FOraſmuch as it hath pleaſed God Almighty (after the long night of woful groſs Darkneſs, Apoſtacy and Ignorance, which hath been over the Nations, amongſt thoſe who have had a Profeſſion of Chriſtianity) again to make known and manifeſt, the true, new, and living way which leads unto Life Eternal, even by and through the Revelation and Operation of his Eternal Power, and Word of Life, in the hearts of a Remnant, whom (in this our day) he firſt reached unto and viſited, and raiſed up to be Witneſſes thereof; that by them it might be born Teſtimony unto, amongſt thoſe who were ſtrangers to it, and that thirſted after it, that ſo thereby they alſo might receive the manifeſtation and knowledge thereof, for want of which many periſh, and are ſtrangers to the way of Life; having only (at beſt) a Form of godlyneſs without the Power: In which dead Forms, or outſide empty Profeſſions, ſome are at eaſe and reſt, as though they were in the true Heaven that ſhould never paſs away, and ſome are at reſt and at eaſe without any profeſſion, living in all uncleanneſs; unrighteouſneſs, and abomination; and ſome cannot find reſt in either. The faithful and true Witneſs of God being awakned in their Hearts and Conſciences, which takes the falſe peace from them, and lets them ſee the emptineſs of all outſide profeſſions, which are without Life and Power, and alſo the abominations, and vanities of the world, and makes ſin exceeding ſinful to them: And by this true and faithful Witneſs are deſires, and breathings, and pantings begotten in their hearts after the knowledge of God & Chriſt, after fellowſhips & acquaintance with the Father and the Son▪ which deſire cannot be ſatisfied without the knowledge & enjoyment of the preſence of the Lord, and of the light of his countenance. And for this cauſe many run to and fro, and wander like Sheep gone aſtray from the true Sheepherds fold, and are wearying themſelves upon the barren Mountains, in vain looking thereunto for Salvation, and ſeeking the living amongſt the dead, and ſo ſpend their labour for that which doth not ſatisfie. And in theſe ſeveral ſtates and conditions aforeſaid, the whole Chriſtian world lieth, who are not turned to the Light and Spirit of Jeſus in themſelves; and true reſt and ſalvation cannot be found by them, until they return to the Light and Power of the Spirit of God in their own hearts, which is that whereby a diſlike of ſin is begotten in them, and alſo deſires after Life and Salvation; and freedom from ſin is thereby begotten; and that is it alone which can anſwer every deſire, which is begotten by its ſelf. Well,

But when it pleaſed the Lord to reveal the Son of his Love, and to make known his eternal Power (in theſe latter days) for the rending of the Vail of darkneſs that had long been over the heart, by which he cauſed the Light to ſhine out of darkneſs, which gives the knowledge of his own glory; he did not then give the knowledge and manifeſtation thereof unto all People, but he choſe certain Witneſſes, whom he raiſed up to declare of the manifeſtation of this Power, and to preach the Word of Life nigh, in the heart and in mouth; and he furniſhed them with Armour of Righteouſneſs, and with all ſpiritual weapons; which were mighty through him, to break down the ſtrong holds of Iniquity, & the ſpiritual wickedneſſes that were in the high places; and impowred them as Inſtruments in his hand to turn many from darkneſs to the Light, that the Salvation of God they might come to ſee; and the Work of God greatly proſpered in their hands; and multitudes were brought to the acknowledgment of the Truth, to the ſaving of their Souls: and though they met with great oppoſition, and perſecutions; by the Emiſſaries of Sathan, even in all Quarters where they came; yet that was not prevalent to hinder the proſperity of that Work whereunto they were called of God, but it ſtill proſpered, and doth ſtill proſper, to the ſpreading of the unchangeable Truth abroad, even as is ſeen at this day.

And of this number whom God Almighty at the firſt raiſed up by his Power for this Work aforeſaid, the late deceaſed Richard Farnworth was one, concerning whom the chief occaſion of this my preſent writing is; that ſo a Teſtimony concerning him, and of what the Lord did by, and through him, may remain upon Record for Generations to come; and that this preſent Generation of the Juſt, may ſee and hear his laſt Teſtimony, which proceeded from his own mouth a little before his departure out of the body; and I doubt not, but thereby the Conſolation and ſpiritual Comfort of the Houſhold of Faith will be added unto.

