God's mighty power magnified as manifested and revealed in his faithful handmaid Joan Vokins, who departed this life the 22d of the 5th month, 1690, having finished her course, and kept the faith : also some account of her exercises, works of faith, labour of love, and great travels in the work of the ministry, for the good of souls.

A Testimon•• 〈…〉〈…〉 work of God's Power.

Because of the marvellous love of God in Christ Jesus, I cannot conceal my Testimony for the wonderful work of his Eternal Power that hath been admirably manifested in my poor Soul and weak frail Body, and if I should not leave a short Testimony of it to Posterity, I should be very ungrateful; and I pray God that the sin of In∣gratitude may not be laid heavy on any of us professing Truth, when the Messenger of Death calls, but that while we live we may live in subjection to his Almigh∣ty Power, that when we die, we may seal our Testi∣monies thereunto in true submission, and receive the blessed reward of the faithful.

OH what tongue can declare, the wonder∣ful loving kindness of the Lord, as is ex∣perienced by those that obey his Commands; Surely that is the way to abide in his love, and his great love has been so largely manifested to me, that it has ingaged me so to love him a∣gain, as to forsake the Worlds Glory, Customs, and Fashions, Vanities, Elements, Traditions, and Superstitions, and to take up my Daily-Cross and follow Jesus through the many Tri∣bulations: But blessed be his worthy Name; he hath filled my cup with his sweet consolati∣ons; and caused me to say, that one day in his

Courts, is better then a thousand elsewhere; and I had rather be a door keeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the pleasantest palace of the Wicked: For until I through ten∣der mercy, had unity with Jesus in his divine Spirit of Light, my Soul could have no true satisfaction, though never so self-righteous, but when the heart-searching Light made manifest my condition, my heart was so affected with it, that I still desired the operation of the pow∣er of it; and as I came to watch in the mea∣sure of it, I became aware of the enemy, and through Faith in Christ Jesus obtained a waiting state; which could not be obtained by me, but as I felt the Almighty Power to rebuke the sub∣til enemy that lies so nigh, but as we are com∣manded to watch, we find great benefit by keeping that command. And magnified be that wonderful power that has preserved in dangers deep, and difficulties many; there is nothing too hard for it to do, it has often re∣buked the destroyer, and helped the helpless, and strengthen the weak, and supported the needy, and as we have waited for it, we have been partakers of the arising of it, to our com∣fort, when our Souls have been in a desolate condition, when we cold not help our selves, nor had none to help us: Oh! how hath it wrought by Sea and Land, among false Bre∣thren; it hath so signally preserved and wrought deliverances many, somtimes by ways unex∣pected; surely its worthy to be trusted in, and depended upon, and magnified as it hath been

manifested, my Soul hath cause to say to the Honour and Renown of it, for its perfect strength hath been my support in every great weakness, and in its strength I have travelled many thousands of Miles by Land, and many thousand Leagues by Sea, through many and sore exercises, both inwardly and outwardly, and it hath raised my Soul from Death, and my Body many times from the brink of the Grave: oh let it have the honour of its own Works, saith my Soul; for it is worthy, for it will make the strong to bow, and the weak to be as David, and it is worthy to be extolled in a wonderful manner, for no heart can be too much affected with it, there is al-sufficiency in it, to relieve the poor and to incourage the fe∣ble: though there be much to be met with in our Heavenly prayers, yet here is a sure defence in stormy times, wherein (glory unto it) I have found shelter, when many times in a weary condition by reason of exercise of Soul and Spirit, and weakness and pain of Body: Oh! how many hundred Miles have I travelled in this the Land of my Nativity, and thousands elsewhere, in such a condition, not having ma∣ny well Days in many Years together, but yet have good cause to say, (to the honour and renown of the sanctifying power of the God of my life) blessed be the Lord Jesus, his Rod and Staff has comforted me, and he is always with me, and I have cause to admire the tender deal∣ing of my Heavenly Father, for he hath ex∣ercised me in the deep, and made his wonders

known. And I have cause to speak well of his worthy Name, for it hath been as oyntment powred into my poor wounded Soul, and it was also so much comfort and strength to my weak body, that I can tenderly invite others, to come and tast and see how good that name is that brings salvation, that those that desire for it, may obtain it; for as the heart comes to be bowed unto the powerful Name of Jesus, and the Soul and Spirit comes to be gathered into a sense of the great love of God; there will then be felt a necessity to serve and obey the God of all our Mercies. And this was with me when in great weakness, when temp∣tations came in as a flood, and the buffetings of the enemy was ready to overcome; Oh Bles∣sed and Magnified, and Renowned over all, be that Everlasting Power, that wrought a re∣signment so effectually, and caused me to cast my care upon him, that always careth for his children, who is the holy one, and dwelleth in the highest Heavens, and takes regard to them of low degree, for he has been more to me, then all that this World can produce, and hath fulfilled many precious Scriptures; and hath not been wanting as a tender Father, but his mercies of old, and the continuation of his favours, and the renewing of his tender deal∣ing, have deeply obliged me to glorifie him un∣to the end, and in the end for evermore, for he is worthy, for he hath redeemed my Soul from out of the grave of Sin and Death; and now may I say to the praise, and honour, and

renown of his powerful Name, that to live is Christ, and to die is so much gain, that my soul is deeply affected in a true Consideration of the same; oh that my posterity and friends for whom my soul hath so long breathed and travelled may be so concerned, that every one may be made partakers of the like precious faith with me, while on the stage of this World, that we may leave a faithful Testimony behind, that the generations to come may be induced thereby to fear and serve the Lord, for he is a sure rewarder of all them that are diligent in so doing, not only in this Wor•••• but in that which is to come with Life ••••••••••••sting, World wtthout end, Amen.

Joan Vokins.

This was written a few Months before her decease, about the 1st Month, 1690.