tender and fatherly Advice frequently to his own Children.

And tho' it be our Lofs, to be deprived of fuch a worthy and ferviceable Inftrument in the Lord's Hand, as he was, whofe Memory will remain sweet among us; yet we firmly believe it is his great Gain, having faithfully finished his Day's Work, his Reward, we doubt not, is great with the Lord.

He departed this Life the 6th Day of the Eleventh Month 1720, and was buried the 8th Day of the fame, being accompanied to the Burying Ground at Hether fide, by the greatest Number of Friends and others that has almost ever been seen in these Parts at any Burial. Aged Seventy two Years. A Minister Forty three Years.

A Teftimony from the Monthly-meeting at Settle, in the County of York, concerning THOMAS WILDE.

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UR faid Friend, by his own Account,

was born in the Year 1649, and convinced of the Truth in the Twenty fourth Year of his Age; foon after which he became very zealous and circumfpect in his Life and Converfation, and, for Truth's Sake, took up the Cross chearfully, and denied himself, not only of the former Pleafures and Delights he had accustomed himself to, but even alfo of the Trade and Imployment he was inftructed in, and whereby he had his chief Supply, as to the Things of this World; for, being by his Trade a Taylor, he, under a religious Concern of Mind, foon after his Convincement, could not comply with the making such needlefs and fuperfluous Fashions in Apparel, as were then used by his Cuftomers, and thereupon gave over the greatest Part of his Trade, and betook himself to other Business, in order to get a Livelihood; wherein Providence was favourably pleased to bless his Labours with Success: So that, altho' he never had a great deal as to the Things of this World, yet he had a Competency fufficient to fupport him in, and carry him through the fame, with Satisfaction

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faction and Comfort. He was alfo made helpful to others in his Station, according to his Ability; for which he many Times publickly acknowledged his Thankfulness to the Lord, that he had been fo merciful to him, in raifing him from a low Degree to a State of Favour and Acceptance with him, as well as a Degree of Service and Unity among his People. It was not long after his Convincement, before his Mouth was opened in a publick Testimony amongst Friends, wherein, although for divers Years he had but a few Words in Meetings, yet his Appearance was both acceptable and useful to Friends. And as he approved himself faithful and diligent in the Gift beftowed upon him, the Lord was pleased to inlarge it, fo that he became an able Minifter of the Gospel, and therein his frequent Service amongst Friends was very edifying, and helpful to fuch as had the Opportunity of his Labours and Service amongst them.

He was not only inftrumentally helpful in that respect, but the Lord having been gracioufly pleafed to beftow upon him a good degree of Understanding, he was thereby qualified to be very ferviceable in the Discipline of the Church; fo that fuch as knew him, and had the Benefit of his Labours and Services amongst them, had a valuable Efteem for him, both at home and abroad; for he often vifited the Meetings of Friends in divers of the adjacent Counties; and, in the Year 1700, had a Concern

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Concern upon his Mind to vifit Friends in Wales, together with the South and Weft Parts of this Nation; which Journey, in Company with another Friend, he accomplished to his Satisfaction; after his Return, faying, The Lord had been near to and affifted him therein, in the greatest Exercises that he met with; and alfo, That he found a favourable and kind Reception among Friends where he travelled; which bowed him down in Spirit before the Lord, in Thankfulness to acknowledge his great Goodness to him in many Refpects. He was often made to rejoice, both in publick and private, that the Lord fhould be fo graciously pleased to vifit him, and in any degree to make him ferviceable in the Church and among his People.

At a certain Time, when vifited with Sicknefs, whereof many thought he would not have recovered, he expreffed himself on this wife to Friends then prefent; - I have been often brought very low in my Mind, when I confidered the exceeding Goodness of the Lord to me, in vifiting my Soul with the Infhining of Truth, whereby I was made to fee the miferable and wretched State I was then in, having spent So much of my precious Time in Vanity, and in following of my own foolish Imaginations; but the Lord, through his infinite Mercy, in his own due Time, was pleafed to correct and chastise me for the fame, and, in measure, I came to be redeemed therefrom; although, I may fay, I was neither a Prophet nor a Prophet's Son, but a

poor

poor forlorn Creature, which causeth me the more to admire his Loving-kindness to me; for I can fay, when at any Time I have gone aftray, his Rod and his Staff have upheld me, and therefore I have come to witnefs Deliverance. I fpeak not thefe Things to gain your Applause; no : I am far from that; there is no Defert in me; my own Unworthiness, as a Man, I have reason to bear in Mind; but it is the Lord's Goodness to me that occafions me thus to express myself.

He was often concerned for Friends Growth and Profperity in the Truth; and especially, that the Youth might be preferved from the many hurtful and entangling Snares of this World; endeavouring to excite in Friends a diligent Care after their own Growth therein, and that they might not too much depend upon inftrumental Means, which frequently leads to a Neglect of attending upon the Gift in themselves. Thus he was often engaged in Spirit for the Good of thofe he laboured amongft. He also was a very diligent Attender of Meetings, until old Age and Infirmity of Body rendered him uncapable, and therein was very exemplary to others. His Life and Converfation correfponded with his Doctrine. He was not apt to appear in Meetings, after a publick Manner, unless he had a Neceffity upon him fo to do; and then his Exercife tended to the Edification and Comfort of those who fat under his Miniftry, which was living and powerful.