Piety promoted by faithfulness manifested by several testimonies concerning that true servant of God Ann Whitehead.

A TESTIMONY Concerning Our antient and dear Friend Ann Whitehead.

THE one Eternal God, besides whom there is none, has in these last days manifested himself Emanuel, God with us, and in us, of a Truth, and all that into the new Covenant are gathered and there abide have his Teachings, and feel his Presence, and in the eating of the Bread that comes down from God discerns the Body, whereof Christ Jesus is head, and know the Com∣munion and everlasting Union with God and all Saints; so when any are removed or fallen asleep, laying down their earthly Tabernacles, our fellow∣ship in Spirit ceases not, nor do we

sorrow as those without hope, but can with Joy remember, and make mention of those that Lived and Dy∣ed in the holy Faith, not speaking the praise of the Dead, but of the Li∣ving, as this our dear Sister Ann Whitehead, who wrought in God, and her Works follow her; I knew her enterance was at the straight Gate, and had no sooner the sight of the Pearl of great Price, but was willing to sell all for it, so put away that which was delightful to her, tho her own Wotks, & highly priced by others, yet least there should be an Idol in them, were thrown in the Fire by her; yea, all that she thought would stop her in her Enterance, or hinder her walking in the narrow Way, yea her Relations, whom she had manifested much kindness to, yet being contrary to Truth, she seperated from; and thus having cast off that which pressed down, she was not Idle, but testified of the Truth in City and

Country, as called of God, and she manifested, that she was in the true Faith, for it worked by Love, I am a Witness thereof, with many more. Before the Womens Meeting was set∣tled she went visiting the young con∣vinced both Rich, and Poor, Counsel∣ing and Exhorting as was needful, and supplying the Poor, and stirring up others thereto, and watching with those that were Sick, and comforting the Parents with their dying Chil∣dren; yea helpful in many States, and had no Reward, nor looked for none, but what she found in well-doing, and I was one that was a partaker of her free Services, which was in and for the Truth-sake, daily stirring up others thereto, that I then said in my Heart, she was worthy to be an Example to all, but by me rather to be Admired then Imitated, for she was so Provident and Endustrious, that tho she spent her time in doing good, yet did not waste what she had, but

did encrease it every way, having not only an open Heart, but a diligent Hand; but when she came to be a Wife, she was a blessing to her Hus∣band and his Children, as he told me himself, admiring her with many Praises. And since the Womans Meeting came to be settled, in which her Services were very great, as in the Plague time, and after the Fire, necessities being so great, and many, that there was much need of Wisdom and Parts to go through what was required of us, her care, diligence and pains, and readiness in Accounts, and disposing of it more then many, for her abillities therein exceeded most, tho many were willing to work with her, but she only in those things moved the great Wheel that caused the rest to follow, and she be∣came a Mother to teach and provide for many, and some have, and may confess and call her Blessed, whose counsel and help raised some Families,

and preserved others from Ruin. O let her own Works praise her; but being in my Heart since her Removal, in the Night and in the Day, I could not be clear without making some mention in plainness of that sound Judgment & Wisdom, with Charity, that our God had endued her withal, that as she followed our Lord Jesus Christ, we might be followers of her; but neither I nor any can add unto her, but what is brought to our re∣membrance of one so worthy to be an Example, that the minds of some may be stirred up to like Wisdom, Endustry and Practice of those Vir∣tues, in which she did excel; for we have many Daughters among us that have done worthily, but in many things she exceeded us all.

Reb••ca Travars.

POSTCRIPT.

WHen I heard her Husband, and some others had given forth a Testimony of her, I desired to have seen it, but did not see any until I had writ this of my own, for I being sensible of my old Age and decayed Memory, with my Incapacity, thought it would excuse me, if I said nothing, but as I put it from me, it encreased in my mind, the remembrance of her many worthy Works, and great Suf∣ferings for the precious Truths sake, that if called to it, I could have writ a large Relation of her Actings and Sufferings for the Truths sake, since I knew her, which is about twenty eight Years, but let this little suffice to shew my good will, &c.

A better name then that of Sons and Daughters God does give, To them that in his Light do purely Live, For they receive power to eschew all Evil, And so reign over Sin, Death and Devil; And she and all such, even of free Grace, Sit down with Christ within the heavenly Place, So they, and all that in our God do Trust, And have no Idol, but adore the Just, For its his Righteousness that maketh pure, And this is the Life that ever does endure, And into this Ocean of Life & endless Love, God gathers those that seek the things above.

R. T.