And, for theſe Cauſes, I could not well reſt ſatisfied in my ſpirit without taking in hand to publiſh theſe things; though I well know that there are many living Witneſſes that knew the Life, Labours, and Travels of the ſaid R. F. who are the Seal of his Miniſtry: And alſo the many Writings of his own, which remain upon Record, will ſpeak forth to thoſe, who are of a true Spiritual underſtanding, what he was; yet notwithſtanding all theſe things were in my mind, and divers of other Conſiderations, which occaſioned me to defer the publication hereof ſo long as till now; yet being I could not be ſo clear in my duty towards God and my Brother, in neglecting to give forth this my Teſtimony concerning him, and in ſuffering ſo precious a Teſtimony, as his laſt was, wholly to be put in oblivion, I have with freeneſs and cheerfulneſs of heart undertaken it.

And when it pleaſed God to manifeſt his Eternal Power in the heart of the aforeſaid R. F. it is well known unto many how effectually it wrought in him; inſomuch, that although he was (before) a man of great abilities, and parts, and knowledge, accounted of among men, even excelling many of his equals; yet he was content and willing, in obedience to the Power of God, to become a Fool to the World, and to be ſtript and emptied of his own wiſdom and knowledge, (which ſtood in the ſtate faln from God and his Power) and to ſuffer the loſs of all worldly reputation and favour, and the pleaſures and delights thereof, that he might win Chriſt Jeſus, and be found his Servant, clothed with the Righteouſneſs of Faith, preferring the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt, beyond all worldly wiſdom and honour whatſoever; and his Sufferings for the ſake of Chriſt, beyond all worldly reputation; and ſo great was the change that was wrought in him, that he became a wonder amongſt many; and the Word of God and his Power was great and mighty in him, and through him; in which he was ſent forth by the Lord (who had manifeſted himſelf unto him) to preach the Everlaſting Goſpel to the poor, and to declare of that great Power of God, of which he was made a Witneſs, and of the Effects of its operation; and ſo powerfull was his Meſſage and Teſtimony, that many were begotten into a firm belief thereof; and believing the Report, were turned from Darkneſs to the Light of Jeſus, with which they were enlightned, and from Sathans power unto the Power of God, which wrought mightily in their hearts, to the changing of their minds and affections from things that are below, towards things that are above all that is fading and corruptible, and to the bringing of Life and Immortality to light in them: And although they were attended with many foul temptations, becauſe of their obedience to the Truth and Light of the Spirit of Grace, and brought in many diſtreſſes in their paſſage from Death unto Life, yet was he ſo experienced in the Depths and Subtilties of Sathan, and alſo in the Dealings and Goodneſs of God in ſuch conditions and eſtates, that he had obtained the tongue of the Learned, and could (as oft times he did) ſpeak words in Seaſon, to the ſtrengthning of the weak, and refreſhing of the weary; and to the reviving of that which was near ready to faint: So that he was in the Lords hand, even as a father to the fatherleſs, and as eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame; and the eye that truly ſaw him, bleſſed him; and the ear that heard him, gave witneſs unto him: for through the Power of God which enabled him, he delivered the poor and the needy, and built up many (that believed) in their moſt precious Faith, and confirmed them therein: And went about from place to place, through the Land of his Nativity, turning many from Darkneſs to Light, and confirming the Churches, and doing good: And his Service was very great for the Lord in his day; for he was ſo furniſhed with Heavenly Wiſdom and Underſtanding through the Grace of God; and alſo ſo ſeaſoned thereby, that his Patience, Meekneſs, and Humility exceeded many: And although God had ſo endued him with heavenly Vertues and Abilities exceeding many, yet was he not pufft up therewith, neither ſought to exerciſe lordſhip over thoſe that were weaker, and younger then himſelf, but gave place unto any that had the leaſt Gift of God, to exerciſe; ſo that through the Spirit of Meekneſs and Humility, with which he was adorned, he was exceeding lovely and beautifull, and the hearts and ſouls of many were affected therewith, who in ſimplicity thirſted after Righteouſneſs, and ſuch waited for him, as for the Rain, upon whom his Doctrine ſo dropped: Yet nevertheleſs he was terrible to the Worker of Iniquity, and the Sword of his mouth was very ſharp, for the Word of God was therein; and when he had to do with any who oppoſed the Truth and VVay of Life and Salvation, which we profeſs and walk in (as oft-times he had) his VVeapon was very ſharp to them, and they were not able to reſiſt the VViſdom of the Spirit by which he ſpoke; for thereby he confounded their wiſdom, and broke their weapons in pieces; ſo that they were oft ready to Blaſpheme God, becauſe of the plague that it was to them; and a Conqueror he was over the▪ Beaſt and falſe Prophet, againſt whom he made VVar in Righteouſneſs, in and through the Power of the Lamb, in whoſe Spirit he hath finiſhed his Teſtimony and Courſe in the Faith.

