not forget his Servants whom he hath chosen to place his name among who stands faithful unto him them will he deliver one way or other we need not look how the Lord knows what way makes most for his Glory as I remember the death of Oliver Atherton that sweet Martyr for the Lord in bearing the same Testimony who the same night before he dyed sang praises to the Lord in a most heavenly manner as many Witnesses can testifie because he suffered this lingering Marterdom for the Lord of Glory who ended the tenth and redeemed him out of the ninth as it is written in the declaration of his death that was set upon his Corps as he was carryed home to his family to be buryed as the Countess of Darby could witness who was his great Aversary and Prosecuter into Prison who dyed her self about six weeks after and then all the rest were released as by the providence of the Lord whom they suffered for And then they who we made as Widdows and fatherless for a time were eased of their sufferings as these who are now as poor Widows fatherless Children may die in due Season as the Lord sees good whom thou hast made through thy Jewish custom of taking tenths though in that day it was lawful for the Jews yet I never read in Scriptures that they sued at Law for them as thou doest nor received them for that end as thou doest nor made Widdows nor fatherless Children as thou dost nor lay'd men in Prison for them as thou doth nor when one Law would not serve went to another as thou hast done nor never gave Goalers strict charge over them as some of you have done but the Lord will revenge for these things to whom we leave it for I will repay it saith the Lord and this was I moved to write by the God of my life unto thee or whom it may concern in the behalf of my brethren and their wives and little Children who cannot do as much for themselves that thou may consider their cases who suffers for the Lord and dare not pay Tyths for pleasing man and thereby offend God who hath brought them to make a good Confession of his name before men and is not ashamed of their Christian duty to God who hath redeemed them out of the ninths and left them Witnesses against the tenths for his names sake Glory to the Lord for ever VV. W. A short Letter to the Priests and their hearers FRiends Christ Jesus who said he is the way of truth and the life John 1. saith also he is Light of the world and whosoever believes in him shall not abide in darkeness but shall have the Light of life John 8.12 So truely friends this is the Light of Christ Jesus which sheweth you sin and what is evil in you and this is that which is not of the world neither can the world receive it for the whole world lyeth in wickedness but this of God to which we speak doth never consent unto wickedness but reproveth all manner of evil whatsoever and sheweth you that you should not wrong one another but do to all men as ye would they should do to you friends this is the way of truth and to speak the truth one to another this will stand in the Light which is the truth and truly if you love God you will love the Light for God is Light and of Purer Eyes then to behold iniquity and a measure of the Spirit is given to every one of you by manifestation to profit withall so every one search honestly your own hearts and see how you have profited with it for truly an acount must you give of your deeds done in your bodies whether they be good or evil now all evil is manifest to be of the Devil as lying swearing theft drunkenness desembling deceiving with the rest of all ungodly actions therefore repent and forsake your sins and return from the evil of your doings for the Lord wills not the death of a sinner but rather that you would return from your wickedness and live to serve him alone in that which is holy and just and good for to live in sin and lusts of uncleaness is death and destruction and dear people strive to enter in at the staite gate which leadeth to life and few there be that find it but wide is the way and broad is the gate that leadeth to destruction and many there be that find it so I dearly exhort you all to read your conditions honestly and see how you stand justified in the Light of the Son of God and your time all to prize and turn to the Light while you have the Light reproving you for sin in Secret when as no mortal Eye doth behold and by believing and obeying it it will lead you out of darkness and this is the true Teacher and near unto every one of you all and cannot be removed into a corner but is present with us and you at all times and in all places and sees the very thoughts and intents of the heart and no other way is to the Father but by the Son who is the true Light that lighteth every man that comes into the world and this is in love to all your Souls let him that readeth understand and you that teacheth others whether you are taught your selves of him who is the true teacher Christ Jesus Secondly and whether they that are taught of him are taught to settle themselves at one certain place for so much a year as can agreed betwixt partys Thirdly whether they that be so are not of that sort that Esaiah saith seeks their gain from their Quarter and the hireling that Christ saith flyeth Fourthly whether they be not of that sort that stands praying in the Sinagogue hath upermost places in the Assemblys and is called of men Master Fifthly whether they have not mens Persons in admiration because of advantage and reverenceth honour one of anothor and calleth men Masters Sixly whether these be not of the same generation that Jermiah saith steal the words from their neightbour and saith the Lord saith when the Lord hath not spoken to them Sevenly whether these be not in the way of Canan envy and Balaum seeing after gifts and rewards W. W. Letter from Scotland to friends about Kendal in Westmoreland DEAR friends in and about Kendal these may signifie to you all who is desirous to heare of me that I am well blessed be the Lord for the same and my heart affcted with the deaar love of God unto you my true friends with whom I have fellowship in the heavenly Union and Comfortable Spirit of our eternal God who is present with us at all times and places who cannot be seperated from his own from his own life in his people who hath chosen him for their way and for their life cannot live without him who is life the Lord of hosts is his name he is my life my
the Lord was his upholder in all hardships And by his powerful arm did support him in all tryals and exercises that he met with Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever he did so worthyly walk in his life time obedient unto the grace of God which appeared in his heart that when it pleased the Lord to visit him with sickness the Lord made it casie unto him that he many times did say greater was his peace then his pain peace did far out ballance his pain and said I have not served the Lord for nought and very quietly took his sickness Saying he was well contented whatsoever way the Lord was pleased he was as a Dove harmless and as a Lamb Innocent also waited he upon the Lord until his change did come which when the time came that he no longer might live in that Body he prepared was to meet the Bridegroom and an admittance into the Bridegroom's Chamber was found where I know he is at rest and peace for ever more with the Lord. O Happy art thou dear William Happy and Blessed of the Lord art thou for ever Blessed art thou that is dead in the Lord. Thou shalt rest from thy labour and thy works do follow thee Amongst the Angels bright shall thou shine In Heaven's joy to remain for ever Where thou a Crown of life hast obtained A Diadem most bright shalt thou wear It was this thou laboured for here It is obtained now by thee in Heaven where it was sure there laid up for thee till thou thy Testimony had finisht Now rejoyce thou dear friend and brother In heaven's Glory shalt thou shine for ever William Rawes Thomas Atkinson his Testimony concerning Will. Wilson ANd this same Will. Wilson was a man indued with Heavenly and divine Knowledge which the Lord had given him and was made able to divide the word aright to every condition he had milk for the babes to nourish them withal and stronger food for men of strength to go on with boldness in the Lords work And for temporal affairs both for himself and others who made use of him he was so honest true and faithful in his dealings that none could justly lay any thing to his charge in this state he both lived and dyed as to the World but the remembrance of him will remaine for ages and generations yet to come I had good experience of himself many years and therefore I can give my Testimony for him that he was an honest faithful man although his body be gone the way of all flesh Thomas Atkinson William Walker his Testimony concerning Will. Wilson THis is my Testimony concerning my dear friend late deceased which the Lord hath taken away from among us and is received into everlasting rest with the Father where peace and joy is for evermore enjoyed This Testimony I have to bear and to leave upon record for him this day that his labour and travail was for the good of all for he being one that often frequented my Fathers house and he was made instrumental in the hand of the Lord in that family when we were young in years for in the remembrance of him my heart and soul and spirit is even broken many times within me so that many a time my Spirit cannot but mourn within me for want of such a dear friend though not as one without hope being well satisfied that his soul is in everlasting felicity where true rest and peace with the Lord for ever more And further this Testimony I have to bear for him that he was a man that was truely willing to labour with his hands in the creation and that alwayes a tender regard over his family for this I can truely say for him that it was his greatest joy that his children should be kept in the fear of the Lord in which the living God hath had a regard to answer for whom my Soul and Spirit on their behalf can truely at this time give unto God the praise to whom all true praises belongs for ever and for evermore saith my Soul William Walker Michael Wilsons Testimony concerning his Brother William Wilson WIlliam Wilson being my natural Brother and by trade a Taylor and I when young being his Apprentice as well