of all Good, for great and fingular Services in the Church, not only in Difcipline, in which he was excellent, exerting himself in great Wisdom; but through the lively and powerful Influences of divine Grace, confpicuously arrayed with Beauty and Brightness in his Ministry, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, and unfolding the Myfteries of the Gospel, to the informing and convincing many who before were unacquainted therewith, and to the Comfort and Encouragement of fuch as were under Affliction and Diftrefs of Mind in their religious Progrefs.

Much might be faid of his excellent Qualifications, Services and diligent Labours in this Nation, Ireland and America; in all which Places he travelled under the Influence of that divine Power and Authority, by which he was enabled to turn many from Darkness to Light, and from the Paths of Difobedience to the Wisdom of the Just.

A more full and exact Account we must fufpend giving at prefent, not being supplied with Materials to be more particular, but which we hope in a little time to be furnished with, by which we may give a more full and ample Account of the Labours and Services of this great and good Man our deceased Friend; the Removal of whom is not only a great Lofs to us, but likewife to the Church in general. But not to dwell much upon that, we fincerely defire that the great Lord, who fo eminently qualified

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qualified him, would raise up many more fuch bright Ornaments in the Church, that Zion may become a beautiful Habitation, and Jerufalem the Praife of the whole Earth.

He departed this Life on the 21ft of the Third Month 1751, Aged about Fifty nine, a Minifter about Thirty eight Years.

A Short Teftimony remains upon my Mind to add, concerning my dear and entirely beloved Hufband BENJAMIN KIDD, deceased, whofe Memory remains and is very precious, and as a fweet Savour in his Family, and to those that were near and dear unto him.

HFather,

E was a tender Hufband, an indulgent and a true Friend to all Mankind; early called into his Mafter's Vineyard to labour, and indeed made great Improvement in the fame. In his laft Ilnefs he was afflicted with great Pain and Sicknefs, which was hard to bear, yet he underwent it with abundance of Patience, without murmuring or repining, being freely refigned to the divine Hand which fupported him, and gave him a grounded Hope and Affurance of his Well-being.

When the Hickcough firft feized him, he was full of Joy, faying, This is a welcome Meffenger, it is one Step nearer. And I standing by him faid, Why, my Dear? He answered,

It will be a glorious Change; 1 am not afraid to die, and to put on Immortality: That will be durable, yet I leave it; though of Choice I had rather be diffolved, but the Lord's Time will be the best Time. Often faying, Death would be the most welcome Messenger he ever met with.

Now he is gone to his Reft, to reap the bleffed Fruits of his Labour: May those that are left behind follow his worthy Example, that they may enjoy the fame Bleffing, is the ardent Defire of my Mind for all.

MARY KIDD.

A Teftimony from Moate Monthly meeting in Ireland, concerning WILLIAM SPROULE.

H

E was born at Toberet in the County of Westmeath in Ireland, in or about the Year 1674; defcended of honeft and religiously inclined Parents, who educated him in the Way of the Church of England; and (as at times he has, in a tender and fweet Frame of Mind, related to fundry of us) the Lord was pleased, in Mercy, to vifit him in his early Days, and by the Operation of his divine. Grace and good Spirit in his Heart, did incline him to a Search after, and hunger for, that Bread which only and truly fatisfies the hungry Soul; yet not meeting therewith, though a

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close Attender of Time and Place appointed for publick Worship, it caufed him much Trouble of Mind; which his Father observing, and understanding the Reason, recommended him to the Notice of the Bishop, and others of the most eminent Clergy, with whom he had many Opportunities, but to little Satisfaction, finding them all Strangers to the Way and Workings of that divine Spirit which, in degree, was at work in him; and also the Emptiness of their Recommendations to the Obfervance of outward Performances; the Practice whereof he had experienced would no way contribute to true Peace, but rather the contrary: He therefore betook himself to reading the Scriptures, Meditation, and folitary walking about the Fields; in which, at times, the Lord was pleafed, in Mercy and Goodness, to enlighten his Understanding, and afford of his Life-giving Prefence, to his inexpreffible Joy and Comfort; and having fome little Acquaintance with, and liking to Particulars of the People called Quakers, Defires were raised to know more of them, and the Principles profeffed by them; and accordingly he got to fome Meetings, and converfed with them; and believing it to be his Place to join in Society with them, acquainted his Father therewith, who tenderly answered, That if he really thought it his Duty fo to do, he gave him his free Confent, and wished it might contribute to his Peace of Mind, or Words to that Import.

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Some Years after, he married amongst Friends, and fettled in the Town of Athlone, where his Chriftian - like Life and becoming Deportment gained him the Love and Efteem of all Ranks of People, both in the Town and Neighbourhood.

His fitting in Meetings appeared to be under much Weight and Exercife of Spirit. In or about the Year 1730, his Mouth was opened in the Ministry. While of Ability of Body, he often attended Half-year's, Quarterly and Province-meetings; and vifited fome Meetings in the neighbouring Provinces. In his publick Appearances he was weighty and tender, much to our Edification and Comfort. He was freely given up to every Service of the Society, and particularly serviceable in Family Vifits, wherein he was well accepted.

For fome time before his Decease, he laboured under a painful Disorder of the Stone and Gravel, which he patiently bore with much Refignation, being fenfible to the laft. He quietly departed this Life, the 23d of the Third Month 1751, and was buried in Friends Burying Ground at Moate the 25th of the same.

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