And as the Enemies of the Truth of God were many, and in divers ſhapes, that this valiant Souldier of the Lamb had to encounter withal, ſo he was always furniſhed with Armor and VVeapons, fit for the VVork and Service in which he was exerciſed, by which he was enabled to encounter with, and Conquer all: But at laſt, that his Armor and VVeapons might be proved to be ſufficient to encounter with the Enemy of Truth, in all kind of Appearances and Transformations, it was his lot with me, and divers others of the Servants of the Lord, to be engaged againſt the Enemy of Truth, who had transformed himſelf into the likeneſs of an Angel of Light, and under a ſeeming pretence of appearing on the behalf of God and his Cauſe, &c. and againſt Formality and Traditions, &c. begun ſtrongly to oppoſe the Truth of God, and the Miniſtry thereof in and through his Servants and Meſſengers (who have approved themſelves as the Miniſters of God, and as his Embaſſadors) and to cry againſt our Aſſemblies and manner of Worſhip, and our Exerciſe therein, (as only Formal;) in which we have alwayes found the glorious Preſence, Power and Majeſty of the Lord amongſt us, refreſhing, comforting and ſtrengthening of us, even acording as our hearts and ſouls can or could deſire; ſo that we were engaged to juſtify the Lord, in oppoſition to that gainſaying ſpirit of deluſion, by which many were beguiled and led away after Satan, to their hurt: And in our Teſtimony for the Lord, and againſt that ſelf-ſeparating gainſaying ſpirit, the Power of the Lord did greatly accompany and aſſiſt us, and was as greatly with us, as in any ſervice that he had called us unto; The ſincere and upright in heart (who have kept their firſt Love, and their firſt Faith) are Witneſſes of it; and how in Love we laboured for the reſtoration of thoſe who were beguiled through the craft of the Enemy; and for the preſervation of thoſe who hitherto have eſcaped his ſnare, that is well known to many witneſſes. But if none were ſenſible of it, the Lord he knows, and is witneſs, that in ſincerity of heart (in the Name of the Lord) towards God and his People we were exerciſed; and in our labour and travel for them, the Bleſſings of the Lord and his Peace, and the comfort of his Spirit, did poſſeſs and fill our hearts beyond the underſtanding of the world, although many, towards whom we were ſo in love exerciſed, could not believe, but ſome withſtood our Teſtimony, and kicked againſt it in their hearts, and reſiſted the Counſel of God againſt themſelves, to the grief and ſorrow of our hearts.

Therefore it pleaſed the Lord, in Love, Mercy and good Will to his Servant, my dear Brother, R. F. that his Travels, Burdens, and grievous Sufferings might be put to an end; and that our teſtimony for the Lord might be ſealed with the Life of his Servant againſt that Antichriſtian intruding Spirit of Oppoſition, which laboured to intrude its ſelf into the Church, to ſit as Ruler and Judge there. I ſay, for theſe cauſes, and for none contrary hereunto, it pleaſed God to viſit my dear Brother, R. F. and to take him out of the Body; at which, I perceive, ſome who are ignorant of what the Lord intended thereby have rejoyced: But let ſuch know, that they have made a wrong application of the dealing of the Lord therein; by which they have hardned themſelves, inſtead of being humbled through that which was ordered of God for their humiliation and good; and if poſſible that ſuch may yet ſee, and turn to the flock of the Companions of Chriſt: And alſo that the flocks who are (and have remained) in the true Fold may be refreſhed thereby, I ſhall here inſert the Last Teſtimony of the aforeſaid R.F. which was given by him, a very ſhort ſpace before his departure out of the body, in the preſence of ſeveral good Friends; at which time in the name, ſtrength, and power of God, he was moved to ſit up in his Bed, and ſpake (concerning the Love of God and concerning our Teſtimony, againſt the aforeſaid antichriſtian, intruding, factious ſpirit) with as much ſtrength, power and freeneſs of ſpirit, as at any time he had done in the time of his outward health. Whoſe words were as followeth.