as his Brother can in Reallity and truth give this Testimony concerning him who before his convincement he was one that sought the Lord to the utmost of his understanding then and for disputing about the things of God and the Scriptures he was behind few of the Professors of those times and was one that walked as Circumspectly as the most part of them did Being zealous in his way yet still some thing there was in him unsatisfied which the Lord in his own due time did satisfie and by his living and eternal power did raise to bear a Testimony for him unto which Testimony vaised by the Lord in his heart he was obedient and willing to be led and guided which led him into the way of God which is light for Christ said who is the way to God I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life In which light he came to see that a profession of the truth made not a Christian but a possession of it and also in it he came to see deceit both in Priests and Professors who talked of the way of the Lord but walked in the way of error preaching praying and singing for gifts and rewards having more regard for the fleece then for the flock seeking their gain from their Quarters having lofty Spirits and proud and haughty looks loving to go in long Robes that they may be taken notice of sitting in the highest Rooms of feasts and having the Cheifest places in the Synagogues and loving salutations in the market places and to be called master even Lording over people against which my dear Friend and Brother was several times moved by the living power of God to try and declare and in his holy light did testifie against them who had got on Sheeps Cloathing but inwardly was Ravening wolves for which he was cruelly handled at several Steeple-houses both by Priests and People as for instance When we went to work one time at a House where was one Charles Crow a Priest who came into the Room where we were working who walked a while to and fro in the Room with a Book in his hand somewhat larger then a pocket Bible unto whom my Brother moderately said Charles thou hast a great toyl in getting thy lesson at which words the Priest in a rage came and took him by the hair of his head where he was upon an high form sitting before the table and pulled him down to the ground panching him with his feet and knocking him on the head with the Book which knocking some Women in another Room heard and came at that time and prevented the Priest from doing any further harm And
also at another time being one feast day in the Morning we were in his house at Langdal Chappel stile who then felt the Lord to move upon his spirit that he should go to Eshdal Steeple house in the County of Cumberland at which place he was Cruelly handled a few weekes before by one Priest Parker yet notwithstanding he was willing to go who witnessed that saying my people shall be a willing people in the day of my power said the Lord. And we went from his house within a Quarter of the ninth hour and we were in Eshdal Steeple-house within a quarter after ten between which places it being nine Miles and upwards of very rough way and Priest Fogo being there soon after we went in he went into the Pulpit during which time my brother stood silent And when he had done my brother spoke some words to the people concerning the Priest sayings and doings which made the Priest to rage And some of his hearers standing up being officers would have put my Brother forth but the Priest said let him alone then they sat down again very willingly expecting to hear a discourse between them but instead thereof the Priest came to him and took him by the Hair of his Head and by the same pulled him to the ground and drew him out of the Steeple-House while the Priest was thus exercised I said unto the people mind the fruits of your Priest the Scripture saith lay violent hands on no man which the Priest hearing came to me and in his rage and cruelty abused me in the beholding of which acts of Cruelty done to us the people was many of them set against the Priest which he perceiving got away home and then my brother had good service among the people a prety while but within a few months after the Priest met with a sharp reproof for his Cruelty when he was riding over some sands accompanied with several people he fell into a quick-sand and was immediately drown'd a just judgment of a persecutor And this in short is a true Testimony of some of the fruits of the Priests whom he in the light of the Lord went to reprove who made a great talk of Christ and Christianity yet notwithstanding proved as Cruel as the beasts of prey tearing wolves though covered with lambs skin And at several houses up and down the Country where we wrought he met with many envious spirits who also were great talkers of God and Christ and the Scriptures and the way to God but walked in their own wills and wayes and would not bow nor bend unto Christ the light and way to God they were climbed up so high in their imaginations and strengthned themselves in their self righteousness and came forth in the strength of the power of darkness to oppose the Truth and light of God which he bore Testimony unto yet in the name of the Lord he stopped the mouths of many gain-sayers and in the wisdom of God that was with him he caught the wise and crafty in their own snare And in a holy zeal and heavenly courage and living demonstration of the spirit of truth he declared the way of the Lord and his Exhortation was unto us who in some measure were turned to it that we should walk in the same and in it watch against that dark Envious proud haughty Spirit which lay near to draw from it and to do well and keep low in Gods holy fear and to deny our selves and take up the dayly Cross to our own wills and to be faithful in that little appearance of Light and Truth which we had already received and then the Lord would make known more unto us whose words many of us now are come to witness Blessed be the name of the Lord for evermore And this Testimony I have to bear concerning my dear Brother and it liveth in many and shall not dye that he was an Innocent man and lived in the fear of God and diligently sought the Exaltation of his holy way and his delight was to labour and travel that people might be gathered into the same and walk therein that in their day and time they might be an honour unto God for which end he made them and they who in this age do declare for the same and seeks to worship him in his own ordained way do meet with many hardships and cruel persecutions as did the faithful Servants of the Lord in former ages and as also did this innocent man But the Lord was near unto him in every strait and was unto him a present help in every needful time and in a living sence of his eternal power did in time of his sickness declare several sweet and heavenly Exhortations and also saying I know it will be well with me I have not served the Lord for nought his presence I feel with me and also said my love is generally to friends and standing upon the floor between two Friends with difficulty of breathing said Oh that every one would mind the Lord that they might reap life and then he sat down and like a Harmless dove left this life and so drew breath no more JOHN DIXON'S Testimony concerning William Willson I Being a Neighbour unto W. W. therefore have had a certain knowledg of him being many times conversant with him though at the time of his Convincement I was but young in years and before his Convincement when I learnt at School I had this knowledge of him that in those times he was one that diligently sought the Lord to the utmost of his understanding And that with the chiefest of professors in those times he was one that took great pains in going from one professing Priest to another and for disputing about the things of God and the Scriptures was behind few of them Yet still there was something unsatisfied in him notwithstanding the great and high profession then made untill his mind was turned to the Lord who by his holy and heavenly Light and glorious power did shine into his heart by which Light he came to receive the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus And this Heavenly treasure he had in his earthen vessel and willingly he attributed the excellency of the power thereof unto God to whom it did belong being truely subject thereunto for he was a man that had made self then of little or no Reputation therefore did the Lord exalt him and give him Wisdom Corage and Boldness and that in the sight of his Enemies to the Confounding of them and raising the witness of God in many For soon after his Conversion he was moved by the living power of God to cry against deceit iniquity oppression and transgression which abounded both in Priests and people and was cruelly handled at several Steeple-houses often by the Priests and sometimes by the people for the Lord from whom nothing can be hid he knows and many peopel did see how that one Priest Parker
