A TESTIMONY Concerning the LIFE and DEATH OF Jane Whitehead, THAT Faithful Servant and Hand-maid of the Lord, who was a Mother in Israel, and her Memorial is blessed of the Lord for ever. Concerning her Sufferings, and her Faithfulness in her Testimony in Sufferings. With an Exhortation to turn to the True Light, in a few words to all Backsliders from the Truth, by a Lover of Truth and Righteousness, who hath a Testimony against Oppression, Cruelty, and Persecution, wheresoever I see it appear against the Innocent. T. T.
Thus saith the Lord by his Servant the Prophet, Woe to them that decree Ʋnrighteous decrees, and write grievousness, which they prescribe to turn aside the needy from Judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that Widdows may be their Prey, and that they may rob the Fatherless: But what will you do in the day of Visitation, and in the Desolation that shall come from far? To whom will you fly for help, or where will you leave your glory?
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their Works do follow them,
London, Printed in the Year 1676.
A Testimony concerning Jane Whitehead, Wife of Thomas Whitehead of South Cadbury in the County of Summerset, late Deceased; whose former name was Jane Waugh, that faithful Servant and Handmaid of the Lord, whose Memorial is blessed for ever, because of her uprightness and stedfastness of heart and mind unto the Lord from the first to the last, who began in the true Faith, and kept in it unto the end of her dayes, by which she obtained Victory, and was made more than a Conqueror (through Christ that loved her) over all her enemies, both within, and without, and hath now finished her course in this world, and hath obtained an entrance into that everlasting glorious Rest, heavenly Felicity, and endless Consolation that the Lord hath prepared for them that truly love him and keep their Confidence in him, and hold fast their Integrity for him unto the end of their dayes, as this true and faithful follower of the Lamb hath done, and now hath received of the Lord an immortal Crown of Life and endless Glory, as the Reward of her Faithfulness from the hand of a tender Father, who never fails any that truly trust in him, but is an exceeding great Reward unto all the Ʋpright in Heart.
THis Testimony is sealed in my heart by the Spirit of the Lord concerning the everlasting Happiness, and endless Well-being of this my dear Friend and Sister in the Heavenly [Page 4]Relation, unto whom my Soul was, and is truly united in the Unity of the Spirit in the blessed Covenant of life in which in the remembrance of her faithfulness my soul is truly refreshed: Therefore we have good cause to say that the Memorial of the Righteous is blessed, as one said in the dayes of old, that They shall be had in everlasting remembrance among those that fear the Lord: So my dear Sister, the living remembrance of thee hath often tender'd my heart before the Lord in the consideration of his goodness, and the largeness of his Mercy in thy Preservation, who hath kept thee by his mighty power in faithfulness to himself in thy holy Testimony through all thy Tryals and Exercises that thou hast met withall from a cruel and hard hearted Generation; cruel Mockings, Scoffings, and Scorning, Beating and Reviling, ond cruel Imprisonments in nasty places in the cold of Winter, and heat of Summer.
Thus, thou Renowned of the Lord, did the cruel hearted deal with thee for thy blessed Testimony sake, that thou brought'st among them in the Love of God, and in love to their own poor souls; but they rejecting their own mercies, thus requited thee, and evily intreated thee for thy love to them; but thy reward is with the Lord for ever, who hath blessed thy Labour and Travel, and made it very effectual and prosperous, and very acceptable unto the honest hearted, that were seeking after the Lord, who received thy blessed Testimony with gladness of heart; and the Lord blessed thy Labours in his Work and Service, who endued thee with power from on high, to speak a word in season to several States and Conditions, and to reach the Witness of God in their Consciences, to the awakening many to righteousness, and the blessed power of the mighty God was with thee, and his living Presence did sweetly accompany thee in that blessed work which he called thee to, in which thou wast faithful and diligent, according to the measure of Grace committed to thee.
