The Teftimony of the Quarterly - meeting of Cumberland, concerning THOMAS WILKINSON, of Beckfoot.

TH

HIS our ancient Friend defcended of honest Parents, though not of our Profeffion, and was born in the Year 1653. They died when he was young. He was educated, by a Relation, in the Way of the Church of England, and was by Nature wild, though not guilty of grofs Evils. About the Fourteenth Year of his Age it pleafed the Lord to vifit him, and bring him under Conviction for his youthful Vanities; which he divers times expreffed his Thankfulness for in his last Ilness; commemorating alfo, the Lord's working upon him, and how he came to know a paffing through the Ministration of Condemnation, which he patiently abode under, till he came to witnefs Juftification and Peace. And being fully convinced of the Way of Truth, he joined himself with Friends ; and after fome Time, waiting in Silence with them, he received a Gift of the Ministry, and travelled, when but young, through moft Parts of this Nation and Wales; and feveral times vifited Friends in Scotland and Ireland ; approving himself a faithful Labourer according to his Measure, and was inftrumental in turning feveral to Righteousness.

His Miniftry was not with enticing Words of Man's Wisdom, but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power: And he was endued with an excellent Gift of Prayer. And as he bore a faithful Teftimony in Word and Doctrine, his Converfation was agreeable thereto. He also bore a zealous Teftimony against Tithes; and for Non-payment of a small Modus out of his Estate of Land, he was profecuted in the Court of Exchequer, by the Farmers of Tithes; upon which Account he fuffered Imprisonment at Carlisle, and in the Fleet at London, fixteen Years before he was discharged: All which Suffering he patiently bore without murmuring; and often faid, He never enjoyed more of the Lord's Favour than in bis Confinement.

He paffed through many Hardships, and great Exercises, by the Pearfons, and bore a faithful Teftimony against them, and the Spirit they appeared in, at the Meeting to which he belonged: As his Dwelling was near the Meeting-houfe, he fuffered many Abuses by them in their Malice and Rage; but that which was mcft afflicting, was the Danger the Meeting was in, of being laid wafte by them: Under

Thofe Pearfons were Ranters bitter Enemies to the Society; frequently disturbed their Meetings for Worship in an unprecedented Manner, and treated Individuals with great Outrages and Infults.

Under which Affliction this our Friend stood firm, himself and Family being inftrumental to uphold the Meeting, and were a great Strength to Friends. In his laft Ilness, fome Friends fitting by him, he faid, He had no Trouble in his Mind for any Thing he had done concerning them, they being rebellious against God and his People.

He was vifited with an intermitting Fever about three Weeks; during which Time, he was patient and fenfible, and freely refigned himself up to the Lord's Will; often fignifying, That nothing flood in his Way, and that he had the full Evidence of Joy and Peace. He gave good Advice to Friends, and to his Children and Family, defiring, the Lord might bless them with the Dew of Heaven.

He was of good Service in the Church. His Heart and Houfe were open to ferve and entertain Strangers. He departed this Life the 20th of the Eighth Month 1731, in full Unity with Friends, and was decently interred the 22d of the fame, in their Burying Place at Beckfoot; his Corps being accompanied by many Friends and fober Neighbours, where divers living Teftimonies were born for the Truth. Aged upwards of Seventy eight, a Minifter about Fifty Years.

A Testimony

A Teftimony from the Quarterly - meeting of Kendal in the County of Westmorland, concerning CHRISTOPHER WINN.

Ο

UR dear and worthy Friend Christopher Winn was born near Sedbergh in Yorkshire, in the Year 1655, and educated in the Way of the Church of England. He was convinced of the bleffed Truth, about the Year 1680, by that eminent and worthy Minister of Chrift Roger Haydock: For a farther Account of which, we refer to a following fhort Narrative, left by him in Manufcript.

He was called to the Work of the Ministry about the Year 1683, in which he laboured fervently and faithfully, being fuitably qualified for the fame; and in Testimony would frequently speak of the Lord's gracious Dealings with his People; exhorting Friends to a Refignedness of Mind to ferve him faithfully; and even travailed in Pain, that Chrift might be formed in all. He was powerful in Prayer, and in Supplication oftentimes favoured with a near Access to Divine Goodness.

His great Care and Concern for the Welfare. of Sion, fully manifefted his fincere Love to Truth and the Brethren. He was diligent in attending Meetings; a ftrict Obferver of the Hour appointed: And the Care of the Church E

grew

grew daily upon him; being concerned in a particular manner, that a godly and zealous Discipline should be maintained, so that Judgment might be placed upon every Tranfgreffor, and the Church be made clean: And although he used to deal plainly with Backfliders, yet, in a truly Christian Spirit, entreated with fuch Meekness, and moving Tenderness, as generally had a good Effect, being duly cautious of hardening or hurting any. He was full of Love, and meek in Expreffion to the Babes in Chrift.

He was a Man of an innocent, inoffenfive Conduct, and cheerful in Converfation; and what rendered the fame more agreeable, profitable and edifying, was his being attended with a reverential Awe in what Company foever he came, left he fhould fpeak or act any Thing prejudicial to Truth: Thus perfevering in true Watchfulness, Humility and Circumfpection, he adorned his holy Profeffion, and gained general Favour and Acceptance, both amongst Friends and others.

About the Beginning of the Sixth Month 1731, he was visited with a Fever, of which he partly recovered; but the Relicts thereof threw him into a gradual Decay, which in time occafioned his Death.

During his laft Sickness, which continued feveral Months, he was frequently vifited by feveral Friends, who had great Satisfaction therein, wholfome Advice and fweet Expreffions

often