Friends, God hath been mightily with me, and hath ſtood by me at this time, and his power and preſence hath accompanied me all along, though ſome think that I am under a Cloud for ſomething; but God hath appeared for the owning of our Teſtimony, and hath broken in upon me as a flood, and I am filled with his Love, more than I am able to expreſs; and God is really appeared for us. If God himſelf had come down and ſpoken as a man, he could not have ſpoke more clearer to us than he hath done, by the many Teſtimonies from Heaven in his People concerning this thing. Therefore I beſeech you Friends, here of this City of London, (live or dye) be you faithful to your Teſtimony which God hath committed to you, and as it ariſeth in your hearts, be faithful to the Lord therein. After which he was ſilent for a little ſeaſon, and then his mouth was again opened in the Name and Power of the Lord, even as before, and he ſpake very preciouſly unto Friends concerning the things before mentioned, teſtifying of the greatneſs of the Love and Power of God, of which he was made partaker, and which he then felt; and of the preciouſneſs of the Truth, which he had with us born witneſs of; and exhorted them to faithfulneſs and ſtedfaſtneſs therein, and to ſingleneſs, that nothing might be ſuffered to creep in of another nature, to intermix therewith, ſaying, No Lincy-woolcy Garment must be worn, &c. with much more to that effect, which cannot be remembred. And having thus given his laſt Teſtimony, as a Seal unto all the former Teſtimonies which he had given for the Lord, and on his behalf, in about two or three hours time after, being filled with the Peace and Love of God beyond declaring, (as himſelf ſignified) he departed this Life, even like a Lamb, and ſlept with his Fathers and Brethren, and is entred into everlaſting reſt with the Lord.

And this may ſerve alſo as a ſufficient Teſtimony, to ſtop the mouths of all who vaunt themſelves in his death, as though he had been taken away in Judgment and Diſpleaſure of the Lord, becauſe of his appearing on the behalf of God againſt that antichriſtian ſpirit of oppoſition, which contends againſt our Meetings, and Preaching, and the manner of our exerciſe in the Worſhip of God, as Formal, &c. And let ſuch know, that if his being removed prove a Judgment unto any, it will be to them, who rejected the Mercies of God by him tendred to them, and have thereby hardned themſelves againſt the Lord and his Servants, and have made a wrong application of the dealings of the Lord with his Servant, even as thoſe who know not the purpoſe of God therein; and ſo have ſhewed themſelves not to be the Friends of God, as Abraham was, from whom God did not hide the thing that he intended; but let ſuch yet repent, if a place can be found for them.

And ſo let all my dear friends every where, who believe in the Light of Jeſus, and who have taſted of the Love, Goodneſs, and Power of God, dwell in the ſence and feeling of his Love and Power, and let nothing divert or turn aſide the minds of any from perſevering in that pure holy way of Life, which they are called to walk in, and in which the daily renewings of the peace and good will of God is witneſſed; neither let any be ſlack or remiſs, in performing that antient, godly, Chriſtian practice of Aſſembling your ſelves together in the Name and Fear of the Lord, foraſmuch as ye know the exceeding benefit and advantage that ye have received thereby, becauſe of the Lords Appearance amongſt us, who, acording to his Promiſe hath not failed us unto this day; but his Name and Power hath been great amongſt us, and ſtill is, opening the myſteries of his Kingdom, and revealing of the vertue of his Life in our hearts and ſouls, by his own Spirit, to our great refreſhment and comfort; ſo that we have not at any time been ſent empty away, who have in ſincerity thirſted after him, and in faithfulneſs waited for his appearance; which is ſufficient to encourage all to perſevere in that godly practiſe of meeting together with all integrity, without wavering. And foraſmuch as our aſſembling together at this day, is the great thing that the Enemy of Truth ſtrikes at in all his Inſtruments of all kindes, in which he appears againſt us; it behoves all to ſtand and be faithful therein; that the Cauſe of God may not be betrayed by any, through their declining from that godly Practice and duty, that the enemy may not be encouraged thereby to vaunt againſt the remnant that are faithful, to oppoſe them therein alſo; but rather, through your faithfulneſs and ſtability, the enemy may be diſcouraged in his enterpriſes, and put to flight, that you may be Conquerours over him, and may tread Satan under foot, and may reign with the Lamb for ever.