Oh thou dearest unto me of many, and never to be forgotten by me because of thy spotless life, who hath kept thy Garments clean from all manner of defilements and spots of the wicked World! Oh thou blessed of the Lord, how often hath my heart been broken into tears of true sorrow because of the want of thee, as to thy bodily presence, because of thy tender care over the Family of God; for true Uprightness is very pretious to me amongst those that have a Testimony for the Lord, which is the garment of Praise; and because of thy Uprightness was my heart joyned unto thee, my dear Friend, and well beloved in the Lord, who hath now taken thee away out of the reach of all thy enemies, thou true Jew, whose praise is not of men but of God; who didst not appear outwardly beyond what the Lord had made thee by the virtue of his Divine power, and sanctifying Spirit, that hath wrought mightily in thee, to the effecting the work of Mortification and Humiliation, and true Self-denyal in thee, and hath filled thy heart with his Love, and with the virtue of his blessed Life, by which thou wast prepared and made a vessel of Honour in the hand of the Lord, the sweet savour of whose pretious Life abides with us, though thou art gone from us as to the outward enjoyment of thee; but thy life, thy innocent life is with us, and will remain with us for ever, when all the enemies that hate it, and have hunted after it to destroy it, shall not be able to stand before it; for it will out-live all the wrath of man, and all the fury of the wicked, and is out of the reach of every envious mind, which length of time shall never wear out, because it is everlasting in which thy dwelling place is, and will be for ever, thou dear Servant and Child of the most high God, who hath blessed thee, and will not have thy Uprightness be forgotten, nor thy Faithfulness buryed in the Grave of Oblivion; for the Lord God of Life by the word of his power hath often pressed me in Spirit very weightily, [Page 6]and his living Word hath run through my heart in the remembrance of thee, for Righteousness must not be forgotten, nor her Uprightness and Faithfulness be buryed in the Grave of Oblivion; for the Righteousness of the Righteous shall be upon them, and they shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever, and their Memorial is and shall be blessed now hence forth and for ever.
Now that all People might know, unto whom this may come, that it is not in any vain boasting or exaltation of any created excellency, or worthiness of any mortal Creature that I thus write, but it is purely in honour to that excellency and comeliness, beauty and worthyness of that blessed Life of Righteousness in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour, wherewith he hath beautified his people; by the virtue of whose blessed power, and weighty Life, I am constrained to give this Testimony for my dear deceased Friend, of whom I have had good knowledge for fourteen years or more, who came into this County in the Service of the Lord, an innocent Woman with her, one Frances Raunce, that then was her Companion, who is entered into rest with her, and was a fellow Labourer with her in the same Work and Service, and the power and presence of the Lord was with them, who blessed their labour to the confirming of many in the truth, and to the strengthning of the Weak, and the comforting of the upright in heart, who were refreshed by them through the blessed power and holy presence of the Lord which did accompany them, which was about fourteen years ago; they travelled together, and now have their reward together with joy in the Lord: J. R. was Wife to John R. of High-wickham, a Virtuous Woman that feared God in her day; she dyed some years before J. W. and I can truly say, that in all this time I never knew any evil by her neither in word nor deed, nor never heard of any one that could justly charge her with any unrighteousness [Page 7]although she had many enemies, yet it was for Righteousness sake, and not for evil doing, but because she bore a Testimony against the World, that the deeds thereof are evil, therefore the world hated her, and rise up against her to persecute her, which she hath received at their hands with Patience and Meekness, truly desiring the Welfare of her Enemies, that they might come to Repentance and amendment of Life, that they might find Mercy with the Lord, so that their Souls might be saved from the wrath that is to come upon all that rebel against the Light, and are enemies to the Cross of Christ, and are haters of those which are good, and persecutors of them that truly fear God, and live in obedience to his pure Law that is written in their hearts, and are led by the Spirit which he hath put into their inward parts, such who love his blessed appearance in the bright shining of his heavenly divine Light to the opening of their understandings, and making known the Mysteries of his Kingdom unto them; I say, those that hate such, and rise up against them to persecute them, the Lord will plead with them, and will pour out of his Judgments, and Wrath, and Vengeance upon them, in his own season, as he hath done upon some of the Persecuters of this innocent Lamb before-mentioned, whom the Lord hath taken away out of their reach, and hath received up into Glory, of whom that ungodly Generation was not worthy, because of their hard heartedness towards her, and cruel dealings with her, as in the following Relation may be specifyed more fully.
In the year 1655. the said Jane Waugh, an innocent Woman that truly feared God, who in obedience to him came out of her own Countrey from the County of Westmoreland, her Relations living at Hutton in the same County, whom she left in obedience to the Lord, to travel in his Service, and to do his holy Will wheresoever he was pleased to order her by the [Page 8]Word of his Power to bear Witness against the false wayes and Worships of the World, amongst whom for her Testimony she received many reproachful Revilings, and Abuses, and Smitings with the Fists of Wickedness, as many can witness who are yet alive in and about Banbury in Oxfordshire; and in the year before-mentioned, she came to Banbury in Oxfordshire to visit her imprisoned Friend Anne Audtand, an innocent Woman that feared the Lord, who was a Prisoner for the Testimony of Jesus, and the Word of God; and when she came to that Town, she beholding their Cruelty, Wickedness, and Hardheartedness, she bearing witness for the Truth, and against their Wickedness, she was taken and brought before the Magistrates, one John Astin Mayor, and William Allen Justice of the Peace, so called; who when they had examined her, sent her to Prison, though no evil could be charged against her, where she suffered five weeks Imprisonment, and then released her for that time.
