loss: what then may we do, who miss him in an higher station, in his great service in the church of Christ, but desire to be resigned to the will of the Lord; who preserved him through all his hardships, to a dominion over false brethren, and is now out of their reach, and of temptation too; on whose head the blessing, asked for Joseph, rests. As a fruitful bough his branch spread over the wall of opposition, and his bow abode in strength; the hands of his arms being made strong by the help of the mighty God of Jacob, to whom be the glory for what he hath wrought in our day, whose own works praise him for evermore. Let the tears of sorrow that we shed, for the loss of this our deceased friend, be remembered, and let each of us bow our spirits, in a godly care, that we may come up accord-ration of the mighty power of the Lord that ing to our several capacities, to follow the Lord faithfully, in godly zeal for his honour; and so come to lay down our heads in joy and peace, as this our friend expressed that he did. This eminent servant of Christ, was early convinced of the way of Truth, wherein he continued to the finishing of his day; for the sake of which, he soon became a sufferer; not only by imprisonment, for worshipping God in the assemblies of his people, but also, from his father, by whom he was made as an outcast, for no other cause, but for his faithful testimony in taking up the cross to the world's behaviour and language. Whereupon he was invited by his much valued friend Isaac Penington, to his house, where he abode several years, until he married. He was a blessing in, as well as a great comfort and help to that family; and by his wise conduct, gained much esteem, not only from the elders but the youth, whom he instructed in learning; and though most of them are by death removed, yet one still remains, who from certain and experimental knowledge can commemorate his worth; being engaged thereto, from a sense of the benefit of his good and wholesome advice. Which friendship continued firm to the last. Thus after all his labours, he entered into everlasting rest, and left many behind weep ing, though not without hope, that they shall again meet at the general assembly of saints, where the redeemed shall sing praises to their blessed Redeemer, whose right it is to reign for ever. We have this farther to add, namely, that our esteem of him was great, because of that real worth that was in him, through the ope separated him from the love of the world: so that he chose, with Moses, rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. It pleased the Lord to fit him with wisdom and counsel, so that he was made able to give judgment in difficult cases, wherein many of us particularly received benefit, and therefore have cause to lament the loss we have by his removal. And oh! say our souls, that the Lord would raise up many more in his room, to the praise and honour of the good Husbandman. And it is our desire that we, who are yet behind, may be made able so to steer our course through this troublesome world, that when our end comes, we may lay down our heads in peace with the Lord, and leave a good savour behind us, as this our friend hath done. This is written in true love and respect to the memory of our deceased friend, as it pleased the Lord to move upon our hearts. And being read and approved in our women's meeting at Hunger-hill, the 4th of the eleventh month 1713, was subscribed in behalf of the said meeting by us, MARY BAKER, ELLWOOD. His natural capacity was large, and his understanding in the things of God, very RICHARD VIVERS' Testimony concerning THOMAS deep; which excellent qualifications meeting in one, rendered him useful beyond many to his country, as well as very serviceable in the church; by both which he is, and will be greatly missed. But he has gone to his grave in a full age, and gathered as a shock of corn He was a man of great wisdom and understanding, and the Lord, the giver of it, being pleased to visit him in his early days, made choice of him, and by the sanctification of his Holy Spirit, fitted and prepared him for his work and service, whereunto he was called. Although he did not often appear as a minister, yet in those meetings set apart for the affairs of Truth, he often appeared in great wisdom, having an extraordinary talent given of the Lord for that work, more than many other brethren. He was faithful in waiting for instruction from God, to improve the same to his glory, and the church's advantage; for nothing was more desirable to him, than to be employed in the Lord's service: so it pleased the Almighty to furnish him with understanding and strength, faithfully to do his day's work. And now he hath taken him to himself, where his soul is at rest; and although our loss be his gain, therein I with many more are greatly comforted, for I can truly say, I loved him in the Truth, from the first of my acquaintance with him, and so it remained to the end of his course, being nearly forty years since we knew each other. Whenever we conversed together, our discourse was chiefly concerning heavenly things, and the affairs of the church. I always thought my time well spent with him, although opportunity would not serve for so much of it as I desired, had it been the will of God. He was a man true to his friend, and deliberate in the choice of his acquaintance, to whom he showed real love and sincerity of heart. He was one of a steady and sound judgment, as to the things of God; often desiring, that those who came amongst us, especially children of believing parents, might not settle down in a form of godliness, without the power, at which door the apostacy entered; but that they might be raised up to walk in that, wherein the saints' fellowship doth stand, which is the light of our Lord Jesus Christ, enlightening every man that cometh into the world. Then the ancient testimony of Truth will be more and more raised up in their hearts, and they being preserved of the Lord in it, it will be maintained in its several branches, as in former days. Blessed be the name of the Lord, who hath a people in these latter ages of the world to whom he hath given power to stand for his Truth whilst on earth, and to be tender of the honour of his name; of the number of whom, this our deceased friend and brother was; who, although dead, yet his memory liveth, and will be preserved amongst the righteous in generations yet to come. RICHARD VIVERS. Banbury, 30th of Eleventh month, 1714. THE LIFE OF THOMAS ELLWOOD. 