And my Friends, conſider the faithfulneſs of many of the Servants of the Lord, who loved not their lives unto death, who are gone before, who preached and made known the Truth and way of Life to you, how they laboured and travelled amongſt you, in the name and ſtrength of the Lord, to beget you unto God, and to build you up in the moſt pretious Faith; and how they exhorted you time after time to that godly practice, of Aſſembling together, and how they gave Example and Preſident therein as well as Exhortation thereunto. Nay, have not divers of them laid down their Lives (not counting them dear to them) for that very Practice of Aſſembling together? Yea, certainly they have ſo; ſome in Priſons, and ſome otherwiſe. Oh therefore, my Friends, this Duty of Aſſembling together, ought not to be flighted; nay, hath not the preſent Liberty that we do enjoy, in our meeting together, coſt the Lives of many? was it not with the blood of many (of them that bore the ſame Teſtimony which we bare) that this preſent Liberty hath been purchaſed? and ought not this Liberty then to be prized, and made a right Uſe of? I am jealous with a godly Jealouſie, that all who are concerned, do not rightly weigh, ponder, and conſider theſe things; but I deſire all to conſider it, and let not that Teſtimony fall (by the neglience of any) which hath been ſealed with the Lives of ſo many of Gods Servants and Meſſengers, whoſe Knowledge and Underſtanding in the Way and Myſteries of God, was not inferiour unto any that are left behind, and yet they chearfully offered up their All for that Teſtimonies ſake. Therefore, my Friends, he diligent and faithful to the Lord, walking in his Covenant of Light, which will be a true Guide unto you, and an Inſtructor, and will keep your Deſires freſh towards the Lord, and your Love one towards another; ſo that you will be conſtrained to Come together, and to wait together upon the Lord, to receive refreſhment from his preſence, which you will ſee and feel in the middeſt of you, as your hearts are kept in his Fear; and enter not into conſultation with fleſh and blood, nor into reaſonings which will ſay, Thou needeſt not go to Meetings, becauſe thy Teacher is preſent in all places, and ſo will draw thee into negligence of meeting with the Children of Light; for if thou give heed unto ſuch reaſonings, thou wilt ſoon find, thy Love will wax cold towards the People of God, and thou wilt loſe the ſence of the Teachings of the Lord, who is preſent in all places; for although he be in all places preſent, yet hath he ordained and appointed, that his People ſhould Aſſemble themſelves together to wait upon him, and to worſhip him, and hath given the promiſe of his Preſence unto ſuch that do ſo. But if any draw back from anſwering his requirings, his ſoul will have no pleaſure in them: and ſuch will dye as to God, & will become as dry and withered branches, and their Love will decay, & wax cold, and they will not have a ſight, nor a ſence of the Omnipreſence of the Lord, nor of his Teachings, though they may talk of it, as multitudes do at this day, who are altogether ſtrangers thereunto, further than by hear-ſay. And therefore once more I ſay unto you all, Be faithful to the Lord in your ſeveral meaſures and ſtations, where the Lord hath ſet you, and be diligent in that godly Practice of Aſſembling your ſelves together, in which a Teſtimony for the Lord is born, which many have laid down their Lives for, and let none make their blood of no effect, by ſlighting Meetings; the preſent Liberty for which hath been purchaſed through the ſhedding their blood, but let all meet together, and being met, wait upon the Lord in faithfulneſs, that you may feel the Springs and Fountain of Life opened amongst you, and in the middest of you, that you may be refreſhed and ſtrengthened, and may grow, and be enabled to encounter with your ſouls Enemy in all his appearances, and may put him to flight, and may tread Satan under foot, and reign as Kings on Earth, and as Conquerours, to the praiſe of his Name (who hath called you, that he may take delight to dwell amongſt you, and to do you good) who over all is worthy, God bleſſed for evermore.