But not long after she came to Banbury again, and as she was with a Friend to write her a Letter, the Magistrates hearing of her, being moved with envy to Persecution, sent for her to be brought before them, who being bent to do Wickly by her, tendered the Oath of Abjuration to her to ensnare her, who in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, that saith Swear not at all, refused it, for which those cruel hearted men sent her to Prison again, where she suffered twelve months Imprisonment, the cold Winter season in a low damp nasty place, that sometimes would be over the shooes in water, as I have heard her often say: Such was their Cruelty, and Hardheartedness to this tender Woman that truly feared God, and bore a living Testimony for his holy Name, through all these Cruelties and Sufferings which she received at their hands with Patience; but those abuses brought her tender body into Weakness, which she hath been attended with for several [Page 9]years before her departure, through the Cruelty of her Oppressors, who were not yet satisfied in their Cruelty towards her, though no evil could be charged against her from the first to the last. When she came to Banbury again in the fourth month, 1662. where she was at a Meeting with the people of God, called Quakers, to wait upon the Lord in his Fear; for which she was taken and brought before the Magistrates, one Thomas Robbins Mayor, and William Wheatly Justice, and by them unjustly committed to that nasty Prison again, where she suffered three months more, by the wicked Oppressors of Banbury, which she bore all patiently, and never was slack in her Testimony, but was bold for the Lord, and his holy Truth, notwitstanding all the rage of the Wicked; for she would not defile her Conscience for fear of the Wrath of man, but she feared the living God, and committed her innocent cause unto the Lord, who pleaded for her in his own season with her Enemies and Oppressors, in taking Vegeance upon them, by smiting some of them in an eminent manner; one of them was suddenly smitten when he was going from home, so that he was not able to help himself, which he never recovered till he dyed; and others of them did the Lords hand follow till the Family of them was laid waste; so as it was said in the dayes of old, the Lord shall appear to render Vengeance on them that trouble you, but to you that are troubled, peace and rest with the Lord; so notwithstanding all her trouble, her Soul now resteth in peace with the Lord for ever and ever.
All this was when she was unmarried that she suffered at Banbury, and after this was over, and she at liberty again, she travelled through these parts, and went down Westward, where the Lord gave her to an honest man, and she became his Wife, and they lived very comfortably together, and had five goodly Children after they were marryed together, which [Page 10]she hath left behind her with her true Husband, which hath given a good Testimony for her of her faithfulness, and also of her Sufferings whilst she was his Wife, for she was not then free from Sufferings, because she continued in Faithfulness to the same blessed Testimony, for which the Enemies of the Lord rose up against her in the beginning, for she bore Witness to the Light of Christ Jesus, that he is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World, according to John's Testimony, that was a man sent from God, John 1.9. to bear Witness to the same blessed Light, who also said of him, in him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men, so it is the Light of Jesus that is the Light of men; and this is the Testimony that John bare of the true Light, which the World that lies in Wickedness Hates and Persecutes, Revises and Villifies, the blind Formal Professors, as well as open Prophane, as the Jews and Pharisees. did by our Lord and Master when he was visible upon the earth, who wickedly said he had a Devil, and that he cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils, so the Servant is not greater than his Lord, as he said at that day; and the holy Scripture bears Testimony of the same.
Here followeth her HƲSBAND'S Testimony concerning her.
AS concerning Jane Whitehead, my dear Deceased VVife, whose Maiden Name was Jane Wough, this is my Testimony concerning her, That she was one that feared God, and wrought Righteousness and did in all things both in her Life and Conversation, endeavour to keep a Conscience void of Offence tovvards God, and all men; and did endeavour, as much as in her lay, according to the Gift of Grace given unto her, to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, vvith all the Faithful; yet still nevertheless vvhen she did apprehend any thing to be amiss among those that did Profess the Truth, she vvould in much uprightness of heart, vvithout Partiality, deal plainly vvith them, as is vvell knovvn by Friends in those parts; and vvhen she had a sense upon her of that Spirits entrance upon any, under any pretence or likeness vvhatsoever, that vvould sovv Discord, and break the Concord and Unity among Friends and Brethren: With vvhat grief of heart and Soul have I heard her complain of it, and seen her with Diligence endeavour to stop it! For truly it vvas the great joy of her Heart, and Comfort of her Soul to be in the Company of Upright-hearted Friends, and to keep in the Fellowship of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, vvith the Brotherhood: And she vvas alvvayes of an open [Page 12]heart to Distribute to the Necessity of the Saints; and vvas ready, according to Truth's Requirings, to serve the Truth and Friends in any thing she could, and never thought she could do too much for those that truly feared and served the Lord in their Generation; And she being called forth neer about tvventy years ago, and a necessity laid upon her from the Lord to bear VVitness unto the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the VVorld, vvhich had shined in her Heart and Conscience, unto vvhich Call of the Lord she became obedient, and gave her Back to the Smiter, and her Cheek to them that have not spared their Cruelty tovvards her; Yea she took up the Cross, and despised the Shame, for the Joy that vvas set before her; For I have heard her sometimes say, that if it might have stood vvith the VVill of Lord, she could have rather chosed to dye, than to have undergone those things that lay upon her; for she vvas many times called forth after her first Convincement, to bear VVitness in the Steeple-houses to the Truth, against their False VVorship, vvhere she met vvith much hard Usage from the Savage People, and a great deal of Reproach from her Relations and Acquaintance, beyond vvhat may easily be expressed, though aftervvards, they seeing her Integrity, became very Loving and Respective to her.
