LIBRARY 20 RUSSELL STREET, MELBOURNE. THE TESTIMONY And ACCOUNT of GEORGE WHITEHEAD, concerning RICHARD DAVIES, and his Ministry. In a true and living remembrance of this our dear brother, ancient and faithful servant and minister of Jesus Christ, Richard Davies, and of that dear and brotherly love which remained between us, and which he had to all faithful friends and brethren in Christ; I am concerned to give this brief testimony in commemoration of him, his life, and faithful gospel ministry. He was not only a professor of the name, power, and spirit of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but also made a partaker of Christ in spirit, life, and conversation: a plain, meek, and humble man of integrity; a man fearing God, and hating iniquity; a man sanctified by the Holy Spirit, unto unfeigned and constant love of his brethren in Christ; a man sound in faith, in patience, and charity; of a sound mind and judgment, being endued with the spirit of love. He was a preacher of Christ and his righteousness, in his conversation as well as in doctrine and ministry, wherein he was exemplary to the believers, &c. He was given up to serve the Truth and Friends; and being of a tender spirit, did truly sympathize with the sufferers for the same, and used his industrious endeavours for their relief where he could have an interest or place with such as had power. His testimony and ministry were evangelical, plain, and sound; not in words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration and plain evidence of the Holy Spirit and power of Christ; being a minister of the Spirit, and of the New Testament; the new covenant dispensation, which stands not in legal shadows, types, outward signs or figures, but in the gospel life and substance, even in Christ Jesus; in whom all the shadows, and dispensations thereof, are ended. And this our dear brother having travelled through and beyond those outward dispensations, shadows, and vails; and understanding their cessation, removal, and end, in and by Christ Jesus, his sufferings and death; and more especially by his inward and spiritual appearance, dispensation, and work in his heart and soul; whereby he was made sensible of the power of Christ's resurrection, as being one risen with him; by the brightness and glory of whose day, the shadows naturally vanish and flee away: as this faithful minister of Christ was witness, with many more of his brethren, who were and are partakers of the inward and spiritual revelation of the mystery of Christ, and of the glory of his day. And as this gospel minister did see and partake of the enduring substance, and end of all vanishing shadows and carnal ordinances; he well knew, that neither John's baptism with water, nor any outward washings therewith, though once commanded, could ever sanctify, or wash the inside from sin and pollution, or sprinkle and purify the conscience, or make a true Christian; much less can sprinkling infants, which God never commanded; but Christ's spiritual baptism, and washing of regeneration by the water of life, which is the one baptism, i. e., the baptism of the Spirit; this is the only saving baptism, as our said deceased friend hath testified, according to Holy Scripture. He also likewise testified, that outward bread and wine cannot feed nor nourish the immortal soul, or inward man, any more than the legal passover; but only the body or outward man: but Christ, the living bread, the bread of life, which comes down from heaven; and the cup of blessing, which he gives to his spiritual communicants: he being that spiritual meat and drink, which all his spiritual Israel partake of, in this his gospel day, to their great refreshment and comfort, in the spiritual communion, and comfortable fellowship of his Holy Spirit. And to this our dear friend's ministry tended to bring people; that they might not rest in lifeless shadows, but come to know and inherit eternal life and substance in Christ Jesus, which all that truly love him shall partake of and possess. And I am fully persuaded, that as this our dear and wellbeloved friend and brother lived and died in the faith, in our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and in true union and communion with his church and people here on earth; so I believe he is eternally blessed, and at rest in his heavenly kingdom; where all the faithful in Christ shall meet in the great and general assembly of Christ's triumphant church, and enjoy glorious and everlasting communion in the heavenly kingdom of glory and peace; which shall be the blessed estate and inheritance of all, who continue faithful in true love and unity, in the grace of God, while here on earth, unto the end of their days. London, the 10th of the Twelfth Month, 1709. G. W. A SHORT TESTIMONY Concerning my dear and loving father RICHARD DAVIES, whom God in his mercy took to himself, the 22nd of the First Month, 1707-8. He being about seventy-two years and eleven months old. I CAN truly say, he was a dear and tender father to me in my young years; and as I grew up I had a sense of his great love and care over me; and it seized my heart so that I often prayed to God, that he would keep me from offend |