and well beloved uncle came chiefly from himself as to what relates to, and was brought to pass in, the last century, at the first breaking forth of the blessed truth in this great city; and much of the latter part of his time was within the compass of my own knowledge, (we having lived together above forty-two years,) I have in commemoration of the deceased, gathered these few passages of his life, and shall set them forth in no other dress than in that plainness which in those early times attended the Lord's servants, and accompanied our dear friend, and carried him through all the powers and governments which were in his time, he still keeping in the selfdenial, bearing the cross of our only Mediator and blessed Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ; by which he became crucified to the world and its glory, not valuing the lofty empty titles of men, high and great in the world, so as to be dismayed or hindered thereby from approaching any in authority; he being with great humility furnished in the love of God, to attend them when the Lord's servants were under sufferings, in order to get the oppressed eased, and imprisoned set at liberty: wherein by the perusing of his life, thou wilt find how indefatigable he hath been, yet walking inoffensively both to Jew and Gentile, and the church of God. And as to the book itself, it is not my intention to prepossess the judgment of the reader: but I may adventure

thus far to say, that if it shall please the Lord to accompany thee with his Divine light, it will discover to thee the path our blessed friend trod through many straits. Yet if thou, as he was, art found to submit to the Divine will, and the disposition thereof, thou wilt feel sweet peace and tranquillity. And thus I shall couclude with desires both for myself, and all those who are quickened in the Lord, that we may persevere in the way wherein this his blessed servant while with us walked, and not be like those of old mentioned in Judges, (chap. ii. v. 10,) who arose after the death of Joshua and the elders, and "knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel."

Wherefore, Reader, my desire is, that we who remain may follow the Lord faithfully; and that He may raise in us the same zeal, diligence, and valour as he did in this our ancient friend, and the rest of the elders that received the Truth in the morning of the day of the Lord, (of whom few remain,) is the sincere breathing of thy friend,

R. H.

GEORGE WHITEHEAD'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING GILBERT LATEY.

As this our ancient friend and brother had learned obedience through the cross of Christ, and by His grace approved himself faithful in his place and station, he was made a living and useful member in His church, and well approved in his testimony and service in his day: he was constant in his love, and true to his brethren; he hated hypocrisy and dissimulation, divisions and causing schisms; he was for many years my true companion in laborious solicitations in the late three kings' reigns, viz. king Charles the Second, king James the Second, and king William the Third; before whom we divers times appeared, and often attended in behalf of our suffering friends, and the Lord was with us in their behalf. And thus our dear friend and ancient brother was much given up in that service with me, and we were often comforted together in the Lord's presence with us, and divers times prevailing to tender their hearts towards suffering friends; though we obtained relief from king Charles the Second not always, but in some particular cases, through diligent solicitation and attendance early and late. We deeply suffered persecution in his

reign; and he left our friends under great sufferings, about one thousand five hundred in prisons, and many hundreds of families under severe prosecutions and sufferings upon those old laws made against Popish recusants, for twenty pounds a month and two thirds of their estates for not going to the parish churches (so called,) and great spoil made upon many therefore; and also the informers swarming about our religious meetings caused great spoil upon friends' goods; whose cases were made known to king James also, and by several applications, much labour and solicitation, obtained relief, namely, the release of many prisoners, the prevention of the writs for seizure of friend's estates, and stopping the informers; for which service to our suffering friends, this our ancient friend Gilbert Latey was frequent in labour, attention, and solicitation with me in true living faith and love; and the Lord was with us, and his hand was upon us, and he heard our prayers. And Gilbert Latey was a sensible man, of a good judgment; when the Lord opened unto me any application, petition, or proposal to make to any of these three kings, &c. respectively, I first imparting the same to this our friend and brother; he would be presently sensible thereof, and given up to assist in solicitation to king or parliament, or any of the nobility.