And she vvas sometimes cast into Prisons, vvhere she vvas faithful in her Testimony, till the Lord made vvay for her Deliverance; And many times, as she Travelled in obedience to the Lord on Truths account, she suffered much Hardship in the outvvard, a great deal of hard Travel, Hunger and Cold; yet she said in much tenderness of heart, and in the sense of the Lords Love, that he could make a Cup of cold VVater as good to her as VVine; and she said at that time, it vvas as pretious unto her, although it [Page 13]was a time unto her in which she Travelled as in a Land unsown; yet blessed be the Lord, the effects of her Labour, Travels, and Sufferings have in many places of this Nation been seen, she having been an Instrument in the hand of the Lord, for the Convincing and turning of many to Righteousness, from Darkness to Light, and from Satans Power to God; to which end the Lord endued her with his Heavenly Gift, and made her Ministry effectual, as many can bear Witness for her, though of her self she was weak and could do nothing, yet had Faith in Christ, who enabling her, could do all things that he called her unto: And since she came into these parts, the Lord hath made her Ministry very effectual, through his Heavenly Gift, to the Establishing, and Confirming of many in Gods everlasting Truth, and his Heavenly Presence did much accompany her, and oft fill her Vessel, and his Power was in her Ministry, that the Weak were Comforted, and those that were ready to Faint, were abundantly refreshed, as many in those parts can truly bear her Witness; and through all her Service in the Labour of the Gospel this was her Comfort, as I heard her several times say, That she never sought her self, as she could appeal to the Lord, and to the Consciences of all people where she had Travelled, but for the good of Souls, and the advancement of Gods blessed Name, and his everlasting Truth: Yea, I may truly Testifie on her behalf, that she coveted no mans Silver and Gold, nor Apparel; for what she had of her own she spent on Truth's account before she was my Wife, and since, when the Lord hath laid a necessity upon her to Travel in his work and Service, she hath had freely of me, and the Lord hath blessed us so that we never wanted any thing. And this I give as a Testimony against the vain imaginations that have risen in the minds of [Page 14]some Carnal Professors in those parts: And truly the Lord made her a blessing unto me in many Respects, whose secret hand did bring us together; and now hath taken her from me again, who was so neer and dear unto me; and she is out of the reach of all her Enemies and Persecuters, and those that did hate her for the Gospels sake, and is at Rest with the Lord, with whom is her Reward for ever and ever Yea, Blessed are the Dead that dye in the Lord, they rest from their Labours, and their works shall follow them. And that which remains as a desire in my heart is, That I may serve the same God to the end of my dayes, who never failed her, under any Exercise or Tryal that she was accompanyed with; for when the Officers sometimes were taking our Goods for to levy a Fine for a Meeting, they asked her whether we did still intend to keep Meetings? and she answered as it was in her heart, Yes, we resolve to follow the Lord fully.
Moreover, under the great Exercise or weakness of Body that she was in before her departure, she often acknowledged that the Lord was wonderful good unto her, for though sometimes she might be under some Exercise of mind by reason of her great Weakness, yet she was kept quiet and patient, and did often say, That the Lord had broke in upon her, and with his Heavenly Presence did fill her to the Comfort of her Soul, and the Joy of Heart as she did many times acknowledge, and said, O that the [...] may never take his presence from me! It was so [...] pretious and desirable unto her; and blessed be the Lord, he was good unto her to the very last, she was kept sensible, and did acknowledge that she had the Testimony of his Love, and that it would be well with her, and that she had no desire to live any longer in this World: and a little before her departure, she had no desire to have her Children with her, though [Page 15]they were very neer & dear unto her; but having given them a Charge to be obedient to their Father, and that they should mind Truth, and then the Blessing of the Lord would be with them, so she desired to be retired; and the morning before her Departure, she had a sense that the time of her Departure was at hand, so she [...] a Friend that she was going to her long home; and that morning she desired me to go about my occasions, though all along before she still desired my Company; and I being sometime wanting, was called in again, she being now upon Departing, our dear Friend J. Anderdon being with me, we went in unto her, and he held her by the hand, and I held her up about the neck, and she manifested her Sensiblenss, and her Faithful Constant Love to me unto the very last, and so departed in the Love and Peace of God, as several had a Testimony of it that were there present.