unto another and the Lord harkered and heard it and a book of rememberance was written for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name as we are Witnesses of is those days though we be hated of men not knowing the Scriptures and as we have believed Christ and the Scriptures so do we keep his commands who saith he that loves me keeps my sayings who saith Swear not at all and in obediance to this very thing we stand who suffers here in Lancaster Castle because we cannot Swear nor break the Commands of Christ which if we should it were a shame to us and below our honour and Scollarship which we have learned in Christ that never Swear and so taught his Disciple who sufferred for his Doctrin in their days as we do more in our days with much Joy of heart that we are counted worthy to suffer for his sake and bear our Testimony to all the world that God is true and every man a lyer who doth not truth and so remaines in his sins which truth sets free from and so we trample upon those things which is below if we bear our Testomony unto death as some of our friends and brethren have already done in these nasty holes and stinking Prisons where men may easily get their death I could gladly find to be with thee that we might reason together upon the things of which so greatly doth concern our everlasting peace and honour in the Lord which is far above all the honour in this world in my Eye it is above the hat and knee which men may throw in the mire and where lyes it then but that honour which is from above is placed in the heart and is there to remaine for ever and if it were about other things as matters concerning the Kings service I could relate unto thee my sufferings to be great as to me and none of you took care for me then I might then do as I could for you and I have sufferred since in Clivers days for that service and I was in Prison for my Conscience sake at Carlile and that unjustly too what is it I am born to do to suffer still and that unjustly too both then for the King and now by his friends and never had as much as a penny pay to this day cannot that I believe was was Casten and gathered in their days for me as Edward Benson of Hyclose John Midlefel of Langdale knew them but the times turned so their minds turned and kept what they had for ought I know and little regarded my Imprisonment and poor coming home which made me think it of my self being so poor and knew not how to mend it when others mockt at me and I might have gotten away as they did which shewed their Lovalty to the King to be but small when mine was made manifest so I think it were little enough if I had my pay now to help mee in Prison and I hope pity will now in thy heart towards towards my Wife and little Children that they may not want or else what Charity lives with thee so it s for my Religion that I suffer here which I love to reason for with Ministers or Magistrates or any men that fears God of Heaven and loves the Seriptures which is useful to desid Controversies about Religion and this is the thing that is settled in my heart and my desire is that I may labour in the fear of the Lord and not be chargable to any man and live a Godly life and lay open wickedness and deceipt to the view of the whole world as the eternal God move it in my heart unto whom I stand in obediance and dare not swear at all Thy friend and Neighbour Willam Wilson and a lover of thy souls and everlasting peace and if I could Swear I should take that Oath as soon as any that you set much by Lancaster Castle the 9th of the 12th Month 1663. A Letter to Edward Stanley of Dalegarth in Eshdale EDward Stanley I desire the read this paper over to the end with patience if thou canst E. S. thy ungodly deeds shews thee forth to be an ill example amongst thy Neighbours and they that fears not God learns at thee and loves thy evil deed and thy ungodly ways is a strength to to those that fears not God but with thy self would not have God nor good men to live among you but strives with strength and cruelty to shut the Contry of them that fears the Lord and worships his most holy name which ungodly men and cursed Swearers is not fit to name the Lord remembers all thy doings that thou hast done against his people that fears his name and he will not forgit thy cruel doings that thou did unto John Gunson his wife and little Children and James Stanton and his Innocent life in which he lives unto God and darest not be offenced in Christ for all the world if thy weight had been ten times greater then that thou hast already laid on him he hath so truly learned Christ Oh the Lowing of John Gunsons Beasts when he caused their Ears to be cut off shall rise up in Judgment against thee and the harmless Sheep thou took from James Stanton shall plead his innocent cause and condemn the to thy face and every Fleece of Wool thou took from him shall cry out against thee and all their goods thou so evilly got shall do thee nor thine no good and they shall live and praise the Lord when thou shall fear and shame to hear of thy ungodly deeds the very name of God shall fear thy Soul and good men thou shall shun and Hills and Mountains shall thee fly O whether wilt thou run we are not afraid to Worship God his Truth will bear us out it is no other thing we suffer for and therefore we are stout and doth not fear the loss of all that ever we possess the Lord will plead our harmless cause and will deliver us And all our Foes will scattered be as dust upon a Hill When he will gather his Lambs that doth his holy will Remember how thou went about to do his People wrong VVho in his fear together met though not contemning long The Lord considered well their cause and knew the need they had And brought them home again in time which made the needful glad And therefore we are not to fear the worst that man can do For serving of so good a God that will consider so I have believed the God of heaven that maketh all mankind And do not fear to worship him who ever be left behind Consider well the Poor mans state that liveth near to thee And do him good if that thou canst it will thy comfort be For he would do to thee no harm I fully do believe Nor wrong the things belongs to thee whatever one would him give Or say to him in such case the Lord hath taught him so To Pray for
The memorial of the just shall not rot of the Just shall not Rot. Or a Short COLLECTION OF Some of the letters of that faithful Servant of the Lord William Wilson VVHO Departed this life the tenth day of the fifth Month 1682 at his own House at Longdale-Chappelsteel in the County of Westmoreland TOGETHER VVith several Testimonies Concerning his faithfulnes in his day UNTO VVhich is added a brief accompt of some of the buffetings Imprisonments and spoiling of goods he patiently suffered for his Testimonies sake Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord he shall be as Mount Sion that cannot be moved LONDON Printed for Thomas Northcott in George-Yard in Lombard-street MDCLXXXV ERRATA PAge 3. l. 1. for lay r. laid l. 26. f. into r. to f. men r. me p. 7. l. 1. after 〈…〉 l. 5. f. r. had p. 12. l. 15. f. with r. in the p. 13. l. 12. after that r. 〈…〉 f. direct r. directs l. 32. after that r. it p. 14. l. 9. f. sin r. seen l 18. f. they r. 〈…〉 l. last f. all r. his p. 22. l. 2. blot out W. W. p. 24. l. 12. f. the from r. thee from 〈…〉 38 dele as p. 38. l. 1. f. though r. through p. 34. l. 30. f. his r. is p. 34. l. 17. r. 〈…〉 their l. 25. f. your r. you p. 37. l. 17. f. conetenous r. covetous p. 38. dele the 4 〈…〉 40. l. 24. after not put at p. 42. l. 20. f. Prioners r. Prisoner p. 43. l. 17. r. Testimony p. 53. l. 15. f. mortal r. immortal l. 21. f. have r. hear l. 26. f. messuge r. message l. 34. f. of r. for p. 56. l. 3. dele out p. 56 l 3 f hoest r honest l. 12. dele believers l. 16. f. casting r. causing There are several other mistakes which the Reader is desired to correct To the Reader FRiend whoever thou art that reads the ensuing Treatise may understand that there are only a few of the Letters and Epistles which have since his decease been found in loose papers and that many Heavenly Exhortations to friends which he wrote in his day are lost and but only as it were a few of many here inserted for although he was born and educated very meanly in this dark corner of the Earth and had very little Humane Learning only he could Read English and 〈…〉 little yet but slowly and was by his Trade and occupation a 〈…〉 the Lord was pleased to call him as he did Fisher-men and 〈…〉 of old into his Heavenly work and Ministery to bear 〈…〉 to his Name in many parts of this Nation and also Scotland 〈…〉 places and he was a faithful man and was given up to do 〈…〉 work and always had a word of Exhortation to the People that he met with or had to do withal so what thou here sinds presented to thy view did not proceed from any Humane Education or wisdom of Man but only what the Lord was pleased to reveal in him by his Spirit and so is not worded with high Scholastick words but even homely words and plain Countrey speech being always a man of a very lowly meek Spirit and easie to be intreated and being he had little Humane Learning is the reason why both time and place of some of his Writings is not taken notice of And this I have to say concerning him being one who hath several times joyned with him as in Arbitration to end differences between man and man that he was a very upright honest man and I never found him any way byassed by any for whom be was concerned but always was at work to seek out the truth and ground of every thing in difference and would never countenance deceit or such as had a mind to wrangle but did always reprove and discountenance such as he found had a mind of Suits and Controversies and commonly when he was appointed in such matters he had good success and seldom missed of his desired end for he was a lover of Peace and sought it often with all his might and was also an encourager of those that sought peace and loved to love in quiet though he would not have bowed a finger of his hand to satisfy the will of man contrary to what was manifested in him either in payment of Tythes or Priest Salaried or when he was brought before Magistrates and Rulers for the Exercise of his Conscience to wards God and for the blessed Truths sake which he professed and also was and now is a true Pofessor of and hath received a Crown of Glory with the God of Truth whose faithful servant and true warri ur he was and his Bow always abode in its perfect strength to shoot an Arrow at all manner of deceipt and hypocrisie though to the hazzard of his outward man by the violent hands of wicked and unreasonable men yet the Lord was always his deliverer who now hath taken him to his Eternal rest and removed all weights and burdens from his shoulders and tears from his Eyes for that he always suffered with those who were sufferers for Truths Testimony and was often made willing to put his Shoulder under anothers burden and hath often given ease to such as were heavy loaden by lending a hand of help and though I had not the happiness to be with him in the time of his Sickness save only the space of one hour the morning before he departed in which time he often said he had no trouble upon him although he was very weak yet he walked several times over the slower with me and also a little out of door saying his peace far exceeded his pain though he felt himself very weak and in a few hours after he sweetly departed this life the tenth day of the fifth Month in the year 1682. and is entred into everlasting Joy and blessedness with his God and hath received an inheritance in that Kingdom that shall never have end where many who are yet in this body who have been refreshed by him in his day have true unity with his Spirit and in remembrance of him can glorify and praise and give thanks unto his God who is over all and worthy of praise and thansgiving for ever His Wives Testimony Concerning her Dear Husband William Wilson A Living Test mony I have to give Concerning my Dear Husband He was a dear and tender Husband over me and that is the cause of my Sorrowing for the loss of his outward Body yet I can truely say I have peace and true unity with his Spirit as I ever had when we lived together Blessed and praised be the Name of the Lord for evermore who joyned us together in his Heavenly fear and pure unspotted love and was our guider on our way both inwardly and outwardly and in that same love that the Lord joyned us together in we lived in the same till the Lord was pleased to take him from me who is worthy of his own although
