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A65831
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Piety promoted by faithfulness manifested by several testimonies concerning that true servant of God Ann Whitehead.
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Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.
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1686
(1686)
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Wing W1885; ESTC R19754
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32,467
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126
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to meet her at Kingston at the House of John Feilders where we had a Meeting on the first day of the Week and the Lord was pleased to seaze so upon me by his everlasting power through her Ministry that the operation thereof did so open my understanding and confirm me in the blessed Truth that I could set to my seal that it was the true and the living way and the way wherein no Soul could ever be deceived which day is never to be forgotten with me amongst the many other days of the Lords tender Visitations to my poor Soul in the days of my Distress and after I came more acquainted with this my dear Friend seeing her Faithfulness and Uprightness in the Church of God and her great care she had of the Servants of the Lord it did incline my Heart more and more unto her blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath quickened and made alive unto himself and hath made us near and dear one unto another and hath knit and tyed and bundled up and hath united us together in that one Spirit which is the bond of our Peace where there is no Rent nor Division but all one in Christ Jesus our Lord. And this is my Testimony further to her Ministry that it was living and true and she was one that never would go beyond the gift of the Spirit but always would return into that blessed Power that gave it forth which was very pretious to all that heard her and I can truly say that my Soul hath been many a time truly refreshed by her and in her and my Heart hath been made right glad for the which I bless and praise the Name of the Lord forever who is worthy saith my Soul She was a true and faithful Woman to the Lord and to his Truth and had a Testimony in her Heart against all things that would make a seperation therein and I can truly say it was very hard for me to part from her because of her worthiness and the want of her in the Church and Family of God and especially in our blessed Woman's Meetings where she was made very serviceable beyond many others through the gift the Lord had given her but considering the work is the Lords and he is alsufficient to carry it on to raise up other Instruments in her place the consideration thereof is a satisfaction to me and many more of my dear Friends and Sisters in the Truth and now she is ceast from her Labours and Sufferings and is at rest with the Lord who is her reward for all but tho she is gone her Spirit lives in the Hearts of the upright forever There is one remarkable thing brought to my mind which was the last Testimony of this our dear and wel-beloved Friend Ann Whitehead at a Meeting at the Bull Mouth a few Weeks before she departed this Life first signifying ' to Friends how she came to the Meeting in much weakness to be refreshed among us but withal declared how she was burdened to see the vanity of the minds of some professing the Truth and so she went on Exhorting and Admonishing and Testifying against Pride and Vanity which she saw among some young People that came among Friends So it is the desire of my Heart to the Lord that this her Testimony might not be forgotten but have a living impression upon the Spirits of all those whom it concerns and in that love which desires the good of all I rest Your Friend and Sister in the blessed Truth ihat sets free Mary Elson Margaret Meekings HER TESTIMONY Concerning Ann Whitehead IF any surely I have cause to bring in my Testimony for my dear Friend Ann Whitehead who was my antient Acquaintance both before and since she knew the Truth she being girded before by him she did not know not to trust in earthly Riches but did then with prudence and much tenderness do her duty far exceeding any I knew in that day and since she has been convinced of the ever blessed Truth which thorow many tryals and difficulties and great exercises she has passed thorow to walk therein a very useful Instrument in variety of â—â—â—vices in the work of the Lord she hath been by his assisting power who endowed her with much Wisdom and sound Knowledge to give Counsel and Advice to the Simple and much freeness to help the Helpless both with inward and outward Comforts and when in the outward she lived well of her own in the beginning she then gave up all to suffer and serve the Truth Oh her Value and many Vertues I want words to express what she was to me to many more that truly knew her so that her blessed footsteps I desire to walk in all my appointed time that as she did I may lay down my Head in Peace who I am well satisfied is gathered into that bosom of Love where Joy and Felicity endures for evermore Margaret Meekings A TESTIMONY Concerning Our antient and dear Friend Ann Whitehead THE one Eternal God besides whom there is none has in these last days manifested himself Emanuel God with us and in us of a Truth and all that into the new Covenant are gathered and there abide have his Teachings and feel his Presence and in the eating of the Bread that comes down from God discerns the Body whereof Christ Jesus is head and know the Communion and everlasting Union with God and all Saints so when any are removed or fallen asleep laying down their earthly Tabernacles our fellowship in Spirit ceases not nor do we sorrow as those without hope but can with Joy remember and make mention of those that Lived and Dyed in the holy Faith not speaking the praise of the Dead but of the Living as this our dear Sister Ann Whitehead who wrought in God and her Works follow her I knew her enterance was at the straight Gate and had no sooner the sight of the Pearl of great Price but was willing to sell all for it so put away that which was delightful to her tho her own Wotks highly priced by others yet least there should be an Idol in them were thrown in the Fire by her yea all that she thought would stop her in her Enterance or hinder her walking in the narrow Way yea her Relations whom she had manifested much kindness to yet being contrary to Truth she seperated from and thus having cast off that which pressed down she was not Idle but testified of the Truth in City and Country as called of God and she manifested that she was in the true Faith for it worked by Love I am a Witness thereof with many more Before the Womens Meeting was settled she went visiting the young convinced both Rich and Poor Counseling and Exhorting as was needful and supplying the Poor and stirring up others thereto and watching with those that were Sick and comforting the Parents with their dying Children yea helpful in many States and had