The 28th day of the 7th month 74. was the day of her Departure, and she was Buryed the 6th day of the 8th month. following, being accompanyed with very many Friends, and many Neighbours.— So They that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament, and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever.
Here followeth a Relation of more of her Sufferings, the 28th day of the 9th Month, 1671.
JAne Whitehead was brought to Ilchester Prison with a young Child Sucking at her Breast, through the Envy and Wickedness of the Priest of North-Cadbury, one John Atwood, who malitiously Swore against her, she being accused that she came into his Congregation with Force and Arms, and did Interrupt him and Disturb his whole Congregation; which was a very Lye, for she neither used Force, nor Arms, but spake soberly in the Fear of God, bearing her Testimony for the Truth, against the Covetous Practises of the False Hirelings, and spake the words of Truth and Soberness; and we are well satisfied that no True Minister, nor good People would be offended nor disturbed at this; yet notwithstanding, R.H. a Justice, Committed her to Prison, from her Husband, and four small Children, and one tender Child she carryed in her Arms, and brought them again from Ilchester Prison to the Sessions at Wells in the Winter Season, and through the fallacious actions of the Priest, sent her back to Prison again, where she remained until the 2d month 72. all the Cold Winter; (yet the Goaler was civil towards her) but the Lord will plead her innocent Cause in his own Season, with those her Enemis, as he hath done with other that rose up against her; for the Lord was with her in the time of her Exercises, [Page 17]who did uphold her by the word of his power, and gave her strength and courage to encounter with Truths enemies; and blessed be his Name for ever, he hath now brought her through the War to Peace and everlasting Rest, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God for ever, and hath Crowned her with Victory with a Crown of immortality and eternal Life, Glory over all to the Lord God and the Lamb that sits upon the Throne.
Therefore, dear Friends, you that are but young and tender, who are convinced of the everlasting Truth of the living God, and have believed in the Light of his blessed Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, this is my Councel in the Love and Councel of the Lord unto you all, That you abide in the Light, and yield all holy Subjection by living in obedience unto it, according to the Divine operation, and holy requirings of the Spirit of Truth in your inward parts; that you hearken to the councel of it, and be willing to be led and guided by it, and to receive instruction from it at all times, and upon all occasions, that the way of the Lord may become your delight for ever, and the path of the Just the place of your footsteps, that so through righteousness you may obtain the blessing of peace from the hand of the Lord, as your portion for ever and ever.
Therefore travel on in the strength of the Lord, ye tender Children of the day of Gods everlasting Love: I say, travel on with Courage, with chearful hearts and ready minds in the footsteps of the flock of the holy Companions, as this our dear faithful deceased Friend hath done, that so you may with the Lords Worthies, Open ye everlasting doors that the holy Nation may come in, that so you may come truly to be of the general Assembly of the Church of the first Borne, whose names are written in Heaven, and to the innumerable Company of Angels, to the Spirits of Just men made perfect, and to God the Judge of all, to receive an Inheritance among them that [Page 18]are sanctified, and have fellowship with the Saints in Light, and so come to witness life and immortality brought to light through the Gospel of our Lord Christ Jesus, the mighty power of God, to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.
And this is to be obtained by following the holy divine Light, that shines in the heart in the dayly Cross; and true self-denyal of our own wills, in true and holy subjection unto the will of God, who hath truly loved us, and gave his Son Christ Jesus for us, who bare the Cross, and despised the shame, who came not to do his own will, but the will of the Father that sent him, who was made of no Reputation, though he was Lord of all; he took upon him the form of a Servant, and became obedient to the death of the Cross, and was Scourged for our transgressions, and bruised for our sins, that we might receive Redemption by him, and Salvation through Faith in his blood, and his living and ruling in us, who hath caused his heavenly Light to shine in our hearts, that by the living virtue of it our understandings are opened, whereby we come to see him that is invisible, and to know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, who having finished the work that his Father sent him to do, is ascended up on high, and hath led Captivity Captive, and given gifts unto men for the work of the Ministry, and for the perfecting of the Saints, and the edifying of the body of Christ till all come to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, who is sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, glorified with the Father for ever and ever; yet nevertheless he that inhabits eternity also dwelleth with the man of a broken heart, and contrite spirit, and trembles at his word; of this we have a living experience through the goodness and mercy of the Lord unto us, who hath begotten us again by the immortal word of Life, unto a lively hope in Christ Jesus our Lord, who is worthy over all to have the praises, the glory & honour everlasting renown with living obedience from all that are made pertakers of the riches of his grace, now henceforth and for ever.
Here followeth the Testimony of John and Jane Anderdon concerning Jane Whitehead.