it be a hard Exercise to me many a time now in my old age to part with so Dear a Husband but all is but a reasonable sacrifice for the Lord who is the preserver of our Souls that live in obedience unto his Will And this I can truely say and that to my great Comfort that when the Lord was pleased to call him from me upon the Truths Account whether in England or Scotland I never was his hindrance but was freely willing to give him up to the service that the Lord had called him unto for I have often bidden him take no care for any thing he left behind but have said perform thy journey as thou sees the Lord makes thy way which I know he did and that with faithfulness and that is his everlasting joy and my great comfort though I be left behind him in this World but my desire and â—â—eathing is to the Lord to preserve me and my two Daughters in his heavenly way to our lives end as he did my dear Husband who laid down his body as an innocent Lamb Saying often times I have not served the Lord unfruitfully and also said I have no trouble upon me and I am very sensible that all is well with him for he was a peaceable man to the very latter end of his daies Blessed and praised be the name of the Lord for evermore who hath received him unto his everlasting joy and felicity for evermore The 17th of the 11th Month 1682. Dorothy Wilson His Daughter Rebecca's Testimony concerning her Father THis is my Testimony concerning my dear and well beloved Father William Wilson he was a dear and tender Father towards me and that is the cause of my Shedding of tears many times but it is not without hope for I am Satisfied with many more who knew his Life and Conversation that he is entred into everlasting joy and felicity for evermore with his Maker And this I can truly say to my daily comfort he was a true director of Me and my Sister on the Spiritual Journey even Sion wards which he himself did travel on dayly and did bear a faithful Testimony for to the end of his daies both in England and other Nations where the Lord was pleased to call him tho through tryals and hardships but he thought all little enough for the Lord and his holy truths sake Oh blessed and praised be the name of the Lord for evermore for I can truly say my Father was raised up in a spiritual sence towards us his Family when he took his journey towards London and in much tenderness exhorted us with tears to keep in the true fear of the Lord that his name might be glorified by us with many more good and heavenly Exortations to us on this manner which was his last Testimony to us for he lived but two nights and one day after he came home from London and his outward body was much Spent but he was in a Sweet and heavenly frame of Spirit to his last breath and often said his peace was far above his pain And so lay down his head in peace where none can make him afraid Oh Lord God of Infinite love which hath broken my heart unto tenderness before thee thou hast been a Husband to my Mother and Father to Me and my Sister Oh Lord carry us on in thy heavenly way as thou didst my Father that thy name may be glorified by us in our little measures for it is the desire of my heart above all things to live in thy true fear that I may inherit the Crown of life as my Father doth Blessed and praised be thy holy name for evermore saith my Soul The 17th of the 11th Month 82. Rebecca Wilson Ruth Wilsons Testimony concerning her Father THis is my Testimony concerning my dear and faithful Father William Wilson who was a dear and tender Father over me which is the cause of my great lamentation when I heard of his decease for I was gone to Kendal to live and did never see him alive after he took his Journey towards London which was very hard for me to bear and went near my very life but in the Consideration of his holy and pure life that he lived in I am satisfied with many that did know him that he is in everlasting Joy and Eternity Blessed and praised be the name of the Lord for ever for he was ever instructing me on in that heavenly way that he himself travelled into his latter end and encouraging men in the way of the Lord often saying to my Sister and Me it would be the best portion that ever we could enjoy which we know now to be very true Blessed and praised be the name of the Lord for ever who hath made us sensible witnesses of it in our little measures and I desire at the Lords hand that I with many more may be preserved in the true fear of the Lord to my lacter end for I know my dear Father did often travel in Spirit for us his family when he was far separated from us outwardly sometimes in his Journey upon truths account and sometimes in his imprisonment for conscence sake and the Lord was with him in every needfull time and now he was pleased to take him out of this troublesome world into his everlasting joy where he hath laid down his head in peace where none can make him afraid and the desire of my heart is that I with my Mother and Sister may truely wait upon the Lord that we may know him to be as a Father unto the Fatherless and as a husband unto the desolate Widow for he is a strong Tower unto the upright in heart and a sure hiding place unto all his little ones O blessed and praised be his Holy Name for ever and evermore saith my Spirit Ruth Wilson William Rawes his Testimony concerning Will. Wilson COncerning our dear friend and brother William Wilson I have this Testimony to bear for him in true remembrance of him he was a man of a Meek and quiet Spirit which with the Lord is of great price he had also a good gift to declare the truth and was full of zeal and heavenly courage in the which he perform'd the same Also he was a good example and patern in his life and Conversation unto us by the which he preached truth unto us as well as by his words for he himself lived according to what he taught us for he was adorned with gravity and walked before us in humility yea he had a blamless conversation and was unspotted from the World so that his presence as well as his words was a strengthening and a comfort to the upright and honest-hearted he was a man that did suffer much for truth's sake both imprisonment often and spoil of goods which he took joyfully knowing that in Heaven he had a better and more enduring substance he patiently endured all saying he had counted the cost before he began to build
of Eshdal in the County of Cumberland because this faithful and obedient servant by and through the Motion of the Divine Spirit of God did exhort people to mind that of God in their consciences and to turn to that holy Light and Law which he hath put in their inwards Parts that by the same they might come to know the will of God and do it I say because of these and such like words the Priest in a cruel rage did beat and wound him and with one of his Crutches did break his Head and caused the blood to run down his Shoulders and Back and being a lame man caused his Horse to be brought upon which he mounted and in the sight of the people did upon Williams bare head break his Staff in three pieces which made the people cry fie upon such merciless work So when the Priest had made an end of his savage dealing he set forwards to go home but before he got thither he met with a reproof for his Cruelty from him who rewards every one according to the deeds done with body whether they be good or evil for he stroak him with sickness so that he never came more at the Steeple-House during the time of which sickness he was very loathsome for he stinked above the ground and was even made an example by him who safely keeps his obedient ones from being devoured by the beasis of Prey who alone is worthy to be glorified for ever more And so the Lord God of life light and power who knows how to declare and to wrok both immediately and instrumentally who is never wanting unto his faithful and obedient Servants who truly depend upon his holy divine Spirit a measure of which he hath freely given to all mankind to be their instructer and leader into all Truth and they are blessed and for ever happy who are instructed and led thereby and are truely and really given up thereunto though they may meet with many difficulties and troubles as did this faithful Man W. W. but out of them all the Lord delivered him and in his holy power gave him dominion and in the Authority of the same sent him into Germany to bear a Testimony against the wickedness of the wicked and against the ungodliness of the ungodly warning the wicked to turn from his wicked wayes and the ungodly from their ungodly thoughts unto the light of God in their hearts and to the holy Measure of his divine Spirit in their inward parts for which he suffered great hardship in the city of Hambrough and in Germany and other places thereaways both by Sea and by Land And after he had finished his service which he had to bear for the Lord in those parts the God of Light brought him back again into his own native Country and outward habitation where he was a good instrument in the hand of the Lord both to the gathering and incouraging of many in and to the way of the Lord both in Declaration and also in life and Conversation For as he taught so he lived in humility dread and fear before the Lord being a good favour both in them that did believe and also in them that not believe reaching forth his hand daily for the good of all truely delighting in the way of the Lord rising early and walking late for the honour