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

Mary Stout HER TESTIMONY FOR Ann Whitehead

AS concerning that true and faithful Servant of the Lord, our dear and wel-beloved Friend and Sister in the Truth Ann Whitehead, there is little need of much to be spoken in Character of her, she was so well known and read in the Hearts of most of the Faithful now in Beeing: But that the Gene∣rations to come may know what Worthies and Faithful Followers of the Lamb the Lord hath blessed this Age withal, who were as the first Fruits unto God in their Age, that

others also may tread in their steeps, and walk as they walked; therefore it is meet that something should be spoken on this wise, and left upon Record, for the memorial of the Just shall live forever.

I am very sensible that there are many dear Friends, especially in and about London, in whose Hearts the Lord had given her an honourable place, and would give her the right hand of Fellowship, whereupon e∣very rememberance of her do greatly lament their loss, and are ready to say in their Hearts, with me, Alass our dear Sister, who shall supply thy place? but that we know him who is al-sufficient, and will fit and prepare In∣struments to carry on his own Work, and is able also to pour forth a double porti∣on of his good Spirit, (wherewith she was richly endued) upon those who persevere in wel-doing, and continue to the end, as she did.

She was one of those that came

forth early, even at the beginning and breaking forth of that glorious day, in these our last times, which many of the Righteous have longed to see, but have not seen it; and she received the Truth in the love of it, and did bear her part of the Burden and heat of the Day, and discharged her Place, and performed that service in the Body unto which she was cal∣led with Faithfulness, and was a true Servant unto the Church of Christ, of which she was a living Member, her Love and Care extended unto all, e∣ven from the highest to the lowest and weakest Member thereof, and the daily concerns of her Mind, and travel of her Spirit, and continual endeavours, were, that all things might be so managed, and performed, that the Lord might be honoured, and his People so preserved, as that his Truth might prosper and be advan∣ced through and over all: Thus through her true practicing Religion

and constant diligence in the Work and Service of the Lord, she did ar∣rive to such a state in Christianity, and was grown into such a clearness and soundness of Judgment, and was so impartial therein, that she answered the Witness of God, and gained estimation and true value in the Hearts of the Righteous.

I shall not descend into particulars to speak what I know of her, al∣though, if I should, I could say much, having been anciently & intimately acquainted with her, even above thir∣ty Years, and knew the frame of her Spirit, and the singleness and up∣rightness of her Heart to the Lord, to be such, that I must needs give un∣to her Memory its due, and say, that although I do know many Faithful and Worthy Women, who are dear and precious in the sight of the Lord, and may truly be called Mothers in Israel, yet I know none that did exceed her.

When I look back, and call to mind the time of our first Convincement by the Spirit of Truth, and th•• uni∣ting of our Hearts thereby unto the Lord, and one unto another, and how we, with many more dear Friends, have been preserved by and in the li∣ving sence & feeling of the invisible power of the Lord, in Unity with him, and one with another, even un∣to the day of her departure out of this World, (when several who came forth with us are fallen by the way) I say, the remembrance there∣of is precious, and rejoyceth my Heart, even more then I have words to express.

And now, as to what was spoken by her when she came to her Death-Bed, I question not but those dear Friends which vvere about her, and vvere longer vvith her then I, have already given a more full and particu∣lar account then I am able to do; only thus much I must say, that her

patience and quietness of Mind, and resignation of Spirit, together with those heavenly expressions of that true Peace and full satisfaction, and assurance of the Love and Favour of God at her Death, doth abundantly evidence & confirm what is written of her Life; for she did certainly die the Death of the Righteous, and her latter End was like theirs, & the close of her Days, and finishing of her Course, doth demonstrate that she had keep the Faith, and that thence∣forth there was laid up for her a Crown of Righteousness.

Har••ord the 12th Day of the 8th Month 1686.

Mary Stout.