THis Testimony we have to give for Jane Whitehead, that she was a good and honourable Woman in her day and time, the Lord having poured forth his Spirit upon her, as upon many other of his Servants and Hand-maids in this the day of his power, and she was truly called to the work and service of the Lord, in which she was valiant for the Truth, and feared the Lord in faithfulness in her generation, and held the Faith, and kept her Integrity to the last & was a good Savour in her life and death, & she is blessed, and her good works do follow her, and we never found her too forward to speak in Meetings, or to seek the Preheminence, but to clear her Conscience before the Lord, which was well: We were present at her death, and she died like a Lamb, for death was swallowed up of life, and she is happy, and gone to her grave in peace with God, and at her Burial her life did preach, and her memorial is blessed; and she said a little before she dyed, that the Lord laid nothing to her charge, and that the Lord did bear her Witness that she never sought her Self in all her Labour and Travels, in which she met with many exercises, even to bonds and Imprisonment for the Testimony of Jesus, and the word of God, in all which he kept and preserved her faithful to himself, even to the end; and she spared not iniquity, but took up the Cross and dispised the shame, and is entred into rest; and she was desirous that all should be in truth and reality, what in word they outwardly professed themselves to be and made a shew of; and she could not endure Hypocrisie, but rejoyced in godly Society, and her dear Love was to all Friends, whose welfare and prosperity [Page 20]in the Truth she much desired, and Peace and Unity among all the Flock of God, that they might keep together under the one Shepheard in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Unity of his eternal Spirit for ever.
The Testimony of Jasper Butt for Jane Whitehead.
I Have known her for neer twenty years past, about the time when Truth first brake forth in the Southern parts of this Nation; she was one on whom God fulfilled his Promise, even a Hand-maid on whom he poured out his Spirit, and accompanyed with his living Presence, he having committed a Dispensation of the everlasting Gospel to her, in which she was faithful according to the measure received: And though she was the weaker Vessel his Power was manifested in her, to the reaching of his own Witness, and turning many from Darkness to the Light, and many Children may rise up and call her blessed, for she was a Mother in Israel: She came forth neer the beginning of the Lambs War in these latter dayes, and was a faithful follower of him, through many Tribulations and Sufferings: The Unity, Peace, and Welfare of the Lords People was precious to her, and she Travelled in many Counties of this Nation in the Lords Service, in which his Power and Blessing was with her, and minded that more than any Self-interest: towards her latter end she had a pretty long [Page 21]time of Weakness, her body being in a Consumption; I was with her a few dayes before her Departure, and was well refreshed in the sence of Gods living Presence manifested in her, which truly refresh'd and comforted her in her outward weakness, and gave her true content in the will of the Lord, in which she was gathered to her Fathers, and laid down her head in everlasting Peace, her memory is blessed, and her name yields a good savour; and in that life into which she gathered whilst conversant amongst us, we still enjoy a fellowship with her, and though dead she yet lives with us, having Fought the good Fight, and kept the Faith, and finished her Course, she hath obtained the Crown laid up in store for them that have the appearance of the Lord Jesus.
SO my dear Friends, all people to whom this our Testimony may come, this is my Exhortation unto you all, that you all tread the same path, and walk in the same way of holiness, of righteousness and faithfulness that this dear Lamb hath trodden, and mind the same thing, and obey the same Spirit, that you may have the same blessed reward, and be made partakers of the same everlasting happiness and blessedness, by receiving an entrance, and having an habitation in that Inheritance that shall never fade away, that when this earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved, you may receive a house not made with hands eternally in the Heavens, which is the end of all our Labour, and Travels, and Sufferings, that the Lord may be glorified, and peoples Souls may be saved from the dreadful day, and terrible Wrath and Vengeance of the [Page 22]Lord God and the Lamb, which is due to the wicked, by reason of their Wickedness, sin and ungodliness, and will be their portion for ever, if they do not repent and turn to the Lord by amendment of life; Yea, Tribulation and Anguish upon every soul that does evil, upon the Jew first, and also upon the Gentile; for if Judgment begin first at the house of God, where shall the sinners and ungodly appear? So you, dear Travellers, that are turned Sion-ward, run the race with patience that is set before you, even the race of Salvation; and so run that ye may obtain the prize, even the Salvation of your Souls; for the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; for though Kings of Armies fly apace, yet the woman that sits at home divides the spoil, whose feet abide in her own house, and goe not into the Chambers of Death.
