ing so good a father. And when I was capable of travelling with him, he usually took me along with him, in his journeys to London and elsewhere; many were the good opportunities that we had in travelling together, and visiting Friends at their meetings.

And as his care was to me, so was it over mine also, which makes our loss the greater; but I am satisfied it is his great gain. Oh! how often and fervently would he pray to the Almighty, that his children might become the children of the Lord, and that he might keep us from the allurements and defilements of this wicked world; and we hope the Lord will answer his petitions on our behalf.

My dear father was serviceable to most sorts of people, rich and poor, in the country where he lived, and in other places. He was ready to give his advice and counsel freely, both in things relating to the, law and the gospel; and he had much place and interest with several great persons, and what he requested of them was generally granted him. And I may say it to the praise of the Lord, he was well respected by most sorts of people, and a loss of him is known amongst them.

He was very ready to serve the widow and fatherless, in what lay in his power; and many were his labours and travels of love: but now he is ceased from them all, and I question not but he is gone to his eternal rest with God for ever. It is my desire, that we may prize the great goodness and loving-kindness of the Lord, in sparing of him so long unto us, for he had been but a weakly man in body these late years.

About the Tenth Month, 1688, my dear father was very sick and weak, so that most that saw him thought he would not recover; but the Lord, in his tender mercy, so ordered that our dear friends Robert Barrow, and Robert Haydock, came into these parts to visit Friends; and they came to our house at Welch-Pool, and had a meeting there; and as they were parting with my father, they had it in their

hearts to pray, and they earnestly interceded with the Lord, that it might stand good with his will, to spare him again unto us; for we were then a sorrowful family. Afterwards, I remember very well, Robert Barrow spoke, and said to my father, "Dear Richard, thou art a very weak man in the sight of those that see thee, and not likely to live many hours, as to the natural man's thinking; but the Lord has given it me at this time to believe, I shall see thee at our next Yearly Meeting at London." When I heard these words it was joyful news to me, and it proved very true; the Lord in his wonderful mercy and loving-kindness, restored him to his health, and next spring he went to the Yearly Meeting at London, where also Robert Barrow was, and glad to see my father there. This was all the Lord's doing, and his works they are marvellous in our eyes.

Much might be said; but my desire is, that as our ancient friends, fathers and mothers in Israel, have borne the burden in the heat of the day, through many tribulations and afflictions, and now have rested from their labours, and their works follow them, and their memorial is blessed for evermore; so we also who are left, may walk in the footsteps of the flock, and tread in the path they have trodden in. It is, as to the outward, an easy way now, to what our ancients had, but the adversary of our immortal souls is the same, he is unwearied; therefore we ought to be very careful, and double our diligence, to be sober and watchful, and cry incessantly to the Lord God of our fathers, that he may be our God, and enable us to walk worthy of all his mercies and blessings every way, for they are many.

Now I shall give some account of my dear father's departure. He was taken ill on the Sixth day of the week, being the 19th of the First Month, 1707-8. On First day following, he sent for some Friends of Dolobran Meeting, and several of them came to him, and had a meeting with him in his bed-chamber; he desired Friends to pray to the Lord, that he might have an easy passage; adding, that

the fervent prayers of the righteous the Lord would have a regard unto. And his time being come, he departed this life, as it were in a sleep, it being about the ninth hour in the forenoon, the 22nd of the First Month, 1707-8. On the 25th following, his body was accompanied with a considerable number of Friends and people, to the buryingplace, near his own house, at Cloddiecochion, and there decently interred.

And now it is my desire, that all of us who have had such good examples by our parents, may follow them in purity and holiness; so that we may be such good patterns to our offspring, that when we lay down our heads, and leave this natural life, they may have cause to praise and glorify the Lord on our account, as many of us can say, we have had for our worthy parents that are gone. And if we continue in well-doing, and in the fear of the Lord, there is no question but we shall die in his favour, which I desire may be the lot of the whole heritage of God.

TACE ENDON. Cloddiecochion, the 27th of the First Month, 1708.

A TESTIMONY

From Friends and Brethren of the Quarterly Meeting from Montgomeryshire, Shropshire, and Merionethshire, held at Dolobran in Montgomeryshire, the 25th of the Eleventh Month, 1708, concerning our ancient, honourable Friend and Elder, RICHARD DAVIES.

He was one of the first of Friends in these parts, who received the blessed truth in the love of it; and he laboured much in the morning and heat of the day. ·

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He and his wife were very hearty, loving, and ready to entertain Friends, their hearts and house being very open

in that respect; and they were very helpful and serviceable to Friends in this country, who were prisoners on Truth's account in Welch-Pool, the place where they then lived, when there were but few other Friends of ability to assist them, until the Lord raised up several eminent instruments in these parts, who were very serviceable with them.

Our said Friend was wise and prudent. He had a good understanding and capacity; a man of great experience, and was very willing to advise and counsel any in things relating to the gospel, and also to outward affairs.

And as he was discreet in his conduct among men, the Lord gave him great place and favour with several persons of note, with whom he had often good service for Truth and Friends.

The Lord blessed him with a good gift in the ministry, and he was made an able minister of the gospel, sound in judgment, and well received by most people who heard him.

He travelled pretty much in divers parts on Truth's service, especially in his younger years, and had good service in many places where his lot was cast, both at home and abroad. He was often at London, where he was well esteemed by many of our elders and brethren.

He lived to a good old age, and was favoured with a short sickness at last. Some of us were with him the day before his departure; he seemed sensible that his end was near approaching, and appeared as one that was waiting for the same. He departed this life, the 22nd of the First Month, 1707-8, in the 73rd year of his age; and we believe he is at rest with the Lord, together with many more of the faithful followers of the Lamb.

We shall not enlarge much farther, but refer to the ensuing account of his labours, travels, and services for Truth and Friends on several occasions, which contains a general relation of the most remarkable occurrences and passages of his life, which was written by himself not long before his decease.

And we earnestly desire, that all who make profession of the glorious Truth with us, may really know a working out of their salvation with fear and trembling; and that they may faithfully improve their talents in their age and time, and truly follow the examples of the faithful elders and servants of the Lord in all things wherein they followed Christ, that we may give our account at last with joy, and receive an eternal reward with the faithful children of the Lord, when time in this world to us will be no more.

So, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them," Rev. xiv. 13. Signed on behalf of the said meeting by us:

Of ROWLAND OWEN, concerning his dear Friend RICHARD DAVIES, of Cloddiecochion, lately deceased.

A WEIGHTY consideration came upon my mind, in a sense how the Almighty God, in his unspeakable and unsearch