People to receive Truth's Teftimony, and fome were convinced by Means of their Ministry.

In the Year 1686, he came to Ireland the fourth time; and after having visited most of the Meetings of Friends in the Nation, he took to Wife Joan, the Daughter of John Cooke, and fettled at Limerick, ftill continuing diligent in the Exercife of his Gift, to the Edification of the Churches. He went to the next Half-year's Meeting, and from thence to England, vifiting Friends in the North and Weft Parts thereof, and London and Essex.

He continued at Limerick in the Year 1689 and 1690, in the troublesome Times of the Wars between King William and King James, and during the firft Siege; but in the Year 1691, before the fecond Siege, while King Jame's Army had Poffeffion of the City, he removed himself and Family to Cumberland, having been wonderfully preferved through great Dangers from the Rapparees, who then harboured much in the Way to Dublin.

But notwithstanding all these Troubles, he ftill continued laborious and fervent in Spirit, in vifiting the Meetings of Friends; and in the Year 1692, again vifited the Brethren in Scot land. And in the Year 1693 he returned to Ireland, and fettled and continued his Refidence in Dublin the remaining Part of his Life during which time, whilft of Ability, he frequently vifited Friends in the three Provinces, and fometimes had Meetings in Places where

;

no

no Meetings of Friends were fettled. He alfo fometimes vifited Friends in divers Parts of England and Wales, and was frequently at the Yearly-meeting at London.

He was a very diligent Attender, not only of Meetings for divine Worship, where he was particularly careful in obferving the Hour appointed, but also of those for Discipline, and was scarce ever abfent, (unless when engaged in travelling elsewhere on Truth's Service) from the Province and Quarterly - meetings, until difabled by Infirmity of Body.

He was a Man of good Understanding, though but little School Learning, of a sweet Temper, in Converfation pleasant and affable, an affectionate Hufband and Father, a frequent and fympathizing Vifiter of the Sick He was a diligent and faithful Minifter, and his Labours were often crowned with Succefs to the Convincement of many, fome of whom proved serviceable and eminent in the Church, and to the Edification and Establishment of others.

In the Exercife. of his Gift he was clear, folid and lively, even unto extream old Age. In Prayer, living, reverent, weighty and concife; in his Deportment, meek and humble, not elevated by his Gifts and good Services; a diligent Reader of the holy Scriptures, and, in his Preaching, a faithful Quoter of them; tender of the Glory of God, and of the Honour of our holy Principle.

He

He retained his Integrity, as well as Underftanding and Memory, to the laft. And expired the 7th of the Twelfth Month, and was buried in Friends Burying Place in Dolphin's Barn-lane, Dublin, the 10th of the fame, in the Year 1742, being the Ninety first Year of his Age, and about the Sixty feventh of his Ministry.

A Teftimony from the Quarterly - meeting of Birmingham, concerning ELIZABETH HANDS.

E

LIZABETH HANDS, Wife of our worthy Friend John Hands of Warwick, was born on the 3d Day of the Third Month 1667. Her Father and Mother were both convinced of the bleffed Truth when she was very young; her Mother being foon removed by Death, her Father took Care to educate her in the Principles of Truth, which being attended with a steady walking in Faithfulness to the divine Discoveries made known to her, he was well efteemed when young.

;

In the Year 1687 fhe was married to the aforefaid John Hands and in the Year 1705 fhe came forth in publick Ministry; in which the faithfully laboured, to the Exhortation, Edification and Comfort of the Church of Chrift; and though fhe had a large Family,

was

was fometimes drawn forth, in the Love of Truth, to vifit Friends in divers Parts of the Nation And in her own Family was a good Example, not only of Frugality and Industry, for the Support of the fame, as becomes the Profeffors of Truth, but also of Piety, Virtue and Zeal for the Promotion thereof. Her Stability, Patience and Chearfulness, in the clofeft Exercifes and Trials, were very remarkable. She was a true Sympathizer with those in Afflictions, and often vifited fuch, both among Friends and other Societies, to great Satisfaction and Comfort.

She was frequent in fecret Retirement, and fteady in waiting for the Renewal of Strength from above; examplary in diligently attending Meetings both for Worship and Difcipline, in which she was not an indifferent or lukewarm, but a lively Member; and was often attended with Tokens of Fervency in Spirit, and of one travelling in the Deeps, even when bodily Weakness and Infirmities lay heavy upon her; which still increafing, prevented her going much abroad for fome confiderable time before her laft Ilness, which fhe bore, about two Weeks, with much Fortitude of Mind, and Refignation to the divine Will, and was gathered like a Shock of Corn in due Seafon; and is, we doubt not, entered into the Manfions of eternal Reft and Blifs.

She departed this Life the 2d Day of the Third Month 1743, and was interred, the 5th

of

of the fame, in Friends Burying Ground in Warwick, in the Seventy fixth Year of her Age. A Minifter about Thirty eight Years.

A Testimony from the Monthly meeting of Kendal in the County of Westmorland, concerning WILLIAM WILLIAMSON.

HE

E was the Son, of our Friends Thomas and Agnes Williamfon, of Bannerig in the Parish of Windermore, and County of Westmorland; born the 7th of the Tenth Month 1684. His Parents were religious, and careful of his Education, which, through divine Aid, had that Effect on him, that as he grew in Years, he grew in Grace, and the faving Knowledge of our bleffed Lord Jefus Chrift; for, when but a Child, he witneffed the Influence of divine Virtue fo to operate on his Mind, that about the Seventeenth Year of his Age, he came forth in a publick Testimony to the Truth, and laboured faithfully therein; travelling through Cumberland and Scotland, in Company with our Friend Ifaac Thompson, in 1704; and, in the Years 1708 and 1709, with our Friend Thomas Wiljon, vifited the Western and Southern Parts of this Nation; frequently attending the Service of the National Meeting.