of the same and durst not bow bend nor honour no haughty nor proud losty mind because thereof he as well as many others of our dear friends have suffered great hardship for they that fear the Lord know right well and that by good experience it s the humble that God teacheth and he direct the meek and the lowly in the right way which way our dear friend W. W. was very bold to declare unto many and that in a living demonstration of the Spirit of Truth which is the most excellent teacher and teacheth to declare the way of God aright for without a harkening and giving up to be led and guided by it None can declare of the way of God aright nor perform their duty unto him therefore it s the concern of all to mind the measure or manifestation of the Spirit or grace of God which is freely given to all that they may profit therewith and those that truly comes to profit therewith they are often pusht at by them who do not mind it insomuch that is come to pass in our day as it was in the day of the Prophet he that now departs from iniquity becomes a prey to them who rebel against the Light Grace or Spirit of the Lord. And though this faithful warrier and servant of the Lord did faithfully suffer persecution in his own native Land near his outward habitation yet still the Lord preserved him having more for him to go through for it pleased the Lord to send him into Scotland several times there to declare his message freely which was that God is light and in him is no Darkness at all and so if possible to turn their minds from darkness to light from Satans power unto the power of the Lord unto which power every Soul ought to be subject and in the same to live and dwell and have their being so shall it be well with them when the time comes that they must lay down this earthly Tabernacle and must go hence and be no more sin for the Prophet said All flesh is grass and the glory of it as the flower of the grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away but the word of the Lord endureth for ever And the last time that this faithful Souldier of Christ who fought under his banner was in Scotland he was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to travel into the remote parts thereof where many times he was in jeopardie of his life there to declare unto them the way of the Lord freely for freely he had received therfore freely he did give as do all they Ministers of Christ Jesus who is come to learn of him and to obey his command who commanded his Ministers saying freely ye have received freely give And in these far and remote parts the Lord God of life and power of whom he had freely received was not a wanting unto him but was a present help in every needful time and was always neer to preserve his obedient traveller until he had finished his Testimony which freely he had received from the Lord to bear in these remote places and then the Lord God almighty of life and power who was his leader thither and his instructer there was his protector back again at whose coming his Relations Friends and Neighbours was very glad for though many had pusht at him and envied him looking and often expecting for his ruin and Inprisonment several of them did then stand in need of him for the Lord blest his labour every way and made him able and willing to help them in several of their necessities for his hand was alwayes open
to the needful and his delight was to do good to them that had done ill to him for indeed he overcame evil with that which was good So that they that formerly had been his enemies was made to say William Wilson is an honest Man for he walked circumspectly as those that are redeemed by the Lord seeking by all means to bring honour to the way of the Lord and to exalt the same over all the by-ways set up in the fallen wisdom of man for the way of the Lord is a spiritual way and his worship a spiritual worship for all that truly worships him it must be in Spirit and in Truth And not in forms traditions and outward observations as loe hear and loe there in this tradition and that observation which many have made a great stir about and been fitting up in their own wills and ways being degenerated from the Spirit of the Lord in which he is only alone worshipped And because this faithful servant and Minister of the Lord did often cry against those that taught for Doctrine the commandments of men being ignorant of the cammand of the Lord in themselves therefore he was often by them haled to prison and Cruelly handled as was hinted before And several times sued for tythe for John Ambross in the year 1682. did exhibit a bill in the Exchequer against him and several other of his friends because they could not give him tythe for his cure who in his bill of complaint to the said court affirmed that he was their Curate but it hath pleased the Lord to provide a better place for him Then John Ambross intended or sought for him for his intentions was if his unreasonable ends was not answered to put him in some prison or dungeon or such like place or else to ruinate him in his estate and so it s come to pass in our day and we are living witnesses of the words of the Prophet of the Lord concerning those that deceive people and caused them to err and bite with their Teeth and cry peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they even prepare war against him Micah 3.5 And this is that cure they Minister unto those who cannot put into their Mouths who in the light of the Lord hath seen their deceit and can in reality and truth give this certain Testimony that they are Curates of no value for those that have been feeding such Curates and have been living under their cure Twenty Thirty Forty or Fifty Years many of them hath as great reason to cry at this day as they had the first day they went to them no Health in us no Health in us And therefore all hath great need to walk in the spirit of the Lord that in the same they may pray unto him and say from such Biters Preparers of War and Curates Good Lord deliver us And from such Curates God almighty hath delivered his faithful servant William Wilson and placed him where they cannot touch him with their War nor come near him with all their sharp Instruments nor wound him with their Darts nor bruise him with their Blowes The good Curate who freely gives his Cure who is indeed a Phisicion of value who heals all that come unto him and doth depend upon him he alone hath taken care for him and given him rest from his labours for the Lord hath an eye to them that have an eye to him and he draws near to them that draws near to him and he is a true preserver of them that depend upon him and singly desire to walk in his way Which way this faithful man William Wilson had a tender regard unto who above all things desired that he might be preserved in the same and be in his day and time an honour to the same and in reality and truth so he was and for it he had a delight day and night to labour and travel and was in his journey and travel for the renown of the same when the Lord of life and power was pleased to visit him with sickness which he took very patiently earnestly desiring of the Lord to turn him which way he thought best and to bring him to his Wife and Children And according to his desire God almighty whom he served in reality of heart who had been with his saithful traveller and delivered him in many straits and dangers was at this time near unto him and strengthen his outward man according as he desired and brought him to his Wife and Children and outward habitation where several came to visit him unto whom he said it will be well with me what way soever the Lord be pleased to order me And the third day after he came home he was taken out of the Body during which time he set his House in order and several sweet and Heavenly exhortations he left among his Familly and within half an hour before his departure he walked over the Floor between another Friend and me who said my love is generally to Friends and then after a little space with great difficulty of breathing he uttered these expressions Oh that every one would mind the Lord that they might reap life which being spoken like a harmless Dove he sat down in his Chair and soon after drew breath no more William Rigg's Testimony Concerning William Wilson THis testimony have I to give for our dear Friend William Wilson that he was an innocent Man a lover of truth and righteousness and not only so but a walker therein for by his honest and upright life and Conversation he was a preacher of righteousness unto many as well as by Word and Doctrine which he was a labourer in for many years not only in this Land but in more remote parts of the World beyond the Sea and the Lord was with him and his power and presence did go along with him and the Lord made him instrumental in his hand for the good of many for it was the joy of his heart to see truth prosper and that many might come to enjoy that precious Pearl and Jewel of great worth the Kingdom of God in them which consisteth in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which he was made a living witness of And his testimony was living and powerful to the teaching of the witness of God in many not only by word and Doctrine but also by life and Conversation as I said before whereby he reached the best part in all Men with whom he was Concerned or where ever he was ordered to go so that all were forced to confess that he was an honest Man for he was of a lowly meek and Condescending Spirit unto the meanest Capacities whereby he got the love of many and he confirmed and scaled his Testimony not only by doing uprightly but also by suffering the spoiling of his goods and imprisonment of his body and also by blowes wounds and cruel usage by inhumane and unreasonable Men counting nothing too