in the Morning of this his blessed Day and hath preserved me until now grant an encrease daily of his Wisdom and Counsel unto me that I may serve him and his People in my Generation and may follow the steps of this my dearly beloved Friend who is gone before and through Faith obtained a good Report and her Works praise her in the Gate To God Almighty be Glory and Honour over all for ever and ever Amen Ruth Crouch John Staplo HIS TESTIMONY Concerning Ann Whitehead THE Remembrance of dear A. W. cannot be forgotten she was my endeared Friend and whom I loved right well for the Truth 's sake in the enjoyment of whose Company I have been many a time Refreshed Comforted through the savour of Life in her Communication she was endued with the Vertues of Truth and seasoned with the Spirit thereof which rendered her Converse very acceptable great is the want of so dear a Friend the Lord be pleased to raise up more such spirited VVomen like minded to serve Truth in their Generation in the early of her day she began to Fear Love and Serve the Lord and her Perseverance is known to many my knowledge of her was about twenty six Years and she was affectionately tender to me in the time of my first Convincement when I was a Stranger to most Friends she wanted nâ—t in that day to give good Counsel and godly Admonishion and I have this satisfaction in my self I was glad when I had an oppertunity to serve her and my Spirit hath been tendered in the consideration of what she hath been to the Lord and done for the service of his Truth and People I well remember and believe shall not forget while I retain my Love to Truth what she said to me when I first visited her with another Friend as I did often in the time of her Weakness which she resented kindly being about six Miles from London and said What do you come on purpose to see me I take it as an effect of the Love of God and I pray God Bless thy Children Which render and motherly Expressions came very near and affected my Spirit and there was an earning desire in me Oh that the Lord would please to spare thee how glad should I be 't was more to me what she said at that time then if I had had given me a great deal of this World for that the Blessing of the Lord was and is of value in my Eye above all outward Concerns Another time when I went to see her which was her last day save one in this World her dear Sister Ann-Mary Freeman being present Remember me said she to all Friends and I pray God Bless your Families and if I never see thy Face more 't is well with me God doth know my Integrity and how I have been and walked before him and I am in Charity with all Friends and be not over Careful or Troubled for me but be Retired and Quiet My Heart was Comforted to hear her gracious Words yet Sorrow attended at the thoughts of being deprived of so Dear and Antient a Friend Diligent and Faithful Servant of the Lord one that loved the Peace of the Church as there is a Record of David's mighty Men in another Case so may she be Remembered among the first of the honorable Women for such were her attainments indeed I want Words to express what I have at times felt of her Worthiness in my Spirit One thing I have in memory of her she always stood clear of taking any part with those that ever rose in opposition to the Truth and the Servants of it and had a Testimony against that Spirit in all kinds that hath appeared to make Divisions amongst the Lord s People Well she is gone to her Rest and we that are left behind a little time to sojourn here it remains for us to be mindful of our latter Day and season of Change for that it may be perceived Mortality comes on a pace on this Generation some are concerned in the consideration of how many dear and honest Friends are lately taken from us we had need be girt up in Mind and diligent in Spirit that we fall not short of doing the Work of our Day and while we have Time all to prize it John Staplo VVilliam Ingram HIS TESTIMONY FOR Ann Whitehead AS concerning our dear Friend Ann Whitehead she received Truth at the first breaking forth of it among us and was blessed of God who endued her with many spiritual Gifts and Graces whereby she became a Blessing to others and the sweetness of that Life which flowed through her Earthen Vessel hath often Comforted and Refreshed God's People who in the sence of that living Power which plentifully appeared in her have many times been broke into tenderness before the Lord and in their Hearts have returned Praise unto him on her behalf who was knovvn to be Faithful and Sincere a true Preacher of Righteonsness in her Day and although she outvvardly be taken from us and her Body removed to its place yet her Spirit Lives and the memory of her Faithfulness Exercise and Sufferings for Truth 's sake and Labour for the Prosperity thereof continues amongst us hath a deep impression on the Spirits of many and vvill remain in the Churches of Christ vvhere her Service vvas manifest as a matter of great Value and Esteem not to be forgotten for indeed she vvas a Mcther in Israel a Nursing Mother to many Children begotten by the same vvord of Faith vvhich richly dvvelt in her vvhereby she vvas strengthened vvith Might in the invvard Man so that she vvas strong in the Lord and though many Archers shot at her to Grieve Wound her Life yet her Bow always abode in Strength and she was covered by the heaveuly Power of God out of the Enemies reach as one of the Lords hidden ones in favour with him and I am assured in my Spirit he hath preserved her unto his everlasting Kingdom of Rest and Peace who was a sanctified Vessel unto him fit for his use and to bear his Name forth unto the World and an eminent Example of Righteousness unto all who by her chaste Conversation coupled with Fear and diligent perseverance in the Truth did adorn the Gospel of our Lord being as a true Daughter of Abraham adorned with those inward Ornaments of the hidden man of the Heart as were the holy Women of old who trusted in God and she has now finished her Course fought the good Fight of Faith and I am satisfied hath obtained a Crown of Righteousness as a reward of her Travels and Labours which is prepared not only for her but for all that love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ a more full Enjoyment of whom she had long been waiting in a preparation for and as sensible of her Dissolution or of her Departure being at hand did often Exhort and Admonish Friends to concern themselves with that