Oh my dear Country-men and Women, my neer and dear Relations, Kindred and Acquaintance, for my heart is enlarged for your lakes in the tender Love of God, that hath opened my heart by the bowels of his own Compassion, to invite you all, and intreat you all to turn unto the Lord, and seek him while he may be found, and call upon him while he is neer, for he is not far from every one of you; therefore turn unto him with your whole hearts, that you may receive at the hands of the Lord, who is a merciful God, even the tenders of Life and Salvation, which he is now holding forth freely in his Son Christ Jesus our Lord, who delighteth not in the death of a sinner, but had rather that all should turn from the evil of their wayes and live: Therefore I say again, Receive the Tenders of his Universal Love held forth in the Light of his beloved Son, for in him are all the Promises of God, Yea, and Amen, for ever; for in him is Salvation and plentious Redemption for all that put far from them the evil of their doings, who cease to do evil, and learn to do well; then, though their sins were as scarlet, he will make them as snow; and though they [Page 23]were as Crimson, they shall be as Wool; therefore do not delay, but turn to the Light of his pure Spirit in your own hosoms, that Reproves for sin in secret, and bears witness against ungodliness; for the Scriptures do declare, that God hath not left himself without a Witness, and this is his faithful Witness, even Christ Jesus; therefore turn unto him I beseech you all unto whom this may come, and slight not the day of your Visitation, least you never have another; for who knows how soon the Lord may call you out of this world? then it will be too late to cry to the Lord for mercy, when the Gate of mercy is shut, and you left to receive a Reward from the hand of the Lord for your evil deeds done in the body; for there is no Repentance in the Grave, but as the tree falls so it lies, and as Death leaves so Judgment finds, therefore while you have time Prize it, and come down from the high Mountains of your own casting up in your vain imaginations, and come, O come into the low Vally of Jehosaphat, where the true Judgment of the Lord is received, for Zion is Redeemed through Judgment, and her Converts with Righteousness; for when Judgment is set up in the earth, then the Inhabitants thereof learn Righteousness; and the Prophet saith, The fruits of Righteousness that shall be peace, the effects of it quietness and assurance for ever; but no peace to the Wicked, saith my God; no peace to the Persecuters of the Lords people, no peace to the Despisers of the true Light of Christ within, no peace to the blind Seers, nor sleepy Watchmen, nor false hireling Priests, that oppress the poor, and live by the sweat of other mens brows; no peace to the idle Shepherds that feed with the fat, and cloath with the wool, and make a prey upon the Flock, who pull the sheaf from the hungry, and the fatherless from the breast, such are they that rebel against the Light, who cry peace, peace unto people while they put into their mouths, but when any for good Conscience sake refuse to [Page 24]put into their mouths, then they prepare War against them, and fly to the Law to recover treble, or other damage against them; no peace to the Backsliders and proud boasters, who have Apostatized from the Truth; and no peace to the false hearted, nor double minded, and rebellious, that never yet came to the Truth:No Peace to any of the wicked, unless they Repent, & cease to do wickedly. But true peace is the portion of the Righteous, who in faithfulness follow the Lord; and peace to those that love Uprightness, who take delight to walk in the way of the Lord, which is a way of holiness; and without holiness none can see the Lord; therefore turn unto him I beseech you all, and embrace the light of his Spirit, and make no longer delay; let not his Locks be wet with the drops of the night, whilst he stands knocking at the door of your hearts, but open unto him that he may come in and sup with you, and you with him, that so you may come by living experience to witness the fulfilling of those weighty sayings that stand upon Record in the holy Scriptures, and those Prophesies spoken of by the Prophets in the dayes of old, who said, Thus saith the Lord, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, upon Sons and upon Daughters, upon Servants and upon Hand-maids, and they shall Prophesie; I will write my Law in their hearts, and put my Spirit in their inward parts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people; I will be their Father, and they shall be my Sons and Daughters: This is our God, and in whom we have believed, that is good and gracious unto the Children of men, who gives gifts unto the Rebellious; for thus saith the Lord, I gave them my good Spirit to instruct them, but they rebelled against it: and some there were of old that did despight to the Spirit of Grace, and such there are in this Age, but if they do not obey the Spirit of Grace, their end will be miserable.
A few words to those that have Apostatized from the Truth, and so Conclude.