1639, about the beginning of the eighth month, so far as I have been able to inform myself; for the parish register, which relates to the time, not of birth, but of baptism, as they call it, is not to be relied on. The place of my birth was a little country town called Crowell, situate in the upper side of Oxfordshire, three miles eastward from Thame, the nearest market-town. ALTHOUGH my station not being so eminent To begin, therefore, with mine own begineither in the church of Christ, or in the world,ning. I was born in the year of our Lord as others who have moved in higher orbs, may not afford such considerable remarks as theirs; yet, inasmuch as in the course of my travels through this vale of tears, I have passed through various, and some uncommon exercises, which the Lord hath been graciously pleased to support me under, and conduct me through; I hold it a matter excusable at least, if not commendable, to give the world some little account of my life. In recounting the many deliverances and preservations, which the Lord hath vouchsafed to work for me, both I, by a grateful acknowledgment thereof, and return of thanksgivings unto him there for, may in some measure set forth his abundant goodness to me; and others, whose lot it may be to tread the same path, and fall into the same or like exercises, may be encouraged to persevere in the way of holiness, and with full assurance of mind, to trust in the Lord, whatsoever trial may befall them. My father's name was Walter Ellwood; and my mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Potman; both well descended, but of declining families. What my father possessed, which was a pretty estate in lands, and more as I have heard in monies, he received, as he had done his name Walter, from his grandfather Walter Gray, whose daughter and only child was his mother. In my very infancy, when I was but about two years old, I was carried to London. For the civil war, between king and parliament break There was I bred up, though not without much difficulty, the city air not agreeing with my tender constitution, and there continued until Oxford was surrendered, and the war in appearance ended. ing then forth, my father, who favoured the good reputation, I profited apace, having then parliament side, though he took not arms, not a natural propensity to learning; so that at holding himself safe at his country habitation, the first reading over of my lesson, I comwhich lay too near some garrisons of the monly made myself master of it. And yet, king's, betook himself to London, that city which is strange to think of, few boys in the then holding for the parliament. school wore out more birch than I. For though I was never, that I remember, whipped upon the score of not having my lesson ready, or of not saying it well; yet being a little busy boy, full of spirit, of a working head and active hand, I could not easily conform myself In this time, my parents contracted an ac- to the grave and sober rules, and as I then quaintance and intimate friendship with the thought, severe orders of the school; but was lady Springett, then the widow of Sir Wil-often playing one waggish prank or other liam Springett, who died in the parliament among my fellow-scholars, which subjected service, and afterwards the wife of Isaac Pen-me to correction, so that I have come under ington, eldest son of Alderman Penington of the discipline of the rod twice in a forenoon; London. This friendship devolving from the which yet brake no bones. parents to the children, I became an early and particular playfellow to her daughter Gulielma; being admitted, as such, to ride with her in her little coach, drawn by her footman about Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Had I been continued at this school, and in due time preferred to a higher, I might in likelihood have been a scholar; for I was observed to have a genius apt to learn. But my father having, as soon as the republican government began to settle, accepted the office of a justice of the peace, which was no way beneficial, but merely honorary and every way expensive, and put himself into a port and course of living agreeable thereto; and having also removed my brother from Thame school to Merton college in Oxford, and entered him there in the highest and most chargeable conSoon after the surrender of Oxford, my dition of a fellow-commoner, he found it needfather returned to his estate at Crowell; which ful to retrench his expenses elsewhere; the by that time he might have need enough to hurt of which fell upon me. For he therelook after, having spent, I suppose, the great-upon took me from school, to save the charge est part of the monies which had been left of maintaining me there; which was some. him by his grandfather, in maintaining himself and his family at a high rate in London. I mention this in this place, because the continuation of that acquaintance and friendship, having been an occasional means of my being afterwards brought to the knowledge of the blessed Truth, I shall have frequent cause, in the following discourse, to make honourable mention of that family, to which I am under many and great obligations. My elder brother-for I had one brother and two sisters all elder than myself-while we lived in London, was boarded at a private school, in the house of one Francis Atkinson, at a place called Hadley, near Barnet in Hertfordshire, where he made some good proficiency in the Latin and French tongues. But after we left the city, and were resettled in the country, he was taken from that private school, and sent to the free school at Thame in Oxfordshire. Thither also was I sent, as soon as my tender age would permit; for I was indeed but young when I went, and yet seemed younger than I was, by reason of my low and little stature. It was held for some years a doubtful point, whether I should not have proved a dwarf. But after I arrived to the fifteenth year of my age, or thereabouts, I began to shoot up, and did not give over growing till I had attained the middle size and stature of what like plucking green fruit from the tree, and laying it by before