A

SHORT ACCOUNT

OF THE

LIFE, CONVINCEMENT, QUALIFICATIONS, AND DYING SAYINGS

OF THAT FAITHFUL HANDMAID OF THE LORD.

ANNE RICHARDSON,

Who departed this Life the 18th of the Twelfth Month, 1711, aged about Thirty-three Years.

"SHE was decended of an honest and consider"able family of the Robinson's at Hutton in the 66 Hole, in Yorkshire, and was convinced in her "young years, and received the truth in the "love of it, and it became valuable and precious "to her above all things in this world; and 66 through the blessed work and operation of "the grace and Holy Spirit of truth, she was "weaned from the world's pleasures, vanities "and recreations, and from taking any delight "in them; and through the virtuous and most

"precious blood of Christ, she came to witness "her heart sprinkled from an evil conscience "and in a good degree made able to serve the "living God, and bore a faithful testimony "against the needless and superfluous dresses "and fashions of the world, as also against the 66 corrupt language thereof; and came to be a 66 great lover of virtue and purity, and had great "satisfaction in being in good friends' company, "and at friends' meetings, and in much retire"ment and waiting upon the Lord, who in "great mercy and condescension to the desire "of his handmaid, gave her a large share, not "only of the enjoyment of his living power and "internal presence, but also a knowledge and "clear sight into those things that appertained "to life and salvation and truth thus prevailed 66 over her, and brought every thought into the "obedience of Christ, and subjected her will to the will of God, which is a great work,

yet requisite to the new birth, without "which there is no regeneration; and with"out regeneration and being born again, "there is no entering into the kingdom of ❝ heaven.

"After this great change was wrought in her "it was evident through the remaining part of "her time, that she was much preserved under "the power, influence, and guidance of the peaceable, meek and quiet spirit of Jesus Christ,

"and grew daily more and more in the favour "and love of God, and was much beloved of "God's people, and indeed of her relations, "neighbours and acquaintance, who were not "of her persuasion; and walked so wisely and "prudently in all her ways, that she sought not "her own honour and interest, but the honour "of the Lord, and inward peace with him, "which she had a regard unto in all her under66 takings; so that even such who sought for an "occasion against truth and the professors of it, "had nothing to say against her, not even "from her childhood to the day of her death, "for she was generally beloved and spo"ken well of by all who knew her, and many 66 were deeply and sorrowfully affected to part "with her, both Friends and others; the like "hath not often been seen in those parts, and "not without some cause; for she was a woman "of an upright life and exemplary conversation "before all, and gave no offence to Jew or Gentile, nor to the church of Christ: charita"ble to the poor, a true sympathizer with such 66 as were in affliction and distress, whether in "body or in mind, which was manifested in "her frequent visits to such, and by other 66 means clearly demonstrated. She was a woman endued with great patience, and with a quiet and serene mind, well qualified and "fitted to her husband's circumstances, whose

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"lot it was often to be abroad in the service of "the truth, an honourable and a faithful wife, "willing to give up her all for Christ and the "gospel's sake, counting nothing in this world "too near or dear to part with for the glory of "God, and advancement of the ever blessed "truth, peace and salvation of her own soul, "and the good of others.

"One thing is remarkable and worthy of "commemoration, which I insert as followeth, "that others in the like case may not barely and "outwardly immitate her, but feelingly come "up in her heavenly practice and experience, "under the influence, light and help of God's "holy and blessed Spirit, viz. When that 66 worthy servant of Jesus Christ, John Bow"stead, returned from London Yearly-meeting "through several counties to York, and so home "with me, not long before my wife was taken 66 away; and having some discourse with her, "he asked about several things of moment, "especially ahout her husband being so much "from home; she gave him this answer, That "inasmuch as she gave up her husband cheer"fully and freely to serve the Lord, and to be "serviceable to the church of Christ, she did "not only sympathize and feel with him in his "most adverse and low state, but partook with "him in his best enjoyments, when the power "of truth prevailed over all its enemies; al

"though I am then far from him, yet I partake "of the spoil, or the shedding abroad of the "good things of God among his people, as my "heart goes along with the work of the Lord, "and such as are engaged in it; and in all "my husband's afflictions I am afflicted with "him: and one of my main concerns is, that "neither I, nor any thing in this world, may "detain my husband from doing what the Lord "calls for at his hand; for if any thing hurt "him as to the truth, what good can I expect "of him? This John much admired, with the "deep and weighty reasons she gave about the "Christian discipline of the church, and con"cerning the ministry, the like, he said, he "had not met with in all his travels before; 66 yet she was a woman of few words, and ex66 pressed much in a little compass: and when "she was taken away, oh! the loss and sorrow "he expressed to me in a letter concerning her "death.

"She was very clear in her understanding, "had a penetrating and discerning eye, a great "and inward sense of the state of a meeting, as "also of their several particular states. I can"not at present describe to the full all the "hidden virtues of this handmaid of the Lord, "but there were many visible fruits of her vir"tuous mind, that did appear to the children "of men, some of which were these, viz. She