ANd now you Backsliders, let your eye be turned unto the Lord in the light of his Son, from whom you are fallen, and look for his fiery indignation to take hold of the transgression to destroy the Adversary of your souls, that hath drawn you aside from the Lord, and be willing to bear his indignation because you have sinned against him that through Judgment you may be redeemed to your first Love, and to do your first Works, lest the Lord come unto you quickly, and take vengeance upon you to the full, and grind you to powder ye fallen Stars that have lost your light, that are drawn down from Heaven to the earth by the strength of the Dragons power: O consider in time vvhere you are vvandering like Fugitives and Vagabonds in the earth, and be not high-minded, but fear and consider from vvhence you are fallen, and hovv you have forgotten the dayes of your tenderness, and have let hardness of heart come over you again: O behold the desolation, the ruine, & the breaches that are come upon you, by reason of your Wanderings from your first tenderness, vvhen the Lord broke in upon you and tendered your hearts in his everlasting loving kindness, but you have not prized his love, but have wandered from his pure light: O consider the goodness of the Lord, and turn again unto him, that he may shew you mercy; remember how the Lord shewed John things that were to come, how that there should be War in Heaven, Michael and his Angels against the Dragon and his Angels; and John saw to the end of the war, that the Dragon and his Angels, could not prevail against Michael and his Angels, but [Page 26]was overcome, and was cast out of Heaven to the earth, and their place was no more found in Heaven; and this made them rage because they had no place in heaven; so the Dragon was wrath with the Woman that brought forth the Man-Child, and he cast out his floods after her, even the floods of Persecution, and made War with the remnant of her Seed, that kept the Testimony of Jesus, and the Word of God, and in their Wrath they blasphemed the Name of God, his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven; and this John saw in the Spirit, which reacheth unto this present time; for have we not seen the day in this our age, that many of you entred into the Heavenly Profession, and had for a time a small part in the heavenly fellowship of the knowledge of God; but after you had known him, not glorifying him as God, nor liking to retain him in your knowledge, but growing heady, and high-minded, and giving your power to the Dragon to make War with the Saints, those that have kept their habitation in the Truth here begins the War, for they have laboured with you, and sought you with much tenderness, that you might not be utterly driven away, that you might not be cast out of the heavenly fellowship, and fall into utter desolation; but you still joyning with the Dragon to make War with them, so there was no help for you, but that you must be overcome, and so be cast out of heaven into the earth, and this hath been the cause of your rage and anger, because you were cast out by them that have kept the word of their Testimony in faithfulness; for this was that which John saw, that they overcame by the word of their Testimony, and the blood of the Lamb: and O with what diligence, care and patience have the faithful Brethren strove with you, seeking your Return, but O how hath their care been flighted by you, and had in derision among you, who have given reproachful terms to those Meetings that have been set apart [Page 27]on this account, for the repairing of Breaches, and building up the waste places, and gathering into Peace and Unity where the Faithful Brethren have been very diligent to build up the Ruines and Desolations; but O how have they been by some set at nought, and ill requited for their labour of Love, even by such who have been ready to lay waste, and make Breaches, and sow Dissention, and cause Divisions among Brethren; but said the Apostle, Mark them that cause Divisions amongst you, and avoid them, for they that gather not with us, scatter abroad; and I right well know that none that abides not in the unity of the Spirit ever gathers to God, let them pretend never so fair; but it is possible that they may gather to themselves by their feigned words and fair speeches, but they shall not long continue, but their folly shall be made manifest; those that are heady and high minded, and will not take counsel of the Lord, nor hearken to the voice of his Servants, but are ready to say in a way of contempt, as Miriam did in the dayes of old, Hath the Lord spake only by Moses, hath he not also spake by us? but the Lord brought her to Judgment that spake contemptuously of his Servant Moses, as some are ready to say at this day of the Ancients of Israel, by reason of their care over the flock and family of God; the same spirit also is ready to rise up against them, as it did in the dayes of old in them that said, You Sons of Levi, you take too much upon you, and so now, such as are careless themselves, and idle themselves, are ready to say of others, they take too much upon them, and so slight the labours and travels of the Ancients of Israel, who have the care of the Churches upon them, and have born the burthen and heat of the day, and have been in perils by Sea, and perils by Land, taking care that things might be well among Friends every where, and that true love and unity might be encreased, and that which is evil kept down; and this is well pleasing unto the Lord, and this work the Lord hath blessed and prospered, and made it effectual for [Page 28]good, and those who abide in the truth, have seen a service in it for the Lord, notwithstanding all the opposition; for this we know that such as oppose the work of the Lord will not prosper, let them cover themselves with never so fair pretences, with greater enjoyments of the Lord, this covering will prove too narrow to hide them from the wrath of the Lord, when they are appostatized from the truth, and from the comely order in the Unity of the Spirit, and from the followship of the Gospel of peace, such as came forth with us, but were not of us; So they went forth from us that it might be manifest to all people, that they are not of us.
But oh ye backsliders that have appostatized from the truth, and have crucified the Lord afresh, and put him to open shame, you that have not wholly sinned out your day, Return, return unto the Lord that he may heal your backslidings, and shew mercy unto you, and love you freely for his own names sake, who hath moved in my heart, in the bowels of his own compassions to call upon you to return unto him, that he may shew you favor, before his anger break forth against you, & his decree be sealed, that you perish not in your gain-saying & Apostacy, and the earth swallow you up, and you become miserable for ever; therefore Consider, if it be not too late, for there is mercy with him, and bowels of compassion for all that truly seek him in uprightness of heart. Thus I have cleared my Conscience whether you will hear or forbear, from one that travels for the prosperity of Sion, and loves Unity and peace among brethren; truly desiring the welfare of all people that they may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved; and that these that do already know it may abide in it for ever and ever. which is the true and hearty sincere desire of your true Friend, that seeks for peace and Unity.