Lord? who preserved him, through all his hardships, to a dominion over false brethren, and is now out of their reach, and of temptation too; on whose head the blessing ask'd for Joseph rests; who as a fruitful bough his branch spreads over the wall of opposition and his bow abode in strength; the hands of whose arms were made strong by the help of the mighty God of Jacob, to whom be the glory for what He hath wrought in our day, whose own works praise Him for ever more. And the tears of sorrow that we shed, for the loss of this our deceased friend, let them be remembered to bow our spirits, each of us into a Godly care, that we may come up according to our several capacities, to follow the Lord faithfully, in a goodly zeal for His honour; and so come to lay down our heads in joy and peace, as this our friend expressed he did. "This eminent servant of Christ was early convinced of the way of Truth, wherein he continued to the finishing of his days; for the sake of which he soon became a sufferer, not only by imprisonment, for worshipping God in the assemblies of His people, but also from his father, by whom he was made an outcast for no other cause but for his faithful testimony in taking up the cross to the world's behaviour and language: whereupon he was invited by his much valued friend Isaac Penington to his house, where he abode several years until he married. He was a blessing in, as well as a great comfort and help to, that family; and by his wise conduct therein gained much esteem, not only from the elders but the youth whom he instructed in learning; and though most of them are by death removed yet one still remains who from certain and experimental knowledge can commemorate his worth, being engaged thereto from a sense of the benefit of his good and wholesome advice, given at sundry times and divers occasions. Which friendship continued firm to the last. "His natural capacity was large and his understanding in the things of God very deep; which excellent qualifications meeting in one rendered him useful beyond many to his country as well as very serviceable in the Church; by both which he is, and will be, greatly missed. But he is gone to his grave in a full age, and gathered as a shock of corn in its season, having done his day's work faithfully. So that saying may be verified in him: the end crowns all. "His sickness was sudden, which soon deprived him of the use of his limbs; yet he retained the faculties of his inward and outward senses clear all along; and notwithstanding at times his pains were great, his exemplary patience and composed resignation was remarkably apparent to those that visited and attended him; so that their sorrow in parting with so dear a friend was intermixed with comfort in beholding the heavenly frame of mind wherewith he was adorned. "Thus after all his labours he entered into everlasting rest, and left many behind weeping, though not without hope that they shall again meet at the general assembly of saints, where the redeemed shall sing praises to their blessed Redeemer whose right it is to reign for ever. "We have this further to add, namely, that our esteem of him was great because of that real worth that was in him through the operation of the mighty power of the Lord that separated him from the love of the world: so that he chose, with Moses, rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and it pleased the Lord to fit him with wisdom and counsel so that he was able to give judgement in difficult cases, wherein many of us have particularly received benefit, and therefore have cause to lament the loss we have by his removal. And, oh! say our souls, that the Lord would raise up many more in his room to the praise and honour of the good husbandman. And it is our desire that we who are yet behind, may be made able so to steer our course through this troublesome world, that when our end comes we may lay down our heads in peace with the Lord and leave a good savour behind us as this our friend hath done. "This is written in true love and respect to the memory of our deceased friend as it pleased the Lord to move upon our hearts. And being read and approved in our women's meeting at Hunger-hill the 4th of the eleventh month 1713, was subscribed on behalf of the said meeting by us. "MARY BAKER, MARY WHARLEY, "CONCERNING OUR DEAR FRIEND THOMAS ELLWOOD OF 66 HUNGER-HILL. Good men "He was much esteemed among good men. in their day and station upon earth represent Him who made all things good in the beginning, who said (Gen. i. 3), 'Let there be light: and there was light'. And also said (ver. 26), 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness'. Oh, high favour! So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, (ver. 27), and blessed them and gave them dominion under Himself.' For He was chief commander then, and so He is witnessed to be now where His heavenly image is come into again and men live in it as did this our dear friend, who did good in his day and generation: counsel was with him, to give to such as needed and did apply to him. and had dominion over passion, over pride and over covetousness: so he was comfortable to and in his family. He was amiable in the Church of Christ, and a doer of good among his neighbours And being an elder amongst and He was of a tender spirit with the elders, he hath not only gained a good report, but also the blessing in the promised seed, which bruise the serpent's head. He was valiant in suffering for his testimony which he held in the Truth; and may not I say unwearied in his labours in the setting forth the fame and excellency of it? whereby we see what the truth makes men to be who do come under the conduct of it; even as fixed stars in the firmament of His Divine power, who has caused the morning of his glorious Gospel day to break forth; and as with the day that springs from high in tender mercy hath he visited many souls. And early did this our worthy deceased friend embrace it, as it appears by his testimony concerning that eminent and blessed messenger and minister of the Gospel, George Fox. "And now he, having endured the times of proving, and the days of tribulation and suffering, together with the perils and slights, and undervaluings of false brethren against whose ungodly work he was engaged to stand as a noble warrior in the defence of and for the glorious Gospel of Christ, not admiring men's persons but the worth of the Gospel power. And although he was endowed with parts and accomplishments above many, he was humble and grave; not self-seeking, but esteeming the power of Truth, though it did appear through mean instruments. He was honourable and honoured for that he sought not his own honour, but the honour of Truth; not only by his sufferings for it and labours in it, but also, in standing firmly against the loose libertine ones, who would have thrust in amongst the lambs and flocks of Christ, in an unclean adulterating spirit, from the life of the true Shepherd and true Husband Christ Jesus. But to the tender hearted and sincere minded he was strengthening and comfortable. I knew him when I was but young, and I can truly say my heart has often been affected on his behalf, with thankfulness to the Lord, who made him as a strong pillar in His spiritual house, with many more of His dear servants and children 6 His memory who shall no more go out. is in my heart esteemed beyond what I can write. Oh, surely! The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance (Psal. cxii. 6). And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Dan. xii. 3). "ELIZ. RICHARDSON. "HUNGER-HILL the 5th of the seventh month, 1713.” "RICHARD VIVERS HIS TESTIMONY ELLWOOD CONCERNING THOMAS "He was a man of great wisdom and understanding, and the Lord, the Giver of it, being pleased to visit him in his early days, made choice of him, and, by the sanctification of His Holy Spirit, fitted and prepared him for His work and service, whereunto he was called. And altho' he did not often appear as a minister, yet in those meetings set apart for the affairs of Truth he often appeared in great wisdom, having an extraordinary talent given of the Lord for that work, more than many other brethren; and faithful he was in waiting for instruction from God to improve the same to His glory and the Church's advantage; for nothing was more desirable to him than to be employed in the Lord's service: so it pleased the Almighty to furnish him with understanding and strength faithfully to do his day's work. And now He hath taken him to Himself, where his soul is at rest; and although our loss be his gain, therein I with many more am greatly comforted, for I can truly say I loved him in the Truth from the first of my acquaintance with him, and so it remained to the end of his course, being near forty years since we knew each |