hard to suffer for the testimony of Jesus and for the love of him who had satisfied his Soul he was seeking the truth in its purity and glory which he did receive and did continue faithful to the Lord in what he had received of him even until the day of his departure out of the body so that his memorial is blessed and he hath left a sweet smelling savour behind him and the sweet unity of his life and the blessed fellowship of his Spirit lives and remains with us and as he lived an innocent life so was his latter end comfortable It was not my happiness to see him in his sickness yet I had the Relation by several honest Friends that he was in a sweet and heavenly frame of Spirit and when he was asked how he did he would have said he was well for my pain said be cannot mount so high but my peace is above it but I hope further account of this will be given by some that were eye and ear witnesses well tho his body be gone to its place and his Spirit to God that gave it and is entered into his rest with the Lord and is Crowned with an immortal Crown of life and glory which was laid up for him and not for him only but for all them that love the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ yet the unity of his life lives in my heart and I have fellowship with him in Spirit and even at the time of the writing of this Testimony my heart is made glad and my Soul is sweetly refreshed in the remembrance of the blessed seasons which we have had together for many of them is fresh in my remembrance and I do remember his Exhortation was often to Friends to keep in the unity of the Spirit for said he it is of a longer extent then we it will live and remain when we are gone of the truth of which I am made a living Witness glory to God for ever And so I desire unto the Lord God of Righeousness and Truth that all the gathered sheep of my Heavenly Fathers fold may be preserved from the Ravenous Beasts of Prey and that we my all be kept faithful in our Testimony for the Lord while we have a day that we may lye down our heads in peace with the Lord as do I stedfastly believe our dear Friend and Brother William Wilson hath done By a lover of Truth and Righteousness William Rigg James Pask 's Testimony concerning William Wilson WIlliam Wilson was truly a Man of God who did much good and was a Pillar in the House of God in his Generation he did not gad abroad to change his way or go out from the pure way of God but stedfastly keep and walked in it all his dayes after he came to know it he was a man of love to God and his people that is good and knew well how to chuse the good and refuse the evil unblamable in holiness and served the living and true God saithfully his rest is glorious and his reward great in Heaven with the Lord God and the Lamb for ever and ever For his labour of love and service in the Church of God which very much he desired the welfare and prosperity of he overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of his Testimony which he held who loved not his life to the death I cannot but think of him and lament for the Churches loss thereabouts of such a tender overseer of such a Friend and saithful Brother and for his Widow and Childrens loss of such a Husband and Father so careful for their good so loving and tender to them I desire they all may be contented and rest satisfied in the will of the Lord in which he is gone to his eternal rest from us all as to visible appearance but that spirit of God in which he walked still we enjoy to our great comfort in all our tribulations I knew him well Five and Twenty Years he was ever very dear and near to me we travelled through Scotland together many years since where we patiently endured what exercises perils and troubles we then met with having a good and Estectual service for the Lord God in that Nation which after we had truly performed we returned in peace and Gods favour In the pure love of God was I moved to give this Testimony on the behalf of this my late dear Brother and companion in the work of the Lord who is fallen asleep and taken up his everlasting Rest in Christ Jesus who lives and Reigns for ever and evermore James Pask WILLIAM WILSON was arrested with several more of his Friends and had before Justice Fleeming and Justice Kirby only for meeting together in Gods name and fear for which he the said W. W. with several other friends was sent to Lancaster-Castle where he had the Oath of Alleagance tendered to him upon the refusal of which he was sent to prison again and there remained several months who soon after the Assizes his fidelity being made known to the King was released and set free from that bondage William Wilson who for conscience sake could not pay Six pence or Seven pence a year to Priest Ambross Parson of Grovenor was by him sued in the Exchequer court and run to a writ of Rebellion and by vertue of the same arested and cast into Prison several Months during which time he wrote several letters to Dorothy his Wife and Friends Coppies of some of them is as followeth Dear Wife I received thine from Ambleside and hath heard of thee since by B. B. and J. W. and its satisfaction to me that I hear of thine and my Childrens Health and wellfare And I long to see that opportunity that thou might come to see me but dear Wife I do not at all desire it till thou canst well for Alas I know that thou hath over much travelling up and down about thy needful affairs but the Lord will order as he sees good and all will be well in his due time we have had true experience of Gods love to us and therefore we may speak for we can tell of his goodness towards us and may believe in the same For there is no doubtfulness in our cause for he knoweth our hearts and the end of all our doings and sufferings and therefore he will deliver in his season and that is to be waited for with us all thee and me and all that knows the Lord for he that will not spare to reprove Kings for the sakes of his anointed of which anointing we have all received a measure of he will not spare an old Hireling Priest who are in the steps of following after the wages of unrighteousness and greedily seeking his Prey and even devouring the poor if it were possible will not the Lord hear for the sake of his own Ye he will hear and be revenged even for the sake of his dearly beloved and Anointed whom the Devil
womb and hath in measure brought thee to be of the womb of eternity where thou mayest feel the invisible sence of Gods eternal love towards thee and thy Dear Children and he cannot forget his own that is without question Canst thou forget the Children of thy Womb its possible thou may but the Lord cannot forget his Children whom he hath called to forsake all and follow him his dayly blessings cannot but attend such every day that comes over their heads Dear love My life is with thee in the Lords presence but my Body is at Aberdeen at this present with the. My good Friends where I feel their care is over me and my companion that walks with me Oh pray that we may walk worthy or else all is in vain O we have need to be watchful against that old nature that would be ready to leaven into the old lump again and reckon that Gods Truth may be holden there but it is not so our God is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity it is the old man must be put off and Christ Jesus the new man must be put on which followeth after Righteousness And this is that alone that seasons our hearts with grace and preserves our minds in his fear and in his true love we are kept which loves one another and thinks no evil but bears one another in love exhorts one another in love and gathers into unity one with another that the Devil cannot get any power to hurt or scatter us from God nor one from another and in this are we known to be of God if we love one another that so God who for Christs sake hath shewed his love unto you may be glorified and honoured by you And thus much at present I feel to write unto you even the Lord Love that is large unto us that our dayly prayers may be to be kept in it to his glory and praise for ever my dear Wife thou knowst my love is dear unto Friends thou must let it be so remembred unto all our Meeting Dear Wife I say little of my return as yet but the Lords will be done that is my whole desire for I am many miles from the end of my Journey whether I hope I shall attain unto in Gods time I am not hasty but rather desires to be of use or service amongst Friends as I go For this first day I hope to be at Allan at a meeting where many hath of late as they say have a desire to hear it is about twelve miles beyond Aberdeen on the third day after a meeting of Friends at another place and then on my journey as God makes way and in the mean time think it not long but solace thy self in the singleness of heart with the Lord who will ever be as an Husband unto thee and to my Children as a Father and inperfect sense of the same and in dear love with thee and all men living upon Earth I take leave with thee and rest and remain thine in the Lord while I am William Wilson From Aberdeen in the North of Scotland the 25th of the 5th Month 1673. Now my dear and loving Wife I Can write some encouraging lines unto thee whereby I hope to the Lord that sent me away from thee that by his powerful assistance I may see thee again ere it be long for the Lord hath pleased to set me as free from the North end of Scotland to come home again to thee and my Children as he did set me free from you to God and did visit his seed in that remote part of the Earth and the Isles thereabout where his witness lies slain in many though not wholly dead in others though in great bondage but the Lords power is the same there as it was with us at the beginning and he is able to raise up even those that are dead and bring to life those that are staggering and release his own out of Captivity though it may seem to be through many straits and difficulties his arm is not shortned and it must be stretched forth to his own praise Dear Wife it is fourteen years since a Friend was here amongst this people and as I said unto thee it was the very day and time for me to go as thou knowst I said unto thee before I left thee I could not deferr the time any longer for this was the very year and time and I was the man that was to go and so dear Wife having accomplished my end in the name of God I can return in great peace for at this present I feel no other for my end in all things is Gods Glory and my Souls Peace as thou knows right well I have never sought my self in those things and so as I saw afore hand hath much come to pass for my partner as I said to thee when I spoke through Faith was such a one as feared not the face of any man that did appear against God and we have sound of all sorts but the Lords blessed truth was set over all heads and all Priests and people we need not much to