The history of the life of Thomas Ellwood: Or, an account of his birth, education, &c. with divers observations on his life and manners when a youth: ... Also several other remarkable passages and occurrences. Written by his own hand. To which is added, a supplement by J. W.

THE PREFACE.

GAther up the Fragments that remain, that nothing be Lost, John 6. 12. Was the direction of our Saviour to his Disciples, after he had fed the Mul|titude. Which may well and usefully be applied, to the Collecting and Pre|serving the Accounts of the Lives of Good Men: Men who in their Day, have been eminently useful in those Stations of Life, wherein God, by his good Providence, hath placed them. And this preserving, by Publication, is the rather to be done, when themselves do leave behind them, in Writing, an Ac|count of their Lives, and of the signal Mercies of God to them therein: For

from such Accounts, may best be gather|ed, by the Reader, the Man's particular State, Exercise and Growth in the Work of Restoration, out of the Fall and Dege|neracy: And, in the Reading thereof, be not only excited to Bless the Name of the Lord, on his behalf; but also gain some direction from the Path, so fairly tract out, and ground of Hope; that by be|ing Faithful, they may likewise attain to the same good Experience.

There is not with me any doubt, but something of this kind may be the Lot of many, into whose Hands this Treatise may happen to come; for that they will herein meet with variety of Exercises, and the Providences of God therein, all related with great strength and plainness of Speech: Our Deceased Friend Thomas Ellwood, having been a Man whom God had endued with singular Abilities, both as a Man, and as a Christian; which is e|vident, not only from this short Account of his Life, which was written by him|self, and by the Supplement added here|unto;

but more largely from his many useful Labours and Services in the ma|ny Books which he writ in the Defence of Truth, and the Friends thereof: For which Service he was in a particular manner qualified, by Spiritual Wisdom and Christian Obedience; to which, in him, was added great strength and depth of Judgment, wherein he could discern the Spirits of others, and was very much the Master of his own, as did appear to such who knew him, not only by the soundness of his Reasoning, and the Sea|sonableness of his Words; but also by his great and exemplary Modesty, in that he was not hasty to propose, nor rudely tenacious to insist on what he had proposed; if any thing, though not well exprest, yet well intended, was offered by any one much Weaker; nay, though but by a Babe in Christ.

His Countenance was Manly and Chear|ful; His Deportment Grave, yet Affable and Courteous, even to the meanest Per|son; His Conversation Innocent, Pleasant

and Instructive, yet severe against any thing that was beyond the Liberty of Truth. These, with his other Qualifica|tions of Body and Mind, did render him both very Acceptable and very Useful, as a Friend, as a Neighbour, and as a Member and Elder in the Church of Christ; and the more, for that his Time was chiefly Imployed in being Service|able in one or other of these Capacities.

I might here particularly mention the several Labours of our Deceased Friend, according to their respective Times, and the Nature of their several Subjects; but much of this being already done in the ensuing Pages, I chuse to remit the Reader thither; by which possibly he may be excited to the Perusal of them, and shall only say concerning them, that the Judicious Reader will easily Observe, that his Method and Stile do denote him to have been a Scholar: And yet not farther so, than the Simplicity and Purity of the Truth, whereof he made Profession, would permit him.

I was with our Friend Thomas Ell|wood, the greater part of his Sickness: In which he was also very frequently visit|ed by our Friend George Bowles, who was his Neighbour; to whom therefore I refer, for the Account which he may give of his Sickness and Dying Words.

As it was my good Lot to be well acquainted with him (though only in the latter Years of his Life) and know that he did neither use nor encourage the bestowing Elaborate Encomiums up|on Persons Deceased: So neither shall I add further concerning him, than to say with the Apostle concern|ing the Faithful, That he was Righteous, God Testifying of his Gifts; and by it being Dead, yet Speaketh.

J. W.

London the 12th of the 2d Month, 1714.

Notes

• Heb. 11. 4.