it was come to its due ripeness, which will thenceforth shrink and wither, and lose that little juice and relish which it began to have. Even so it fared with me. For being taken home when I was but young, and before I was well settled in my studies,—though I had made a good progress in the Latin tongue, and was entered in the Greek,-being left too much to myself, to ply or play with my books, or without them, as I pleased, I soon shook hands with my books, by shaking my books out of my hands, and laying them, by degrees, quite aside, and addicted myself to such youthful sports and pleasures as the place afforded, and my condition could reach to. By this means I soon began to lose the little learning I had acquired at school; and by a continued disuse of my books, became at length so utterly a stranger to learning, that I could not have read, far less have understood, a sentence in Latin. Which I was so sensible of, that I warily avoided reading to others, At this school, which at that time was in leven in an English book, lest, if I should meet men. with a Latin word I should shame myself by mispronouncing it. Thus I went on, taking my swing in such vain courses as were accounted harmless recreations; entertaining my companions and familiar acquaintance, with pleasant discourses in our conversations, by the mere force of mother-wit and natural parts, without the help of school cultivation; and was accounted good company too. was going to such an inn at the town; whither if he came, he would make him full satisfaction for whatsoever damage he had sustained thereby. And so on we went, the man venting his discontent, as he went back, in angry accents. At the town, upon inquiry, we understood that it was a way often used and without damage, being broad enough; but that it was not the common road, which yet lay not far from it, and was also good enough; wherefore my father bid his man drive home that way. But I always sorted myself with persons of ingenuity, temperance and sobriety; for I loathed scurrilities in conversation, and had a It was late in the evening when we returnnatural aversion to immoderate drinking. So ed, and very dark; and this quarrelsome man, that in the time of my greatest vanity, I was who had troubled himself and us in the mornpreserved from profaneness, and the grosser ing, having gotten another lusty fellow, like evils of the world; which rendered me ac- himself, to assist him, waylaid us in the night, ceptable to persons of the best note in that expecting we would return the same way we country. I often waited on the Lord Wen- came. But when they found we did not, but man at his house Thame-park, about two miles took the common way, angry that they were from Crowell where I lived; to whose favour disappointed, and loath to lose their purpose, I held myself entitled in a two-fold respect, which was to put an abuse upon us, they both as my mother was nearly related to his coasted over to us in the dark, and laying lady, and as he had been pleased to bestow hold on the horses bridles, stopt them from his name upon me, when he made large pro- going on. My father asking his man, what mises for me at the font. He was a person of the reason was that he went not on, was angreat honour and virtue, and always gave me swered, that there were two men at the horses a kind reception at his table, how often soever heads, who held them back, and would not I came. And I have cause to think, I should suffer them to go forward. Whereupon my have received from this lord some advantage- father opening the boot, stept out, and I folous preferment in this world, as soon as he lowed close at his heels. Going up to the had found me capable of it, (though betwixt place where the men stood, he demanded of him and my father there was not then so good them the reason of this assault. They said an understanding as might have been wished) we were upon the corn. We knew, by the had I not been, in a little time after, called routs, we were not on the corn, but in the cominto the service of the best and highest Lord; mon way, and told them so. But they told us and thereby lost the favour of all my friends, they were resolved they would not let us go on relations and acquaintance of this world. To any farther, but would make us go back again. the account of which most happy exchange I My father endeavoured, by gentle reasoning, hasten, and therefore willingly pass over many to persuade them to forbear, and not to run particularities of my youthful life. Yet one themselves farther into the danger of the law, passage I am willing to mention, for the effect which they were run too far into already; but it had upon me afterwards, which was thus: they rather derided him for it. Seeing thereMy father being then in the commission of fore fair means would not work upon them, he the peace, and going to a petty sessions at spake more roughly to them, charging them to Watlington, I waited on him thither. And deliver their clubs, for each of them had a great when we came near the town, the coach-club in his hand, somewhat like those which man seeing a nearer and easier way than the common road, through a corn-field, and that it was wide enough for the wheels to run, without endamaging the corn, turned down there. Which being observed by an husband- I stood ready at his elbow, waiting only for man, who was at plough not far off, he ran the word of command. For being naturally to us, and stopping the coach, poured forth a of a bold spirit, full then of youthful heat, mouthful of complaints, in none of the best and that too heightened by the sense I had, language, for driving over the corn. My fa- not only of the abuse, but insolent behaviour ther mildly answered him, that if there was of those rude fellows-my blood began to boil an offence committed, he must rather impute and my fingers itched, as the saying is, to be it to his servant, than himself; since he nei- dealing with them. Wherefore stepping boldther directed him to drive that way, nor knewly forward, to lay hold on the staff of him which way he drove.' Yet added, that he that was nearest to me, I said, Sirrah, deliver are called quarter-staves. They thereupon, laughing, told him they did not bring them thither for that end. Thereupon my father, turning his head to me, said, Tom, disarm them.' |