relate that now And I have been pretty well preserved in Health only a little in the Isle of Stromy I was aguish a little but I kept over it as well as I could and mended again in three or four dayes I have thought often O that I had but one word how thou were and my Children but I see not how that can be and therefore I can wish in pationce hoping all is well Dear Wife I have written to thee since I came from home six times before this whether thou have received them or not the last was from Aberdeen six weeks before this but I can say little of writing more before I come though it may be a month or more yet or I can get home if all be well but as to that I leave it to the Lord thou mayst be glad that the Lord hath preserved us amongst the untoward Generation and set us safe again amongst them that believe I hear that dear G. F. is come again into England my heart is glad of the happy return let my dear love be minded to all Friends in General of all meetings round about as thou lights with any of them thou must not expect my coming hastily or I cannot travel hard but I am very well both as to body and mind if any write to London let me be minded to our Friends that went to London so with my love that never changeth I rest from Awbonthy the 5th day of the 7th month in Scotland 1673. W. W. A Coppy of an Account of some of the sufferings of William Wilson which account was found amongst his Papers written with his own hands since the Restoration of King CHARLES the II as followeth IN the year 1660 on the 22th day of the 7th Month I was arrested with a Warrant from Justice Braithwait of Ambleside by T. D. Constable of Langdal upon
him that Persecutes and pardon every Foe The Poor mans name is Nicholas Tyson I belive thou hast nothing against him but for his worship to God and God is without respect of persons for whosoever feareth him and works righteousness is accepted of him and he will remember all those things that is done against those harmless people and will clear their cause and their oppressors shall not go free for they are written where they can never be blotted out by the power and cunning sleights of men and it grieves many good mens hearts that ever such unreasonable men should bear the name of Christians that work such wicked works for ungodly gain and use the Kings name for a cover wickedly didst thou work and evil will be the end of it if thou look not to it in time the Lords decree is gone out against injustice and ungodly deeds that 's done against his People that he hath promised to preserve and deliver out of all their troubles though they suffer for the tryal of their Faith therefore Repent for thou must come to Judgment and an account must thou give and how canst thou appear before the Lord in those things that makes thee shame before men the world crys out of thee and saith it will never be forgotten it deserves to be posted up in the Markets and Steplehouses when seven years is come and gone the Lord abhors thy doings it stinks in his Nostrils but the poor innocent sufferers is a sweet smell in his sight this is in love to thy Soul that thou mayst remember thy evil deeds done and past that thou mayst learn Repentance in due time before it be too late for the Lord wills not the death of a Sinner but rather that he would turn from his wickedness and live Thy friend and lover of thy Soul Willam Wilson Written in the 9th Month 1664. with my own hand A Letter to John Ambrose Priest of Gaissiner in the County of Westmoreland JO. Ambrose wilt thou remember thy Prisoner that thou hast in Prison for the Lords cause and not for any due debt I owe thee for if thou wert a Minister of Christ thou would ask me none and as thou art not a Minister of Christ I owe thee none therefore let me forth of Prison that I may go at liberty and do my service as it s required at my hand or else let it fall on thy own neck and then it will be to heavy for the to bear yea and all that will take thy part This I write unto thee that I may let thee know that thou hast the Lords Servant in thy hand and will not let me go for not paying thee Wages that doth me no service nor work but the first work thou doth to me is sending me to Prison a work we never read of in all the Scriptures that all the men of God that ever we read on did cast men into Prison for their Bellys but if thou wilt not let me out do as thou will and let the Lord do as he will for I am well content but I must remember thee of the evil work which thou has done in casting me into Prison from my Wife and Childred but the Lord will Plead my cause and set me at liberty when thou and all unrighteousness shall be made fast for ever therefore remember what I have told thee and do good while thou may for thy time will spend and thy Repentance prove too late let me not lye here while thou is feeding and feasting thy self but remember the Widdow and Fatherless as it were Fatherless Children thou hast made by casting me into Prison from them and will not let them have their right the Lord allows them this must stand upon thy head thou unrighteous man if thou wilt not let me go as the Lord requires it of thee for he hath more for me to do then thou knows on therefore say not but thou art warned from the Lord before thy evil day come upon thee which will overtake thee as a Theif in the Night and come upon thee as an armed man when there is none to deliver thee so send thy Letter to fetch me forth if thou will if thou wilt not do even as thou will So I leave thee William Wilson JO. Amborse I am here in Prison upon thy account for about six pence or seven pence by the year which I should never have refused to pay to thee if I were convinced that thou were one of Christs Ministers but as I am perswaded that thou art not I rather choose to suffer for the non payment of it then to pay it contrary to that of God in mine own Conscience thou had better have taken a Cow or a Horse form my Wife and Childred then have cast me into Prison from them the Lord will hear their cry of Oppression more for want of me then for the want of either Cow or Horse and I would wish thee for the good of thy own Soul to let me out again that I may work for my Living and it will be more honour to thee among men and less condemnation before the Lord if thou have any respect either to old or young Wife or Children hear their cry for want of me their Father which if thou will not I doubt not but the Lord will hear their cry and deliver when thou canst not resist and in the undaunted Spirit of God I can rest and wait with much patience who am thy friend and lover though I have a little tasted of thy Envy yet I desire the welfare of thy Soul if possible the Lord may grant it Kendal the 29th of the 9th Month 1672. William VVilson Here follows two short Letters to John Kirby in the behalf of two friends imprisoned by him for Tyths JO. Kirby I can do no less then let thee know that we remember these two friends of ours which thou ungodlyly hast cast into Prison for non payment of Tyths and not only we the friends of the Lord but even the Lord himself doth remember them with many more of his dear Children who suffers for the same Holy Testimony for whose sakes the Lord of Glory will plead with their Adversarys by Fire and Sword the Lord hath spoken it by me and that thou is one of them that the Lord will plead with for the sakes of his Servants George Benson and Richard VValker their wives and little Children who is dayly mourning for the loss of their natural fathers whom the Lord of life and Glory is as Subject to hear as they are to mourn and hast said Ah ah I will ease me of mine Adversarys I will be avenged of mine oppressors I will be known that I am the Lord notwithstanding my Enemies who promise themselves ease and peace when they have done the Devils work by casting into Prison as it is said the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison but the Lord remembers these things and will
daily food my Soul satisfier the refresher of my bowels and inward part where the world knows me not and therefore they Judge me like unto themselves But my friends with you whom God hath called and chosen to place his name among is my blessed fellowship and communion in the Light of his heavenly Son Christ Jesus who hath made choice of us without respect of Persons O my dear 〈…〉 may all be continued in faithfulness and rightness of heart unto him in fear to walk while we have one day to spend my friends feal Gods to love you as at the first and yours to him as at the begining and so shall the truth never become as an old thing nor you in the least measure dye to it my dear friends its far from me to stand up to teach or instruct any of you but as the Lord hath freely made me pertaker and sharer with you of his devine heavenly love I cannot but in the remembrance of the same return you an answer of the continuance of his love to my Soul that you thereby may be remembred of the same that we may feel one another in the everlasting love that can never decay nor never be forgetten by them that loves God and the blessed and pure appearance of his Son Christ Jesus the Light of the world my friends since I parted with you I have been in the furthest part of all Scotland as to the Maineland and have had good service there for the Lord for people was very willing to heare the truth and enclined in words very much but you know the old agents that was ever ready to stir up help and Instruments against the true Light the now shines to wit the Priests of this generation but all will fail them its God must be Gloryfied the Priests worship will come to an end they have had worship enough its God must now be worshiped he will not give his Glory to another and likewise in the Isle of Stormie where a dore was open for us and our Testimony received with much gladness and we kindly entertained for a little space while we had freedom and so returned and leaves the work to God and we were also in the Isles of Ortners in the Town of Kirkway where there is a very like people in the Lords time but Bishops and Priests have Lordly power over poor people and keeps them much in Bondage but they have a very great sight into the ways of all sorts of professions and the true Light discovers them all And so my dear friends who have made full proof of the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ in you own hearts you it is that can give a Testimony of the same for while man be not come into full obediance of the Light he never knows the true ground nor benefit of the same and so with my dear love to you all as if I named you all I take leave and rests your friend in the Lord according to my measure William VVilson FRiends I could well have found to have written to you ear this but being so far distant I could not see how it could be safely conveyed neither was I very free till I saw something of my return which is now prety large for we are at this present come within about fourteen or fifteen miles of Aberdeen and so as God permits after visiting friends in my way I hope to the Lord to see you with comfort ere long be sure to let my wife and friends of Haukshead Meeting here from you or else send them these lines on a Second day with my love to them all From Auworthy the fifth day of the seventh Month 1673. William Wilson YOU that usurp Authority over poor people and bears rule by your means the day of the Lord hasten upon you which will strip you naked and bare and reward you according to your works and then where will your Authority be you Rulers and Magistrates who Rules not according to the just Law of God but according to your own wills the Lord will justly recompence his wrath and vengence upon your unrighteousness you corupt members and fruitless trees which plead for sin and imperfection and here you uphold the Devils Kingdom who raigns in sin and here you are found Enemies to God and his righteousness and I am a witness for the living God against you all who acts contrary to the just Law of God and bears Testimony to his name who is the Author and finisher of my faith and perfects his own work and clenseth from all sin by his blood all that walk in the Light as he is in the Light but you who walk in darkness hath not this hope neither that faith which purifies the heart but are going on in the broad way professing God and Christ with your mouth Prosecutes the life and power as did the same generation in all ages past halling beating scoffing scorning and shuting into Prison them that did confess his name and declared against all deceipt operly against all sin and evil as they were moved but the Lord will be avenged for these things therefore hast to Repentance and amend your lives for the Kingdom of God is at hand William Wilson ALL people that desires to serve the living God in newness of life must of necessity turn your minds into the Light of his Son Christ Jesus in your own hearts for that is he that gives the true knowledge of God whom to know is life eternal and this is he whom God hath sent into the world to be a Light to lighten all people that through him they might believe and be saved for he is the Saviour of his people from their sins so people whatsoever makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reprovable is reprov'd with the light for the light proves the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and this is he that sets up true Judgment in the heart and gives thee to descern between the good and the evil and lets the see the thoughts of thy heart in which thou dost behold thy State how thou stands approved unto God and this is near thee will never deceive thee and as thou finds thy obediance unto God and walking in the Light of his Son which never consents to the evil of thy doings so shalt thou find Gods power and Spirit beating witness with thy Spirit that thou art a Son of God guided by the Spirit of God and cannot fulfil the lusts of the Flesh and this must every one come to witness whoever comes to witness the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Saviour who is the Saviour of his people from their sins for while man and woman lives in their sin they are dead while they leive and all dutys performances and prayers to and professions of God and Christ is no more then if they cut off a dogs neck or offered up Swins blood for the works of man are a vaine thing
while he knows not the works of the Devil destroyed in him that he may know God to work all his works in him and through him to his own praise and Glory for ever and the heart of man can never be upright unto God while in the old nature with old Adam in the fall which brought death upon all men and in that state man cannot stand up for the Lord as a living witness against sin and wickedness and all unrighteousness of men because he remains in death for all his duties and performances in that nature is without God and without Christ in the world and man in the Flesh cannot please God so people as I have said you that loves and desires to serve the true and living God must come to the Light of his Son in your hearts and be willing to be taught of him who tells you plainly you should not lye nor swear an oath nor do to any but as you your selves would be done by and heare you may know a learning of Christ the good Teacher and Bishop of your Souls and this is in love to you all who desires singly after God for none else can receive it given forth in Scotland by R. R. and VVilliam VVilson A Letter sent to Justice Willam Kirby from Lancaster Gaol 1663. WIllam Kirby the whole cause of my being imprisoned is laid upon thee for thy Cozen Fleming said it was because he was informed that I was as a traveller which I heard thee say with my own Eares and made answer in the open Sessions and if this be the cause as I am informed its shamful that I should be imprisoned for travelling the Lords business six or seven veirs since which was when I saw thee in Hambrough it would but be a shame to thee that I should publish this abroad concerning thee that I should be cast into Prison for this which was past six or seven years since being change of government since and an act of Indulgence since an Act of Grace if it had been a Transgression in those days thou ought not to punish me for it now I believe no Laws in the Land will bear thee out to do it for I believe your act is for them that departs from their house or habitation and meets together to the terrisying of the Kings Subjects which I should be loath to do being the Kings friend as was manifested in the year forty eight both by my continuance with the longest in his service here and suffering imprisonment and the loss of all that I had and more as I can make it appear by my neighbours after I got home and there was none of the Kings friends that then took any care of me then I might have been starved for them then as I am Prisoner by them now and I have as good reason to have this in my mind now by which I had like to have lost my life and lost all I had for obediance to the King as thou to have my travel for the Lord into Hambrough in thy mind where my brother and I was used like dogs sometimes by the dogs nature in many of our English men which we found therein pride and haughtyness which the Lord will abase and bring to nought when we shall be exalted for our abediance unto God and testifying of his eternal truth which shall never dye and of which we shall never be ashamed when ungodly sinners and wicked men shall be consounded and brought to naught therefore consider if envy have rested in thy mind to do we a mischief ever since that time it is a wicked deed of thee and thou had need to amend it and shortly to least the Lord should cut thee off before the time then it would be too late to remember this my friend And I brought a good messuage into the City of Hambrought and that unto you that did understand my Language but you did receive our messuage but badly and entreated the Lords Servants with many dangers as we dayly found among you in the streets and in your English Church as my body found by your unreasonable blows and thrusting by you English men the like was never received among the Dutch by us but our God delivered us then as he will do now to our great comfort and our eternal Peace in that we were found faithful in his work did never shrink to any one of you whom we found out of the way of God in wildness wickedness lightness and vanity lustfulness pleasure and pride of life which things we boldly bare our Testimonys against in the Faith Fear and Power of the Eternal God of Heaven and Earth which did preserve us and will preserve us as we in his Faith abide for whose Faith and Testimony I suffer in Prison now in Lancaster Castle without any just cause or breach of any Law that should have exposed me so imprisonment but only thy Imformation to Justice Fleming of my traveling as it is to me related therefore the cause of my writing is that thou may take care and oversight of my Wife and Children which thou hast caused to be left desolate by staying me in Prison from them and when Justice Fleming was willing that I should have a little Liberty from the Goaler and would joyn with the in any thing thou did as his Brother Roger wrote unto thee then thou did write that the Goaler might let me have some liberty but it most be upon his own account for thou would not meddle in the thing which rather caused my streightning then otherways and also Thomas Watters of Bootle whose time might ill be taken up in lying here his Wife being near down lying and having little help about her a little liberty at this time might do him much good so consider and let not the ery of innocent Children fall upon thy head least thou come to be dealt with as thou deal'st with us in keeping us them from helping of them in their time of need and we fear thou will be but a bad friend to them in need therefore let one line or two be under thy hand to the Goaler if thou would have us do good to our Familys as some others have done before thee and then it may be well accepted of so to that of God I leave thee which never wrought evil nor never will work evil thy Friend and a Traveller for the Lord and his Truth Will. Wilson a sufferer also for the same it s not this slip out of thy mind but it was even a shame thou should send so many of thy hoest Neighbours to Prison like Vagabonds from Constable to Constable as not caring for us but sent us away to Prison where I believe it caused the death of two of us and the third was very near the point of death if he yet recover and thou would not come to see us till thou came to work wickedness against us as many hundreds can witness for